98 V6 4WD 153K...transmission issue? Please help!

[SpecialK98]

I discovered this website while searching for possible explanations for my latest issue with this truck. Recent history: Jan of this year, infamous strawberry milkshake, new radiator, all is well. October new transfer case & valve cover gaskets, all is well. A 2 hour journey out of town in November, trouble ensues. Exited the freeway, stopped at the light, hit the gas to go and went nowhere, it reved as if it was in neutral..no D2 either, dropped it in low, it went and then I pushed back into drive and had no problems until the 2 hr drive back when I exited the freeway, same thing. Had the transmission flushed to rule out debris & old fluid, no problems. December, left work, a mile later stopped at a light, same thing. I think when it does this it doesn't "downshift" as I slow down for the light. Still inconsistent enough to be able to pin it down, but it is not a great feeling. Any information on this would be wonderful!

Thanks!

Special K

 

[HCurphy]

hmm..I'm not sure of anything. So, consider this a bump.

Might check your kickdown cable on the throttlebody, or maybe a vacuum line not on all the way somewhere...It being that intermittent doesn't really sound like either of those things though.

Good Luck to you, someone more knowledgable then me will surely speak up eventually

 

[PitbullRescuer]

My guess, shift control module. Only a guess though. Any check engine light or have you scanned it for codes?

 

[SpecialK98]

No check engine lights, no warning lights at all...I haven't had it scanned, all the dealer wants to do is throw a transmission in it. I really don't think that is the true issue, it runs too good.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I don't think it's the trans itself. A bad trans is a bad trans, it wouldn't be intermittent like that. My bet is a module, probably not too big of a deal, just have to diagnose it.

 

[brian2sun]

There are (I believe) 3 shift solenoids in the A340F tranny which are accessible when you remove the pan (you don't have to drop the tranny. Since the problem seems to come and go, I'm inclined to think it's probably electrical and my guess is a bad solenoid since that seems to be a likely cause of your symptoms. They don't always throw codes when they go bad, but a code does make it easier to narrow down which one to replace. I would try replacing these before you let the dealer just replace the whole tranny. The dealer may be able to test each solenoid too, but IDK for sure. Here's a thread with some good info from mt goat (on YT)...
4Runner Transmission Shift Solenoid location??? - YotaTech Forums

 

[SpecialK98]

Thanks you guys, I really appreciate it. I'll get that stuff checked out. Sometimes still in the world today a female walking into a car dealership is assumed to know squat. Well, I know enough not to let them put a new transmission in, and thanks to you guys, I have solid possible explanations. Now I'll be walking in there telling them what to look for...this forum rocks!


Thanks again,

Special K