2001 4runnertranny problems

[Fabio]

Hey guys.

Iam new at this whole toyota thing but I have a few questions about the tranny on my 2001 4runner V6 automatic 4x4 limited. The motor sounds strong, and really good, I have not done a compression test but the oil checks out. Now the Tranny. First the fluid is brown in color it is at the correct level on the dip stick, when started and shifted into P R N D 2 1 the tranny grinds and will not move. The transfer case sounds like it is switching into gear when moved from L N H. But it will still not move. Also there is no button to the left of the steering column. I did just buy this 4runner, the thing that has me thinking long and hard is that the person before me switched the original 4 wheel dirve knob on the shifter to a chrome piece of junk that does not have a button on the knob. Would that be part of the problem and what does the original knob look like? Thank You

 

[DwardT4R]

Hey guys.

Iam new at this whole toyota thing but I have a few questions about the tranny on my 2001 4runner V6 automatic 4x4 limited. The motor sounds strong, and really good, I have not done a compression test but the oil checks out. Now the Tranny. First the fluid is brown in color it is at the correct level on the dip stick, when started and shifted into P R N D 2 1 the tranny grinds and will not move. The transfer case sounds like it is switching into gear when moved from L N H. But it will still not move. Also there is no button to the left of the steering column. I did just buy this 4runner, the thing that has me thinking long and hard is that the person before me switched the original 4 wheel dirve knob on the shifter to a chrome piece of junk that does not have a button on the knob. Would that be part of the problem and what does the original knob look like? Thank You

I have a 2000 t4r and from the factory there is no button on the 4 wheel drive shifter. The factory P R N D 2 L shifter has a overdrive button on the left side of it. The only button that has anything to do with gears located to the left of your steering column is the RRDIF button which locks in your Factory Rear differential lockers.. But only when the 4runner is in 4-low.

 

[Grenvilleter]

Hard to say but I think I smell a cooked transmission ! :bolt:

 

[Fabio]

Transfer case or pinon problem

I changed the fluid in the tranny cleaned it out and replaced the filter. I looked under the truck with it running and in R and the drive shaft is spinning, same for if I put it in D just it spins the other direction. The truck will not move even if I engage the 4H and 4L. I was thinking it might be the pinon gear or the Transfer case.

 

[White 4x4runner]

I have a 2000 t4r and from the factory there is no button on the 4 wheel drive shifter. The factory P R N D 2 L shifter has a overdrive button on the left side of it. The only button that has anything to do with gears located to the left of your steering column is the RRDIF button which locks in your Factory Rear differential lockers.. But only when the 4runner is in 4-low.

The 01 ditched the locker and added traction control. The 4wd shifter stays in 2hi then you push the button on the side of it to go into 4hi.

 

[DwardT4R]

The 01 ditched the locker and added traction control. The 4wd shifter stays in 2hi then you push the button on the side of it to go into 4hi.

Well thats a bummer.. I really enjoy having my locker. Interesting to know

 

[kernel.panik]

I changed the fluid in the tranny cleaned it out and replaced the filter. I looked under the truck with it running and in R and the drive shaft is spinning, same for if I put it in D just it spins the other direction. The truck will not move even if I engage the 4H and 4L. I was thinking it might be the pinon gear or the Transfer case.

If your drive shaft is spinning, but your truck wont move, you've lost your gears in the pumpkin... odd that 4wd wouldn't move the truck from the front, and hard to believe you lost the front and rear diffs at the same time...

WTF Happened?

 

[White 4x4runner]

Well thats a bummer.. I really enjoy having my locker. Interesting to know

And I hate traction control. Luckily I found a neat switch in the junkyard that says "normal/ override" so I can shut it off

 

[Fabio]

Diff problem

So I took the axle shafts out and the 3rd member. Noticed that the axle fluid looked like glitter and there were chunks of metal on the drain plug. The passenger axle shaft was really hard to get out, and the bearing was ruined also the ABS sensor had caked on axle fluid and metal shavings, when i cleaned I noticed that it was rubbed down a bit. Could this have anything to with my rear wheels not moving at all and the drive shaft just spinning.

 

[Grenvilleter]

If your drive shaft is spinning, but your truck wont move, you've lost your gears in the pumpkin... odd that 4wd wouldn't move the truck from the front, and hard to believe you lost the front and rear diffs at the same time...

WTF Happened?

yea....what he said

 

[kernel.panik]

So I took the axle shafts out and the 3rd member. Noticed that the axle fluid looked like glitter and there were chunks of metal on the drain plug. The passenger axle shaft was really hard to get out, and the bearing was ruined also the ABS sensor had caked on axle fluid and metal shavings, when i cleaned I noticed that it was rubbed down a bit. Could this have anything to with my rear wheels not moving at all and the drive shaft just spinning.

Pull your 3rd member, I'll bet you don't have many teeth left in there...

 

[DwardT4R]

And I hate traction control. Luckily I found a neat switch in the junkyard that says "normal/ override" so I can shut it off

Very nice.

 

[jfeltT4R]

Hey guys.

Iam new at this whole toyota thing but I have a few questions about the tranny on my 2001 4runner V6 automatic 4x4 limited. The motor sounds strong, and really good, I have not done a compression test but the oil checks out. Now the Tranny. First the fluid is brown in color it is at the correct level on the dip stick, when started and shifted into P R N D 2 1 the tranny grinds and will not move. The transfer case sounds like it is switching into gear when moved from L N H. But it will still not move. Also there is no button to the left of the steering column. I did just buy this 4runner, the thing that has me thinking long and hard is that the person before me switched the original 4 wheel dirve knob on the shifter to a chrome piece of junk that does not have a button on the knob. Would that be part of the problem and what does the original knob look like? Thank You

Brown fluid is definitely a bad sign of overheating. I had an issue similar to this but on a more mild scale. I replaced the AT solenoids and everything was back to normal.