99 shifting issue

L

ljshein

New member
Guys,

I have a 99 4x4 limited automatic that has developed a shifting issue in the last week. It shifts smoothly up through 4th gear. I'm cruising along in 4th at 50+ mph and the engine is turning about 1500 rpm, if I get a slight uphill, I get a clunk like it thinks it wants to downshift but it never actually does. If I stay at that speed, it will continue to clunk until I either get over the hill and let off the gas or put my foot into it and force it to downshift. Obviously if I turn off the overdrive, it won't do it (never gets to 4th gear) and engaging the 4wd doesn't seem to make a difference.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Jeff
 
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Sounds like your torque converter has taken a beating. Might need to get at least that replaced.
 
Color of the fluid?

Transmission mount condition?

Can you recreate it in any other gear?
 
Last edited:
Well, when you are in 4th at 50 at 1500 rpm the first thing your tranny will do when it hits a hill is unlock the torque converter, not drop 3rd. Now if you mash the gas it will just dump 3rd, but if you are giving steady throttle it will unlock the converter first. So wehn yoiu are going up a big hill and your revs jump say 3-500, you have not hit 3rd, just unlocked the T/C. So my question is this, is your torque converter unlocking or no? My guess is your converter is not unlocking for some reason and it only remedies the situation by dumping a gear. Thus clunking as it tries to unlock the coverter, then when you mash it, it dumps 3rd, and when you ease up it locks back up.
 
ljshein said:
Guys,

I have a 99 4x4 limited automatic that has developed a shifting issue in the last week. It shifts smoothly up through 4th gear. I'm cruising along in 4th at 50+ mph and the engine is turning about 1500 rpm, if I get a slight uphill, I get a clunk like it thinks it wants to downshift but it never actually does. If I stay at that speed, it will continue to clunk until I either get over the hill and let off the gas or put my foot into it and force it to downshift. Obviously if I turn off the overdrive, it won't do it (never gets to 4th gear) and engaging the 4wd doesn't seem to make a difference.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Jeff
Click to expand...

This is almost exactly the same problem I've been having, actually. Except in addition, my 99 4R likes to "put" or "jerk" along from a stop sign (on a flat, level road) before any gas is applied.

I've taken it in to 2 places already. The first said it was the rear-end and that I needed to get a new seal kit...not quite what it entailed besides me paying an 1100 dollar bill and paying for a rental for an entire week...and I still have the problem...yay.

Took it to my local Aamco shop (thinking at this point that it MUST be a transmission issue), they said the transmission is fine (thankfully, saving me spending yet another 1100-1500 on that), but that I should probably get a tune-up...so, after 300ish for the tune-up and another 200 or so for a couple coils (something to do with the spark plugs) and yet another week w/out a 2nd car...everythings fixed...or not.

Long story short: probably a dozen plus mechanics looked at it, including a master tech that used to work for Toyota and some mechanics at my local Toyota dealer...nobody knows or thinks that there's actually anything wrong with it...

I like the Torque Converter idea...but I'm hesitant to pay anything more if it's not going to fix the ONE problem I set out to get fixed over 2 grand ago...

Any suggestions from one of you more seasoned 4Runner guys?!?

Thanks in advance!
 
thanks for the responses guys!!

It has 111K mikes on it now, the fluid was flushed about 90K. I haven't greased the drive line. I checked the mounts at about 90K. It only happens between 3rd & 4th. I do tow a boat on some weekends, it weighs about 3000 lbs. about 20 minutes each way to / from the lake.

Interesting thought about the torque converter, how can I tell if it's unlocking?

rmjaquith - sorry to hear about your situation.. that's a lot of money to spend with no results. Hopefully this thread helps.

Jeff
 
You need to know your truck to know if the T/C is unlocking, meaning what RPM equals what speed in what gear. As an example, if 50 in 4th is 1500 RPM, hit the O/D off button and see what 50 in 3rd is, if it is say 2200 then put O/D back on. At 50 if your truck is unlocking the T/C you would see the RPM jump from say 1500-1800, that lets you know the T/C is unlocked.

You mentioned towing a 3k boat, often boats list dry weight. by the time you gas it up and add all your gear and trailer that number is gone. The 3rd gen V6 is only rated to 5k, but that's also assuming you are carrying virtually no gear and are alone, most agree that the number feels high for a 3rd gen. When you tow this load do you use the O/D off button? If your answer is no, I just put it in D, then yes, your T/C is more than likely shot. Autos create heat like crazy, our trucks have a wimpy little cooler in the radiator, if you tow at all that should be upgraded. When you leave O/D on while towing your truck is probably locking and unlocking the T/C quite often, which creates an incredible amount of heat, which will break your fluid down in a jiffy, thus leading to tranny failure. A rule of thumb, if the T/C is cycling very often then it is a good idea to use O/D off, if the T/C unlocks and remains unlocked up a long hill, then locks back up for a few miles that is fine, it should do that and the few miles give it plenty of time to cool down. Now if its one hill after another O/D off is a good idea.
 
ljshein said:
thanks for the responses guys!!

It has 111K mikes on it now, the fluid was flushed about 90K. I haven't greased the drive line. I checked the mounts at about 90K. It only happens between 3rd & 4th. I do tow a boat on some weekends, it weighs about 3000 lbs. about 20 minutes each way to / from the lake.

Interesting thought about the torque converter, how can I tell if it's unlocking?

rmjaquith - sorry to hear about your situation.. that's a lot of money to spend with no results. Hopefully this thread helps.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Update on my situation: appartently, since 22 hours ago when I spilled my guts out about my entire situation my Runster no longer has any of it's problems what-so-ever...weird, right?! That's what I said! We'll see how this next week goes...:driving:
 
update:

So after doing more research and putting more miles on the truck, I'm 98% sure the problem is the torque converter.

I found a few other threads that talk about how the oil cooler is small on these trucks and towing without turning off the over drive will over heat the torque converter and lead to a premature failure.

The problem has gotten worse with time, it bucks in 3rd gear too and on acceleration from a stop. I've decided pulling the transmission on this one is a bigger job than I'm set up to handle so I'll reluctantly pay someone to handle it. This one is going to be expensive!!!

thanks for the advice!

Jeff
 
Update:

I was so sure of myself and I was so wrong! I found a local mechanic who is fair & honest, recommended by a few friends. As soon as I described the issue to him, he said NOT torque converter. He said he gets one like this a week and 95% of the time it's not the converter, in fact with Toyota's he's never had to replace a torque converter.

Plugs, wires & a throttle body cleaning solved the problem. The truck is running better than it has in a very long time and I was out the door for under $250.

Jeff
 
I'm having the 'Slip or shudder (1st)' symptom as listed in raydouble's pdf. My transmission shop says it's the transfer case that is going out and contaminating the 1st gear clutch. Told it will gradually get worse.
 
Hi guys. Its been 6 years since someone has commented on this thread. However, I'm having the same issue as described here.
I'm pretty positive it isn't my transmission.
I'm getting ready to replace the U Joints in the drive shaft. I'll clean the throttle body and grease the rest of the belly and hope for the best as I'm getting ready to drive from Los Angeles to Tennessee in a couple of weeks.
Anyone have any other suggestions as to what this could be or any updates?
 
Voilala -

I remember this vividly! I had the wrong plugs in the truck. They ran fine for quite some time but when they started to break down there wasn't enough fire for the truck. The recommended plug is a split fire... kind of expensive but replacing the plugs solved the problem.

I sold the truck a few years ago, I really miss it!
 
Voilala said:
Hi guys. Its been 6 years since someone has commented on this thread. However, I'm having the same issue as described here.
I'm pretty positive it isn't my transmission.
I'm getting ready to replace the U Joints in the drive shaft. I'll clean the throttle body and grease the rest of the belly and hope for the best as I'm getting ready to drive from Los Angeles to Tennessee in a couple of weeks.
Anyone have any other suggestions as to what this could be or any updates?
Click to expand...

Maintenance first, repairs later.

Get your house (vehicle) in order first and determine problems after everything is up to snuff. That list could be a little lengthy if it has been a while since maintenance has been done. This forum will be the right place to find all those items. You need to anyway so start there and don't spend more until you need to.
 
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