Easternbmx
New member
Just purchased a '98 Limited with 130k miles about three months ago. I have used this excellent site to perform a good deal of maintenance on it since then, plugs/wires, fluids, small interior and exterior mods, etc.
In the last two weeks I have developed a problem with the A340F transmission. I am looking for help and will keep this thread updated with findings and hopefully a fix, I might even break open the tranny if I have it replaced and take some pictures if there are obviously failed parts.
It started by throwing a P0770 code right at the end of a 3 hour drive:
P0770 Shift Solenoid E Malfunction
The ECM compares engagement condition of TCC with lock-up schedule in memory to detect MECHANICAL trouble of lock-up solenoid, valve body and torque converter. A P0770 trouble code is set when TCC lock-up does not occur during appropriate speed, or lock-up does not release at appropriate speed.
Possible causes are:
* Solenoid is stuck open or closed.
* Valve body clogged or valve stuck.
* TCC malfunction.
I hadn't felt any problems shifting so I cleared the code. Checked the ATF level which was fine. I drove for a couple days paying close attention to how it was shifting. No obvious problems.
On the third day as soon as I started it up in the morning I heard a buzzing/grinding noise coming from under the vehicle. I checked under the hood but could hardly hear the sound, crawling under and putting my ear near the transmission made it obvious that was the source.
When I increase throttle in any gear, including Park and Neutral, the noise increases in pitch and volume. I went for a quick spin around the block and the sound persisted. I parked it for the day and tried again that night. No sound, shifts fine drove around town no problem. Over the course of the next few days the sound would come back intermittently, sometimes on startup, sometimes while driving.
I flushed the transmision using the cooler hose and ran about 16 quarts through it. The fluid coming out was very black and cloudy, but after running my magnet through didn't seem to have any metal shavings. It also did not appear to have any pink milkshake indicators, and my coolant looks fine.
The grinding persists though. I also noticed that at speeds when the TC should be locked up it will never lock up. It appears to attempt to lock up with the RPMs dropping a couple hundred, then instantly bounce up to the original RPMs, and up/down/up/down. The P0770 codes keeps returning also.
From what I have found it sounds like the torque converter failing or a bearing going bad much more than a simple solenoid problem.
Here is a video of the sound taken with my camera sitting on top of the front swaybar facing forward:
YouTube - 4Runner tranny noise
I found a used tranny with 60k on it that I can have installed by a reputable Toyota shop for $1300, or the dealership a few hours away would install a factory new tranny for a total of $3000, lower than I expected, but still over half what I paid for the car.
Anybody have any suggestions on what is causing this noise or any fixes short of replacement?
In the last two weeks I have developed a problem with the A340F transmission. I am looking for help and will keep this thread updated with findings and hopefully a fix, I might even break open the tranny if I have it replaced and take some pictures if there are obviously failed parts.
It started by throwing a P0770 code right at the end of a 3 hour drive:
P0770 Shift Solenoid E Malfunction
The ECM compares engagement condition of TCC with lock-up schedule in memory to detect MECHANICAL trouble of lock-up solenoid, valve body and torque converter. A P0770 trouble code is set when TCC lock-up does not occur during appropriate speed, or lock-up does not release at appropriate speed.
Possible causes are:
* Solenoid is stuck open or closed.
* Valve body clogged or valve stuck.
* TCC malfunction.
I hadn't felt any problems shifting so I cleared the code. Checked the ATF level which was fine. I drove for a couple days paying close attention to how it was shifting. No obvious problems.
On the third day as soon as I started it up in the morning I heard a buzzing/grinding noise coming from under the vehicle. I checked under the hood but could hardly hear the sound, crawling under and putting my ear near the transmission made it obvious that was the source.
When I increase throttle in any gear, including Park and Neutral, the noise increases in pitch and volume. I went for a quick spin around the block and the sound persisted. I parked it for the day and tried again that night. No sound, shifts fine drove around town no problem. Over the course of the next few days the sound would come back intermittently, sometimes on startup, sometimes while driving.
I flushed the transmision using the cooler hose and ran about 16 quarts through it. The fluid coming out was very black and cloudy, but after running my magnet through didn't seem to have any metal shavings. It also did not appear to have any pink milkshake indicators, and my coolant looks fine.
The grinding persists though. I also noticed that at speeds when the TC should be locked up it will never lock up. It appears to attempt to lock up with the RPMs dropping a couple hundred, then instantly bounce up to the original RPMs, and up/down/up/down. The P0770 codes keeps returning also.
From what I have found it sounds like the torque converter failing or a bearing going bad much more than a simple solenoid problem.
Here is a video of the sound taken with my camera sitting on top of the front swaybar facing forward:
YouTube - 4Runner tranny noise
I found a used tranny with 60k on it that I can have installed by a reputable Toyota shop for $1300, or the dealership a few hours away would install a factory new tranny for a total of $3000, lower than I expected, but still over half what I paid for the car.
Anybody have any suggestions on what is causing this noise or any fixes short of replacement?
