93 trans problem. need help!

[Cartmendez]

K, I have a 93 3.0 v6 4wd auto that's got me stumped. If I have it in 2wd or 4hi the transmission slips like crazy and some times won't even engage when I put it in drive or reverse. Once I get out of first gear though it runs just fine, until I stop again. But, if I'm in 4lo it works perfectly every time no matter what.

Any ideas? I really need help as shops are no help on this.

 

[run4yota]

i hate to be the bearer of bad news.. i just dealt with this exact problem on my 95.. i took it to several shops and all quoted me "rebuild" is needed for tranny... i ended up converting it to manual for a 1/4 the cost of an auto rebuild...

if you do end up finding the problem, post it up, i'm totally curious as to what causes this common problem in these a340's

check out this link, it has TONS of great info and diagnostics for our trannies

MK3 TSRM On-Line

 

[Cartmendez]

Awesome link, thanks for that. I've kind of been expecting the transmission to need a rebuild but been hoping otherwise. I may try a few other things first where this is not a primary vehicle. If it comes down to it I was thinking of doing the manual conversion also. Was it pretty easy to do? I've also read that this problem could be just a bad transfer case and not the transmission at all, so that something else I'm considering. I have several options being I can take the time needed and just do it all myself.....

 

[run4yota]

i'm VERY curious as to what is causeing your problem because i threw my tranny away because of the same problem. if you decide to do the conversion let me know, i'm currently doing a step by step write up on how to do it, it's relatively easy, just time consuming. with a helper i'd say it's totally feasible for a weekend job

from what i hear the 5sp conversion is supposed to get 2-3 MPG better that auto, and be much peppy'er and reliable not to mention 200 pounds lighter

 

[Cartmendez]

Well, after spending some time tinkering with this thing and going over it again and again I don't think that the transmission is bad. I went ahead and flushed the tranny, put in a new filter and fluid of course and then TRIED to replicate the problem. Here is where i stand now. If I am on level ground and start up the truck it will go without a hitch and shifts great. In fact once it is in gear it shifts up and down like its brand new. Now, if I'm sitting facing and incline and I have to go from either park or reverse into drive it takes some time to engage and will engage faster if I let it roll a little. Same goes for if I'm on a decline and need to go into reverse. But once it engages I'm good.

So, I'm not sure what this is caused by, maybe a shift solenoid, I dunno. Either way I'm not convinced that the tranny is toast and I'm just going to drive it as is and give it a littlemore tlc than normal.

Hope this helps anyone that may experience this problem.

 

[ozzyleven]

Theres a real big Toyota mechanic (its all he works on) around where I live. He is convinced that the 2nd gen transmissions are very strong and claims he has only ever seen 2 of them in roughly 20 years go to hell completely. Not sure how true that comment is, but he claims 99% of the time, the shift solenoid is the problem, not the tranny itself.

 

[run4yota]

you're in the same process as me, i changed the fluid, and added a little trans x and the problems went away for the most part, i drove the truck nice and easy for a while and it got me around, but i never trusted it for 4wheelin. then all at once it just dumped on me, all gears started slipping and it was done for. i put in the 5 speed, and LOVE it. i would say drive it easy for now and save up for a rebuild or 5 speed manual