A New "Another Transmission Thread" Thread

[_chassis_]

Glad you got it sorted.

Always start with the easiest thing first. No offense to your UPS buddy, but if he doesn't own, or have owned in the past, a 4Runner, the forum advice trumps his. A Freightliner Class 8 tractor has nothing in common with a 4Runner.

After the first couple of posts, I was thinking - low fluid. Yes easy for me to say this after the fact, but it's true. I ran a 4th gen for 205k miles and it was a great vehicle. I wanted to run it to 300k miles as a badge of honor, but my wife convinced me we didn't need a third, mostly unused, vehicle.

You need to stay 100% on top of this vehicle given the age and mileage. It is capable of 400k miles, but you need to anticipate failures before they happen. I would start methodically replacing electrical items, mainly sensors and the starting/charging system, and change all fluids, if you haven't done this already.

Also keep the engine block, heads, cam covers and intake spotlessly clean. This allows you to see fluid leaks the moment they happen and it gives you time to either plan the repair yourself, or to generate other options to address.

 

[BillyJackJimBob]

How could you not see that over a QT of fluid had leaked out on the underside of the radiator area? Not trying be an ass but that would be pretty obvious.

Seems it doesn't leak much when not under pressure. I knew I had something leaking. Definitely had little drops in the driveway and yes I could see it under the hood. But nothing I was seeing would have made me think I had lost multiple quarts of anything. Again, something this thread might be able to help others understand.

 

[BillyJackJimBob]

Glad you got it sorted.

Always start with the easiest thing first. No offense to your UPS buddy, but if he doesn't own, or have owned in the past, a 4Runner, the forum advice trumps his. A Freightliner Class 8 tractor has nothing in common with a 4Runner.

After the first couple of posts, I was thinking - low fluid. Yes easy for me to say this after the fact, but it's true. I ran a 4th gen for 205k miles and it was a great vehicle. I wanted to run it to 300k miles as a badge of honor, but my wife convinced me we didn't need a third, mostly unused, vehicle.

You need to stay 100% on top of this vehicle given the age and mileage. It is capable of 400k miles, but you need to anticipate failures before they happen. I would start methodically replacing electrical items, mainly sensors and the starting/charging system, and change all fluids, if you haven't done this already.

Also keep the engine block, heads, cam covers and intake spotlessly clean. This allows you to see fluid leaks the moment they happen and it gives you time to either plan the repair yourself, or to generate other options to address.

Eddie was a crew member for Joe Gibbs NASCAR teams for several years. Owned his own high performance import shop. And was a Toyota dealership master tech. He owns one of the nicest Supras you will ever see, makes over 800 whp. He drives for UPS. He doesn't turn wrenches for them. His initial diagnosis was "it's probably just low on fluid." I just had no way of checking it. And he and I work and live on opposite shifts.

Good advice on the cleaning the bay and preventative maintenance. Most wearables and all fluids have been changed at least twice at about 120k and again around 220k. Other than the suspension being sloppy she drives great. Put about 500 interstate miles a week on her.