96 R150F swap into 01 4Runner with blown A340F

[manesfesto]

Here is my dilemma. I have a 01 SAS runner that now has a been throwing metal into my pan for weeks. It shifts like butter but is making tons of noise like it's ready to grenade itself. They quoted me 3k-5k to pull and rebuild it because they seem to think it's done. But also told me these transmissions aren't meant to stand up to 37s an such. So basically it would be a band aid that would end up failing again. I am unsure.

Luckily a day or so prior my 96 Tacoma blew a head gasket. Yeah. Two vehicles destroyed in one week. My luck. :wtf:

Here is my question and I have yet to find a solid answer.

Is it possible to swap the manual transmission from the Tacoma into the 4Runner?

I know it's not the easiest thing but I'm weary of the ECU. I know 01-02 had drive by wire.


I'm truly up shit creek without a paddle here and cannot find a A340F donor ANYWHERE IN TEXAS

HELP

 

[St Runner]

Its been done recently. A member on here replaced his 01/02 auto with a R150f and used a late model 03/04 tacoma for the ecu as those years had drive by wire with a 5speed. No write up but there was a thread on here less than a year ago. He is the only one who I have seen to have done it. The swap itself is not that hard, lots of write-ups on here and on the tacoma sites

 

[manesfesto]

Its been done recently. A member on here replaced his 01/02 auto with a R150f and used a late model 03/04 tacoma for the ecu as those years had drive by wire with a 5speed. No write up but there was a thread on here less than a year ago. He is the only one who I have seen to have done it. The swap itself is not that hard, lots of write-ups on here and on the tacoma sites

Yeah I have been researching a ton before I tear into anything. I just couldn't find if my 01 ecu would accept the older trans. I know there is a big deal with tricking the computer to think it's in neutral.

The whole drive by wire scares me.....

 

[St Runner]

The R150f transmission does not need anything to work thankfully. Lots of work, but replacing the transmission is straightforward mechanically even for the 01/02 that never came with the R150f. An R150f transmission is the same wether it came out of a 4runner or a Tacoma. The issue is getting the ecu to work properly without throwing a cel. You can use your 01 ecu and it will run the engine fine but it will always be looking for your auto transmission which won't exist. You will always have a cel which in some states makes it difficult to pass inspection. You cannot put a manual version of your year ,01, ecu because it does not exist. You can run a late model 1st generation version of tacoma ecu and get it to run properly without a cel. You will also need a bunch of other parts from a older 4runner 96-00 with a manual transmission as your tacoma will have different parts for things like the crossmember and clutch pedal

 

[manesfesto]

The R150f transmission does not need anything to work thankfully. Lots of work, but replacing the transmission is straightforward mechanically even for the 01/02 that never came with the R150f. An R150f transmission is the same wether it came out of a 4runner or a Tacoma. The issue is getting the ecu to work properly without throwing a cel. You can use your 01 ecu and it will run the engine fine but it will always be looking for your auto transmission which won't exist. You will always have a cel which in some states makes it difficult to pass inspection. You cannot put a manual version of your year ,01, ecu because it does not exist. You can run a late model 1st generation version of tacoma ecu and get it to run properly without a cel. You will also need a bunch of other parts from a older 4runner 96-00 with a manual transmission as your tacoma will have different parts for things like the crossmember and clutch pedal

I have seen write ups where dudes are tricking the ecu to think it's in neutral and that works. Also, I have a scangauge, couldn't I just clear the code?

I'm really just trying to find the best solution for this entire terrible scenario

 

[St Runner]

Unless you have an ecu that is designed for a manual transmission you will always have a cel. It can run fine, but it will throw a cel as soon as you start it no matter how many times you clear the code. I have heard about tricking it to think it is in neutral but never heard if that was a long term viable solution. its not that much harder to get the proper ecu and wire it in correctly and not have to worry about it

 

[manesfesto]

Unless you have an ecu that is designed for a manual transmission you will always have a cel. It can run fine, but it will throw a cel as soon as you start it no matter how many times you clear the code. I have heard about tricking it to think it is in neutral but never heard if that was a long term viable solution. its not that much harder to get the proper ecu and wire it in correctly and not have to worry about it

Yeah that's what I figured would be the case. I'm probably going to try and find a 4Runner that's wrecked closer to my year where I can poach everything at once besides the flywheel and clutch. Try and sell the Tacoma in the mean time.

Do you know where I could source an ECU? Also, never dabbled in Toyota electronics much but I do know it's behind the passenger kick panel. Is it just plug and play?

 

[kolelt]

Why don't you go to car-parts.com and get a cheap M/T Ecu? And just plug it in? 4Runner: 00-02 is plug and play between auto harness and manual ecu. When I did my manual swap on my 97. I got a Ecu for $80. And just repinned my auto harness to accept it. But that's because 96-99 manual and autos have different connectors between the Ecu and different pin locations. But if I was you. I'd swap the tranny and get a Ecu for your truck , same year, 4x4 ( assuming your is ). Should read on the Ecu like this 5vzfe 4x4 m/t

 

[absalom]

If all this proves to be too much, and you just want to get back on the road, I've got access to a super clean 01-02 A340f for $500. These are commonly regarded as one of the best trans Toyota ever put out, so it's worth a second thought.

 

[Kram1976]

PM sent

Hey Manesfesto,
I can help you I have several sources for the transmissions. I know where one is right now and can help if you want. I just sent you a PM so call if you want.
Mark

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/5813227246.html

The 340 is a very good transmission. The shop that you took it to does not know what they are talking about. This one only has 180k miles. I would put it in without thinking about it for a second.

Also Car-parts.com has one in Austin and one in Dallas.
If you want Ill do the work for you and you can give me the Tacoma as payment!

 

[TheDurk]

Why don't you go to car-parts.com and get a cheap M/T Ecu? And just plug it in? 4Runner: 00-02 is plug and play between auto harness and manual ecu. When I did my manual swap on my 97. I got a Ecu for $80. And just repinned my auto harness to accept it. But that's because 96-99 manual and autos have different connectors between the Ecu and different pin locations. But if I was you. I'd swap the tranny and get a Ecu for your truck , same year, 4x4 ( assuming your is ). Should read on the Ecu like this 5vzfe 4x4 m/t

There were no manual 4Runners in '01-'02 and those are also the only throttle-by-wire years, so no other year 4Runner manual ECU can work. That's why people adapt the later Taco ECUs, which were manual with TBW that never happened on the Runner.

 

[T4R2014]

The 01-02 A340F's are harder to find because they fail more often than the earlier ones. Something to do with weaker planetary gears.