'95 T4R - lack of power, no TC lockup/OD

[96PSD]

Hey guys, I have a few questions regarding my younger sister's '95 T4R automatic. I'm a Ford diesel guy myself, so I'm pretty clueless about Toyotas.

So, short story. We bought the runner a few months ago with 134k on it. On the drive home from picking it up, we began having problems with the CEL. It was running fine, but the light kept coming back on every time we started driving it. Everytime we had the codes pulled, it was one relating to the knock sensor.

Long story short, the knock sensor was picking up the resonation from the aluminum tubing in the aftermarket intake the PO had put on. Put a stock intake back on, no more problems.

Only about a week later, she's complaining about a lack of power and poor MPG (like 12 to 13 MPG). I'm used to my chipped powerstroke, but I know a lack of power when I see one. It has torque, but it's a realllyyy slow revver.

About a week ago we dropped it off to have the AC recharged, and while cruising back home at about 60 mph, I noticed the tach sitting at about 3700 RPM. I then realized it never shifted into OD or locked the torque converter. She consistently drives 55 to 60 mph going to work and back, and with it screaming along like that would probably explain the poor MPG. I did a little reading on here and was thinking of doing a good tune-up and checking for a plugged cat to see if it helps matters. I know the 3.0's aren't power animals, but even my cousin's '89 3.0 auto is a bit quicker.

But, I know OD works and the TC locks, because it did the other day when I was driving it home from work. It just only works about 2% of the time.

So, help me out here guys. My sister doesn't drive it anymore because of the poor MPG, and my parents are wanting me (since I'm putting myself through ASE classes) to fix it before they have to take it to a mechanic. Aside from these issues, it runs great. Fires right up, no smoke, etc...

Thanks!

 

[run4yota]

the 3.0s have a feature in the ecu that wont allow the transmission to drop into OD unless the engine has reached normal operating temperature it's for emissions to warm up the cat faster. this is a very common problem with 3.0s

i would look into the coolant temp. if not that check your atf level.

then read this link if all else fails:

MK3 TSRM On-Line

 

[96PSD]

I have read about that feature before. The only two times I have had OD work, it had been driven previously in the day, and it had been in the high 70's and 80's while it sat. Is there a good way to check the coolant temp sensor? And how should I go about checking the ATF level? Should I just go run it around for a while and then check it?

 

[mattb]

I had a problem similar to that on mine. When I was getting my timing belt replaced my mechanic noticed that my thermostat was gutted, thus taking the engine FOREVER to come up to temp and hardly ever going into OD. After that was replaced it came up to temp usually within 5 minutes. A good tune up (plugs, wires, cap and rotor) also made a noticeable difference in the power department. It's certainly not going to win any races, but it's now a lot more acceptable.