4Runner won't move forward in Drive when cold

[JohnsD90]

Hi, I'm new and not mechanically inclined.

I have a similar problem. When the temperature drops to say 4F, my vehicle won't move when I shift to drive. The vehicle tries to move but it is moving like a cm (foot off the brake). However, if I reverse, the truck will roll fine. So, on cold days I have to let it warm up for say 10 minutes and then it is good to go. My vehicle is a 1999 4runner SR5 automatic.

The only related issue would be the radiator cracked and leaked fluid into the transmission and it was drained 7 times (according to dealership) and then they sent it to get flushed by a machine because draining wasn't clearing the problem.

IIRC when the radiator leaks into the tranny it means it overheated and is most likely shot, but i could be wrong.
Read this thread. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/59707-t4r-radiator-design-questions-pink-milkshake.html

 

[efficientsense]

Thanks for the info JohnsD90. That's exactly what happened.. the coolant mixed in the transmission fluid. The radiator was replaced and I assume the transmission was ok after all the flushing. I wasn't aware this was a common issue.. and there's a term "strawberry milkshake" for it.. Thanks for the link!

 

[norcal_WERKZ]

I'm experiencing something similar right now. I'm in norcal so it isn't too cold at all I'm sure. Only difference is, mine is already warmed up. I have a 97 4wd auto, I drove to work fine. I drove thru a couple spots where gutters were flooded close to 12inches. Drove fine still, parked and left engine running for about 30 minutes. When I threw it in D, my trans went in gear, gave it a little gas but it felt like something was holding it back. Gave it more throttle and I can feel it trying to move but can't, then all of a sudden I feel a jerk and it will go. The jerk feels kind of like if you were to be in N, give it just a little gas the put it in D before rpm drops. It keeps getting stuck like this, but when I get it going it seems to loosen up and drive fine. Anyone have ay idea what it could be? I would hate to get stuck at work in this ugly weather.

 

[norcal_WERKZ]

Oh yeah I forgot to add that, it reverse ok, I feel it being a little tight, but it doesn't jerk. Its mainly going forward that really feels like my brakes or something is locking and jerks when it finally releases.

 

[rdgt4r]

Oh yeah I forgot to add that, it reverse ok, I feel it being a little tight, but it doesn't jerk. Its mainly going forward that really feels like my brakes or something is locking and jerks when it finally releases.

Where in NorCal are you located? Is this issue related to the rear drum having issues? like all the hardware working properly and all?

 

[brian2sun]

I'm experiencing something similar right now. I'm in norcal so it isn't too cold at all I'm sure. Only difference is, mine is already warmed up. I have a 97 4wd auto, I drove to work fine. I drove thru a couple spots where gutters were flooded close to 12inches. Drove fine still, parked and left engine running for about 30 minutes. When I threw it in D, my trans went in gear, gave it a little gas but it felt like something was holding it back. Gave it more throttle and I can feel it trying to move but can't, then all of a sudden I feel a jerk and it will go. The jerk feels kind of like if you were to be in N, give it just a little gas the put it in D before rpm drops. It keeps getting stuck like this, but when I get it going it seems to loosen up and drive fine. Anyone have ay idea what it could be? I would hate to get stuck at work in this ugly weather.

Check your tranny fluid, u-joints, grease driveline.

 

[brian2sun]

Make sure your shifter assembly isn't sketchy either.

 

[norcal_WERKZ]

This has to be a brake issue, don't feel like trans problem at all. When I let it roll to a stop, it rolls fine until it gets really slow then it stops as if I pressed on breaks.




I'm in Sacramento/Elk Grove area. After reading your reasponse, I tried watching my driver rear wheel while I give it gas. I didn't notice much. But when I threw it in R, it went back normal, I put it in D and it rolled mayb 6 inches and then my rear driver wheel locked up!!! I tried it again and it did the same thing! I know my rear axle seal is leaking on this side but not sure for how long since it was my dads before me and he never checked. I was planning on replacing the seal next weekend but I might have to do it sooner? What issues do these have with the rear brakes?

 

[CajunRunner]

This exact thing happened to me last month. Below freezing weather. I always use my parking brake. Left rear axle oil seal went out and the rear drums wouldn't release. Counterintuitive because the previous 3 times my rear axle seals went out, I had zero braking from the rear.

For some reason this time it locked up the back end. Transmission engaged, but the rear left wheel wouldn't rotate...I spun the right wheel goosing it. For a few freezing days prior, I noticed the grab and thunk mentioned in this thread. Not knowing what it was at the time, I was able to get it moving with a thunk by going in reverse first.

On the morning when it totally seized, I jacked it and removed the drum. Had to use puller bolts to get the thing off. That's when I discovered the oil seal had blown again. It's like the whole thing went out of adjustment because I couldn't get the drum back on over the pads, so I compressed the brake pad adjuster bolt a couple of revolutions and drove it to my local Toyota dealership. They fixed the oil seal and brakes for free. Well, not exactly...I paid them to fix the oil seal before and took advantage of the 3 year warranty from that repair so it only cost me time and inconvenience.

Running like a champ since.

 

[norcal_WERKZ]

Weather here is not too bad, maybe high 40s low 50s right now so I don't think my ebrake is locking. Seems more like my drums is starting to malfunction, maybe due to the leaking seal? Its just weird because I can go reverse pretty easy but going forward is nearly impossible. Since I was stuck in the narrow parking lot, I turned my steering wheel all the way to the left and just kept giving throttle. Luckily the road is wet, I was able to move enough so that I have room to go in reverse. Reversed it about 1/8th of a mile. Then tried it in D, it was tight but not impossible to go. I parked it in the open now so I can do this again when I get off work, or if I decide to get it towed, there will be more room for the tow truck to pick me up.



Do these 4runners have known issues with the drums? I tried a quick google and a couple needed to readjust their rears. I don't have tools to do so right now, but it just don't seem like my problem. My issue isn't consistant. When I'm able to roll, at a slow speed, I can feel the rear lock and unlock lightly. But only once in a while.

 

[brian2sun]

Just take your drums apart and look, that's better than guesses from us. You should be able to see if something is wedged, or a retainer spring came off, or whatever. I'm sure it's slopped with grease in there and the brakes are going to need replacing regardless because once the axle grease gets on there they are done.

 

[norcal_WERKZ]

I didn't have tools at work to look at it which is why I asked about it. After I got it going, I left work early and drove home slowly. At times, it felt like the drums locked up and I had give it a lot more throttle to keep going. When I got home, I noticed to spring that helps release the ebrake was missing. Not sure if this will cause it to lock up that bad or not, but I re adjusted the shoes and took the drum off to look. Evrything was right, nothing missing or broken. Maybe I just needed to adjust it only? For now it drives fine. but who knows how long it'll last. I'll report back if anything comes up.

 

[CajunRunner]

Update from my previous post. Whatever was causing my left rear lockup last month is back again after a couple days of freezing weather. Truck's in the shop now. I presume it has nothing to do with the rear axle oil seal that was also leaking last time. I can't imagine that it's leaking again after only 1 month. I'll report back with the results hopefully tomorrow...hoping they find a smoking gun. I find it strange that it's locking up tight enough prevent the wheel from spinning forward at all under a slight goose of engine power. It reluctantly releases with a thunk when I go in reverse for a couple of feet but then intermittently locks up again when I slow down to 1 mph or come to a complete stop. Frustrating.

 

[CajunRunner]

Well, it was oil impregnated rear brake pads again because the dealership failed to replace them last time they did the rear axle oil seal. Technicians obviously dropped the ball with a partial fix. Despite the frustration and wasted time, another zero cost warranty repair for me.

 

[kball]

Technicians obviously dropped the ball with a partial fix.

I wouldn't call that dropping the ball, I call that ripping off the customer. And on brakes no less!! There's no way you put oil soaked pads back on without knowing it. I'd find another dealer.

 

[norcal_WERKZ]

So far, my drums been ok. No issues since I adjusted them.


Hope yours get resolved soon too bro

 

[lnghrnz]

Hey guys - new here. I've got the same thing going on w/my '99 w/auto. Bought in Dallas first of Feb - not too cold at all. Salesman brought truck around to test drive - would not go. I don't know how he got it around front! Had me, the wife , and salesman in the car - gave it gas until it finally lunged forward w/a whump. Salesman took it back to shop - had 3 mechs look at it and then look at it again. They said they found some grease on the drum and that brakes were sticking because it was cold - maybe - maybe not. Anyway they cleaned the grease off and I got it home the next day.

Still have an issue but not severe - nothing at all like at dealership. When slowing down to stop - say , down to just a creep at a light - it almost feels like the right rear grabs and jerks. On sand or dirt it will skid the right rear. Once in a while it feels like - when taking off from a stop - like the rear brake(s)-want to hold on(not release completely). Once I get it rolling everything is fine. Not that bad but disconcerting.

I do also have an issue w/the parking brake. Sometimes - not all - I can pull the parking brake up and it will not latch (stay up or on).

Gotta find a "real" break shop to look it over.

 

[p nut]

I don't know how many of you have tried, but if you engage the parking brake, you can still make the truck move. So I can't see this being a brake problem.

I do remember reading about a guy having same problems. Transmission fluid checked out fine, shifted fine once warmed up. Well, they dropped the transmission pan and found it was caked with gooey fluid. In the cold, it would be REALLY gooey, which is why the transmission wouldn't shift. Once it was a little warmed up, it shifted fine.

You guys need to drop the pan and thoroughly clean and flush the transmission fluid. I'm betting that's where the problem is.

 

[norcal_WERKZ]

i dont know about everyone else, but mine was not, and CAN NOT, be a transmission problem. i can open my door and watch my rear left wheel lock up and drag, then unlock and so on. I think this problem have something to do with leaking rear seal onto the drums. shoes might get soft? i came to this crazy conclusion that made sense to me, but probably wont to anyone else lol. what if, all that oil soaking on the shoes somehow made shoes a little softer then normal? and in that situation, once you use your ebrake a couple times, having soft pads will kind of trick the self adjusting part and let it tighten way more then its suppose to right? i know i use my ebrake alot, because im so used to driving manual trans, especially with the leakin seal, my ebrake dont work as good so i have to lift higher then normal. wouldnt this kind of over tighten drums? ever since i cleaned and re-adjusted the drums, i stopped using my ebrake and havent had a problem.

 

[CajunRunner]

When slowing down to stop - say , down to just a creep at a light - it almost feels like the right rear grabs and jerks. On sand or dirt it will skid the right rear. Once in a while it feels like - when taking off from a stop - like the rear brake(s)-want to hold on(not release completely). Once I get it rolling everything is fine.

This is EXACTLY what mine was doing. Oil impregnated brake pads were the culprit...twice. Once they've had oil on them, they must be replaced. Just wiping them 'clean' or even spraying brake cleaner on them will not solve the problem. If you have new, certifiably clean pads and you're still locking up, then that's another problem. But look no further than contaminated pads if they've ever had oil or grease on them.