3rd Gen AT questions

[htomeheb]

My 4runner is a 2000 SR5 (3.4, 4x4, AT) with 290k.

I bought the truck with high mileage, so who knows how it was treated the first 200k of it's life. The transmission has had enough. At this point, I'm hoping it's just the tranny and not the transfer case as well.

Right now the easiest fix seems to be to swap it out with a junkyard unit and keep on cruisin*.

My question is this:

The yards seem to differentiate between a california emissions truck, and a federal emissions truck. I can't see Toyota using different transmissions, but before I go spend a few hundred dollars and lots of time under my truck, I'd like to have some peace of mind.

Anyone know for sure?



*For the record, I really wanted to do a 5spd swap when and if this tranny died, but outside circumstances have forced my hand and a cheap fix to get me back on the road is what I gotta do at the moment.

 

[Hephaes7us]

AFAIK there was the A340E (2WD) and the A340F (4WD). I don't imagine there being a difference in emission standards for just the transmission. Perhaps for the donor vehicle as a whole however.

 

[htomeheb]

AFAIK there was the A340E (2WD) and the A340F (4WD). I don't imagine there being a difference in emission standards for just the transmission. Perhaps for the donor vehicle as a whole however.

Same. I'm assuming it's just your typical "autozone" line of questioning "I need wiperblades....which engine? 2wd or 4wd?"

Just wanted to see if anyone here knew something I didn't.

 

[trovergraywilson]

Didn't even realize 2wd came with a different tranny. The only thing I'd imagine is relevant with CA smogging might be the ECT function but not to a point where they could regulate the shift-mapping and revs.

 

[StreetCreeper]

My 4runner is a 2000 SR5 (3.4, 4x4, AT) with 290k.

I bought the truck with high mileage, so who knows how it was treated the first 200k of it's life. The transmission has had enough. At this point, I'm hoping it's just the tranny and not the transfer case as well.

Right now the easiest fix seems to be to swap it out with a junkyard unit and keep on cruisin*.

My question is this:

The yards seem to differentiate between a california emissions truck, and a federal emissions truck. I can't see Toyota using different transmissions, but before I go spend a few hundred dollars and lots of time under my truck, I'd like to have some peace of mind.

Anyone know for sure?



*For the record, I really wanted to do a 5spd swap when and if this tranny died, but outside circumstances have forced my hand and a cheap fix to get me back on the road is what I gotta do at the moment.

Beyond the difference for 2wd and 4wd, there were changes to the valve body on later year 3rd gens due to the absence of a throttle cable. So keep that in mind if you are looking at an earlier year 3rd gen transmission. I dont recall what years they switched but I'm sure you could dig it out of the forum.

 

[htomeheb]

Beyond the difference for 2wd and 4wd, there were changes to the valve body on later year 3rd gens due to the absence of a throttle cable. So keep that in mind if you are looking at an earlier year 3rd gen transmission. I dont recall what years they switched but I'm sure you could dig it out of the forum.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[SgtReyes4Runner96]

So trying to swap out a 4x4 transmission and installing a transmission from a 2WD into a 4Runner with 4x4 is not possible?

 

[SgtReyes4Runner96]

I have a 1998 T4R 3.4L 2WD with low miles on engine and trans. I want to pull the engine and trans from the 2WD T4R and install it into my 1996 3.4L T4R 4x4. Would I have to swap a 4x4 trans for another 4x4 trans or will the 2WD trans work?

 

[RedSled]

I don't think the 2 wd trans will work, but i could be wrong.

 

[MStudt]

The 01-02's used a different transmission than the rest.

All that I can tell you is that you're better off swapping the transmission, and transfer case. In my opinion it's not worth the time to swap the t-case, or the cussing. Plus I think it's better to keep everything together, and all matching. Just swap out the transmission, t-case, and get the torque converter too. While you're at it you might as well put in an external transmission cooler so you can avoid the pink milkshake. That's the reason I had to replace mine.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

My 4runner is a 2000 SR5 (3.4, 4x4, AT) with 290k.

I bought the truck with high mileage, so who knows how it was treated the first 200k of it's life. The transmission has had enough. At this point, I'm hoping it's just the tranny and not the transfer case as well.

Right now the easiest fix seems to be to swap it out with a junkyard unit and keep on cruisin*.

My question is this:

The yards seem to differentiate between a california emissions truck, and a federal emissions truck. I can't see Toyota using different transmissions, but before I go spend a few hundred dollars and lots of time under my truck, I'd like to have some peace of mind.

Anyone know for sure?



*For the record, I really wanted to do a 5spd swap when and if this tranny died, but outside circumstances have forced my hand and a cheap fix to get me back on the road is what I gotta do at the moment.

I believe the difference in federal -Cali transmissions is just how the pan and dipstick/filler tube are configured to avoid the added catalytic converter. Swapping the pans with your original trans would do the trick.

 

[psamo83]

I believe the difference in federal -Cali transmissions is just how the pan and dipstick/filler tube are configured to avoid the added catalytic converter. Swapping the pans with your original trans would do the trick.

is there any verification to this? I have a 99 sr5 3.4l 4x4 cali emission through 5/99 (production date 4/99) and in my area through ebay, car-part.com, cl i am coming up with no great luck on finding a used trans without it costing near 1k or without it having 200k+ miles. some sites list 96-00 as working, with the 01-02 being different because of the removal of kickdown cable, vb design, and other electronic controls, has anyone installed and verified a 96-98 v6 4x4 trans working with little to no mods in a 99 or 00 regardless of cali or fed emissions?
or one from a taco, t100, or tundra ?

 

[3bears]

I believe the difference in federal -Cali transmissions is just how the pan and dipstick/filler tube are configured to avoid the added catalytic converter. Swapping the pans with your original trans would do the trick.

I found this to be true.
I had to replace a pan, and when I worked with the dealer, that is what he told me when ordering, I have the federal one, not the ca one.

I really cant imagine they would do anything different to the tranny otherwise

 

[noxor]

is there any verification to this? I have a 99 sr5 3.4l 4x4 cali emission through 5/99 (production date 4/99) and in my area through ebay, car-part.com, cl i am coming up with no great luck on finding a used trans without it costing near 1k or without it having 200k+ miles. some sites list 96-00 as working, with the 01-02 being different because of the removal of kickdown cable, vb design, and other electronic controls, has anyone installed and verified a 96-98 v6 4x4 trans working with little to no mods in a 99 or 00 regardless of cali or fed emissions?
or one from a taco, t100, or tundra ?

Having the same issue with a 99 4runner myself, taking it to a shop now, will post back if I find anything.

I have a California emissions, with a from 6/99 manufacturers date, and have only found federal emissions trans, with a thru 5/99 date. Some shops say they are interchangeable, others don't. I'll see what this one says, they are atra certified etc, no sure how much that means, but we will see.

 

[noxor]

Having the same issue with a 99 4runner myself, taking it to a shop now, will post back if I find anything.

I have a California emissions, with a from 6/99 manufacturers date, and have only found federal emissions trans, with a thru 5/99 date. Some shops say they are interchangeable, others don't. I'll see what this one says, they are atra certified etc, no sure how much that means, but we will see.

Well the guy here said he didn't know, since he doesn't keep up on all the changes. I asked him if he would accept a federal emissions with a thru 5/99 to swap in and he said no.

Im curious, if I moved to california with a federal trans not a california, would they not let me register it?

 

[phattyduck]

is there any verification to this? I have a 99 sr5 3.4l 4x4 cali emission through 5/99 (production date 4/99) and in my area through ebay, car-part.com, cl i am coming up with no great luck on finding a used trans without it costing near 1k or without it having 200k+ miles. some sites list 96-00 as working, with the 01-02 being different because of the removal of kickdown cable, vb design, and other electronic controls, has anyone installed and verified a 96-98 v6 4x4 trans working with little to no mods in a 99 or 00 regardless of cali or fed emissions?
or one from a taco, t100, or tundra ?

I put a '97 4x4 trans in my '99 with no modifications to the trans or ECU as part of my 2wd to 4wd swap. I did swap over the external sensors (temp and shifter position) from my 2WD transmission since they were in much better shape on my original trans. The '97 was not a CA emissions truck and the dipstick tube seemed to fit just fine on my CA emissions truck.

-Charlie

 

[psamo83]

I put a '97 4x4 trans in my '99 with no modifications to the trans or ECU as part of my 2wd to 4wd swap. I did swap over the external sensors (temp and shifter position) from my 2WD transmission since they were in much better shape on my original trans. The '97 was not a CA emissions truck and the dipstick tube seemed to fit just fine on my CA emissions truck.

-Charlie

phattyduck: and no issues with erratic shifts or cel lights? I worked at toyota as a mechanic for over 10 years and I have seen and dealt with junkyard engines that maybe came out of a camry but was going into a rav4 and a mount or bracket just needing to be switched over, if thats the case with the trannys, im leaning to beleive any 96-00 v6 4wd trans should work, regardless of emissions standards.

 

[psamo83]

Well the guy here said he didn't know, since he doesn't keep up on all the changes. I asked him if he would accept a federal emissions with a thru 5/99 to swap in and he said no.

Im curious, if I moved to california with a federal trans not a california, would they not let me register it?

NOXOR: i think as long as the cel was not on indicating a fault, it wouldnt matter, i know ca writes the book on emissions laws so there testing may be a little more thorough, but in nj they hook into the odb2 connector, and as long as the ecm has passed all monitors you pass inspection. On a side note, i am looking into a donor 4runner, its a 97 sr5 v6 4x4, it needs a motor but i test drove it and the trans shifted flawless, if i get the truck cheap enough i will try the 97 trans in my 99 and let you know the outcome.

 

[phattyduck]

phattyduck: and no issues with erratic shifts or cel lights? I worked at toyota as a mechanic for over 10 years and I have seen and dealt with junkyard engines that maybe came out of a camry but was going into a rav4 and a mount or bracket just needing to be switched over, if thats the case with the trannys, im leaning to beleive any 96-00 v6 4wd trans should work, regardless of emissions standards.

If anything the 'new' 210k miles '97 trans shifts better than the babied 270k miles '99 trans. There are internal differences with the valve body design, but it seems that from an ECM/TCM perspective, they are compatible.

-Charlie

 

[psamo83]

If anything the 'new' 210k miles '97 trans shifts better than the babied 270k miles '99 trans. There are internal differences with the valve body design, but it seems that from an ECM/TCM perspective, they are compatible.

-Charlie

yep from all the info i can gather valve body design did change in 99, but thats internal, if it bolted up and you did not have any extra sensors that needed to be wired or rewiring needed to the ecm, then it seems more of a redesign possibly in 99 to conform to industry or government standards, as opposed to a completely different trans, which makes me a little less hesitant to find a 96-98 trans/ and or donor vehicle if the price is right.