2000 SR5 Tranny/Overheating Problem

[adamsrunner]

Hi. I took out my wifes 2000 4Runner this morning and out of nowhere the tranny starts to act up. Shifts are hard and when I put it in park it actually took a few seconds for park to engage. I go to drive it back home and I hear this weird whining noise. I pull into a gas station and turn the car off as I notice the temp needle is starting to rise. WTF. I open the hood and this chocolate milk type substance is coming out of the radiator tank res., all over the battery and the whining noise is coming from the radiator cap. The substance is oily feeling so what I am thinking is that some cooling and/or trans fluid line burst and everything is getting mixed together in the tranny - thus the hesistant, not smooth shifting and the car trying to overheat. I know this going to be bad but I wanted to get some feedback/help from anyone who has seen or heard of this before. FYI, the engine oil is fine and clear but the radiator is now filled with this lgiht brown colored fluid. SR5 Model, 6cyl/4wd.

What sucks more is that the car is for sale. Karma makes me glad that it happended to me but my wallet is starting to ache. Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TechWrench]

Hi. I took out my wifes 2000 4Runner this morning and out of nowhere the tranny starts to act up. Shifts are hard and when I put it in park it actually took a few seconds for park to engage. I go to drive it back home and I hear this weird whining noise. I pull into a gas station and turn the car off as I notice the temp needle is starting to rise. WTF. I open the hood and this chocolate milk type substance is coming out of the radiator tank res., all over the battery and the whining noise is coming from the radiator cap. The substance is oily feeling so what I am thinking is that some cooling and/or trans fluid line burst and everything is getting mixed together in the tranny - thus the hesistant, not smooth shifting and the car trying to overheat. I know this going to be bad but I wanted to get some feedback/help from anyone who has seen or heard of this before. FYI, the engine oil is fine and clear but the radiator is now filled with this lgiht brown colored fluid. SR5 Model, 6cyl/4wd.

What sucks more is that the car is for sale. Karma makes me glad that it happended to me but my wallet is starting to ache. Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

First, check the trans fluid condition on the dipstick. If you do have a leak in the trans cooler in the radiator, you should see some evidence of water in the trans fluid. If so, then your options are kinda limited. You will have to either have the radiator repaired, or replaced to stop the trans fluid/water exchange from happening. Then the trans needs to be completely flushed to get any water out of it. If the water hasn't been in the trans for very long, then, just maybe, a complete flush and new fluid may bring the trans back. If not, then you are looking at a trans overhaul in addition to the radiator repair.

 

[adamsrunner]

Thanks. Confirmed all that yesterday. Kind of had a feeling that was it. Hopefully no damage occured to the transmission.

 

[ZASKRONIEC]

Thanks. Confirmed all that yesterday. Kind of had a feeling that was it. Hopefully no damage occured to the transmission.

I have two 4runners both 1999 Limited model. About two months ago my transmission broke due to faulty design on the radiator connection (looks like more then 1999 year has this problem) Supposedly Toyota made a line that connects the transmission with the radiator out of aluminum but they used a fitting out of metal which over time corrodes and caused the radiator fluid to mix with the transmission fluid. This will create huge problem and you will not notice it until your transmission will start to act weird and after a while your engine and trans will overheat (coast to fix is about $2200 + if this happens)
The easy fix to it is to replace the radiator which will cost from $220 to $280.
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