4runner stalls in anything but 1st gear

[schnurrg]

New to this forum and would appreciate any help on this issue.

I have a 1995 4runner that dies in anything but 1st gear. It's an automatic, 2 WD, V6, 132,000 miles. All plugs, wires, rotor, fuel filter, etc have been changed out. We also changed out the ignition switch. Have disconnected the cat, no change. Like I said, car idles and will go if put into 1st gear.

This is driving us crazy as the diagnostic port will not work or pull and codes.

Could the diagnostic port be a bad fuse somewhere ?

Tranny sensor ? MAF was cleaned out, stuck on this.

 

[DC runner]

1995 didn't have OBDII. You won't be able to pull codes like v that. If you google, you will find on a pre-OBDII, you can check for codes by putting the car in a diagnostic mode and reading the times the Che k engine flashes. I don't remember the sequence, but you short two circuits in the engine bay ecu panel, then you turn car to ON, not start, and the check engine will flash. Google 2nd gen engine code instructions.

This only works if your check engine light is on, and only if it relates to the few sensors on it. A 2nd gen Toyota has very few sensors compared to today.

Also, why you you just replacing every thing instead of finding the problem? It sounds basically like a bad torque converter or shift solenoid in the transmission. Dying as soon as it attemos to shift is a really bad sign and your trans is probably toast. There are no codes I believe stored on that year for the auto transmission, meaning no computer help. I recommend you let a professional look at it. It clearly isn't a gas issue, it sounds dead on a transmission issue. When a torque converter goes bad or your shift solenoids die, this is exactly what happens and it usually means a dying transmission.

 

[schnurrg]

I haven't been throwing parts at it, that's what I can tell was previously done on it. Got the unit for $450, owner said bad tranny but it seemed more electrical to me.

I tried doing the paper clip to the diagnostic port, didn't try with car on though. But like you said, if it's tranny it won't show that code ?

Thanks for the info !!

 

[KidVermicious]

If there are any trans codes the OD light will be flashing. There probably aren't, like said above its not a very smart system (which is why we like it).

For the price of a used trans, I'd just throw another one in. If it doesn't fix it you can seek out on for what you paid.

 

[schnurrg]

Thanks.

If we pull the tranny out, anyway to verify a bad torque comverter or other bad parts ?