2008 4Runner transmission wine/buzz

A

ACW

New member
I just purchased a 2008 4Runner Sport V6 and am getting frustrated with the transmission wine. My lease had ended on my 2005 4Runner Sport V6 and I really loved the truck so I figured I would just get a new one.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this change. The dealership told me they switched to a "sealed transmisson". What I hear is a whine/buzz during acceleration. It's kind of like the gear whine noise you hear when you swap rear end gears in cars like a Mustang or Camaro.

Has anyone else noticed this noise?

I also feel that Toyota has cut alot of corners with the 2008. The doors don't have that solid feel when you shut them. The steering wheel is thinner. The over build quality seems cheaper and not nearly as solid as the 2005.

Suggestions?
 
Register to hide this ad
Well I think you are experiencing many peoples worst fears about Toyota. They just took 2nd place in the US, passing Ford, and seem to be choosing quantity over quality. Hopefully they get their act together.

Have you test driven another 08 4runner with all of the same features to see if it has the same noise?
 
That is the first thing I did. I spoke to the service manager and we test drove another 2008. It had the same tranny noise. Most people won't notice all the corners that Toyota has cut but I was driving the same model made in 2005. It's a shame because had I known this prior, I would not have purchased the 08.

I wonder if they will let me swap it for a 07 leftover. I don't even care at this point that it is a full model year older.

Sad part is, I could have purchased an 07 and saved $ from the start and avoided all of these issues.

Go figure...
 
I haven't looked at an 08 myself, so I don't know anything about the details. I can tell you that your 05 also had a sealed transmission, so as usual, someone at a dealership doesn't know what they're talking about.
 
How much thinner is the steering wheel? I noticed that steering wheels among a lot of toyota models appear to be identical with the exception of a few models like the new Tundra, FJ Cruiser etc.

Did your steering wheel in your 05 have a leather wrap? Maybe this would account for the difference in feel if your 08 did not have a leather wrap
 
My truck does it sometimes , I just drive it and don't worry about it. I really don't have time to argue with the dealer about it being "normal" it seems to work fine . I've heard it on others I drove on occasion so I'm not concerned , maybe the wrong thing to do but thats just me . It's a very faint and I don't hear it often.
 
ACW said:


I wonder if they will let me swap it for a 07 leftover. I don't even care at this point that it is a full model year older.

Sad part is, I could have purchased an 07 and saved $ from the start and avoided all of these issues.

Go figure...
Click to expand...

You might want ask that and see if they will compensate some $$ to make the switch. How many miles are on your 08 right now?

Or you can always just have the radio on. I rarely drive in silence anyways unless the girlfriend and I are having a "serious talk" :sleep:
 
I don't know the exact dimensions but the steering wheel is a bit thinner. Now if I never had the 05, I would never have known the difference. They are both leather wrapped. The leather on the 05 was also higher quality.

I am very aware of the differences in cars / trucks. Toyota has cut alot of corners with the 08. If you guys want to see for yourselves, drive an 05 and then an 08 and you will feel for yourselves. Even the way the door shuts has that cheap hollow feel/sound.

The funny part of this whole thing is I waited for the 08 because of the traction control on/off switch and standard side curtain airbags. Had I known Toyota was cheaping out, I would have just purchased the 07 with the side airbag option.

The new one has about 900 miles on it now. The service manager said the noise might go away as it breaks in. That is complete BS.

I hate to complain about this stuff but the 05 was the best vehicle I have ever owned so it's just a big downer to look forward to a new one and be let down.

Enough complaining, I'll shut up now.
 
2006 is also sealed

The tech is right on the switch, but it wasn't in 08. My 2006 is also a sealed tranny. Net, no dip stick to check the fluid.

When I asked my local service tech where the check was, they looked all over the truck, then another customer came up and asked what was going on with 3 people looking all over the engine bay. They said that they were looking for the tranny dip stick, and the customer said, there isn't one!. IMO pretty typical for my local service dept. I did some further checking and sure enough the tranny is sealed and not to be changed until 100K.

Not sure about the whine. Mine at first seemed to make a noise which I noticed at around 65 to 70mph. However after about 3K or so, I didn't notice it anymore.

06 Sport 4WD. no mods
Paul C
 
I don't doubt your perception about the steering wheel, door, and etc., but I highly doubt that Toyota changed anything this late in the game for this generation. It would probably cost more money than would be saved to make changes.

Now if the next generation is made here in North America, then the suppliers would change. Quality might change also as some of the suppliers would have to change.
 
Actually, with the sealed transmission, it doesn't require a fluid change. It uses Toyota WS transmission fluid, as of now, Toyota is the only source for WS. It's a lifetime fluid designed to last the life of the vehicle unless it's operated under severe conditions, i.e. towing.
 
05's are sealed transmission too. Have not heard a whine but maybe the flowmaster has something to do with that :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 423 (members: 5, guests: 418)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,307
Messages
3,554,055
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top