2000 4-Runner bumped into neutral while on the interstate, now will not turn over...

[lima]

The short of the long....

Our 2000 4-Runner will not turn over when trying to start. You can hear a short grinding noise and that it all you get. The sound may be coming from the flywheel area.


Here is the back story......

My wife had the cruise set at 72mph on the interstate when the selector was bumped into neutral. She immediately pulled the selector back into drive, heard clanking and then pulled onto the shoulder. We had to have the truck brought home on a rollback.

Any idea on where to start looking for the mechanical issue?

Thanks,
-Len

 

[4eigner]

The short of the long....

Our 2000 4-Runner will not turn over when trying to start. You can hear a short grinding noise and that it all you get. The sound may be coming from the flywheel area.


Here is the back story......

My wife had the cruise set at 72mph on the interstate when the selector was bumped into neutral. She immediately pulled the selector back into drive, heard clanking and then pulled onto the shoulder. We had to have the truck brought home on a rollback.

Any idea on where to start looking for the mechanical issue?

Thanks,
-Len

this has happened to me with no ill effects. Was she on the accelerator when shifting it back into drive?

 

[scrapper]

It happened to me as well a few years ago but no issues. My son bumped it into Nuetral taking off his backpack at a low speed and I quickly put it back in drive.

 

[ray122]

The short of the long....

Our 2000 4-Runner will not turn over when trying to start. You can hear a short grinding noise and that it all you get.

Well the symptoms sound like its the starter but i dont know how the back story would have caused it to go bad. Id check it anyway. Crawl under the passenger side and have you wife crank it. If the starter jumps or you here grinding coming from it then replace it. Good luck

 

[lima]

She may have gotten on the gas, but she is not sure. She also mentioned that the truck smoked as she pulled over. I agree that it sounds like the starter, but don't see how it could be related. I will check it.

I appreciate the replies!

 

[JeepKiller]

She may have gotten on the gas, but she is not sure. She also mentioned that the truck smoked as she pulled over. I agree that it sounds like the starter, but don't see how it could be related. I will check it.

I appreciate the replies!

I'm pretty sure as long as you don't have the accelerator pressed when switching in or out of neutral at any speed then it's pretty safe for the car haha I've done it going down hills when I was super low on gas.

 

[jhfleet]

She may have gotten on the gas, but she is not sure. She also mentioned that the truck smoked as she pulled over. I agree that it sounds like the starter, but don't see how it could be related. I will check it.

I appreciate the replies!

As I understand it, cruise control was engaged when the transmission was put into neutral. Unless cruise automatically disengages when the transmission is put into neutral it's logical that the engine would accelerate to try to maintain the preset mph. Depending on how long the transmission was in neutral and how much the speed decreased, it's possible the engine was wound pretty tight when the transmission was put back into drive.

 

[JayRolla]

Even with the gas at WOT when bumping into N, there should be no issues. Truck has a rev limiter for a reason. If you get a grinding sound only it sounds like the starter motor is not kicking over and hitting flywheel. Which means starter is bad. Or there is a some broken teeth on flywheel not letting it start. I would guess more starter. If you tap starter with say a rod or hammer or something when turning over it can kick it to start it up then you know its the issue.

 

[4eigner]

Even with the gas at WOT when bumping into N, there should be no issues. Truck has a rev limiter for a reason. If you get a grinding sound only it sounds like the starter motor is not kicking over and hitting flywheel. Which means starter is bad. Or there is a some broken teeth on flywheel not letting it start. I would guess more starter. If you tap starter with say a rod or hammer or something when turning over it can kick it to start it up then you know its the issue.

Bumping from drive to neutral while on the gas shouldn't be an issue, but going from neutral to drive while on the gas can be.

 

[bithuizev]

It happened to me as well a few years ago but no issues.

 

[Buckaroo]

Agree that engine would rev as cruise attempted to keep speed at set point with car in neutral. Could go way high, fast. Description sounds like possible internal engine damage. With trans in neutral, put a breaker bar w/socket on the crankshaft nut on the harmonic balancer and see if you can turn the engine by hand. Turn it in the normal direction of engine rotation...should turn.

Buckaroo

 

[jeremyc74]

As I understand it, cruise control was engaged when the transmission was put into neutral. Unless cruise automatically disengages when the transmission is put into neutral it's logical that the engine would accelerate to try to maintain the preset mph. Depending on how long the transmission was in neutral and how much the speed decreased, it's possible the engine was wound pretty tight when the transmission was put back into drive.

The cruise control should drop out instantly if the vehicle is put into neutral. You should be able to go from drive to neutral and back at highway speeds with no problem.

Was there any chance it was put into reverse? I've had that happen on a vehicle with a misadjusted shift linkage, and it was dramatic even at low speeds.

 

[Doc2012]

The cruise control should drop out instantly if the vehicle is put into neutral. You should be able to go from drive to neutral and back at highway speeds with no problem.

Was there any chance it was put into reverse? I've had that happen on a vehicle with a misadjusted shift linkage, and it was dramatic even at low speeds.

I had this response typed out so many times, but just didn't know if it was just something with my truck when it happened, or if it actually did that.



I agree. I'm thinking it might have gotten bumped into reverse. OR, it was the t-case that got bumped, and grenaded the t-case/transmission.

 

[jeremyc74]

I agree. I'm thinking it might have gotten bumped into reverse. OR, it was the t-case that got bumped, and grenaded the t-case/transmission.

Yeah, the transfer case could be a possibility too, depending on which one it has. It would probably be hard to hurt anything with the "J-shift" type, but I'm not sure about the others.

As much as I hate it for the OP, to me it sounds like a broken crank. Even if it tore something up in the transmission the engine should still start.

I guess another possibility is that if there was a sudden change in RPM when it went back into drive it could have broken an already worn out timing belt. That will cause the engine to sound strange when cranking for sure.

 

[JayRolla]

Bumping from drive to neutral while on the gas shouldn't be an issue, but going from neutral to drive while on the gas can be.

No issue usually but yes it "CAN" but rarely cause a major issue. I have done it, most cars will actually stay in gear till it slows down enough speed to shift out. Not sure how well our ECUs work.

 

[lima]

100% that the transmission selector went into neutral and not reverse. The transfer case selector was not touched.

I'll update as I have a chance to look further into the truck.

Again, I really appreciate the responses

 

[jeremyc74]

100% that the transmission selector went into neutral and not reverse. The transfer case selector was not touched.

I'll update as I have a chance to look further into the truck.

Again, I really appreciate the responses

I was just reading another thread, and someone mentioned a flex plate failing on a high mileage 4Runner. This could very well be what's wrong with yours. If you can get under the truck I believe there's an inspection cover you can remove at the bottom of the bell housing that will allow you to see the flexplate. From there you can have someone bump the starter and see what's spinning and what isn't.

 

[StreetCreeper]

When I was 16, I was driving my 84 Buick leSaber down a long down hill grade. In order to save fuel, I would throw it neutral and coast down the hill ( I was young, broke and dumb...er than I am now ). Anyhow, I did this many times without issue. Then one day I was a little careless and accidently bumped it past the neutral spot and hit reverse for a split-second while doing about 60-70 mph.

From what I recall, the engine died immediately and I coasted to the side of the road. I was able to immediately restart the car and continue on my way, but that was the beginning of the end for the car as the transmission was loose/sloppy and never worked properly again. It was drivable, but it was obvious that I had messed up the transmission good and it was on its way out.

Of course I never told my folks about this little "incident"...

 

[jhfleet]

The cruise control should drop out instantly if the vehicle is put into neutral. You should be able to go from drive to neutral and back at highway speeds with no problem.

Was there any chance it was put into reverse? I've had that happen on a vehicle with a misadjusted shift linkage, and it was dramatic even at low speeds.

Thanks for the cruise control info. I've never had occasion to try that scenario and was making an assumption. Upon reflection it makes sense that it would disengage instead of racing the engine.

 

[whiskytango]

My dog bumped my shifter in my 97 once when I was driving down the highway at about 65 mph (280 between Auburn and Birmingham for anyone familiar with Alabama). When the dog bumped it it went into reverse. The tires locked up for a second and then the engine died and I coasted to a stop. Cranked it back up and eased forward in drive. All seemed fine so I kept on driving, slowly at first. That was about 90,000 miles ago and I've never noticed any ill effects with the tranny. I did have a shift solenoid go out sometime later, but that was unrelated I think.