Auto Tranny Shifting Hard

PhdNPrerunners

PhdNPrerunners

New member
Hey guys on my 99 4runner when I drive it like a grandma it shifts hard into second and third but when I accelerate hard it shifts smooth into every gear. The tranny has 155k miles on it so i think it shouldnt be going out already. Also I checked the tranny fluid and it is full. What do you guys think it could be?
 
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Does it do this all the time? The tranny always shifts smoother on mine when it's at normal temp. I go easy on it when it's cold.
 
PhdNPrerunners said:
Yup it does it all the time. The only time I doesn't shift hard is when I am turning so I don't know why it would do that
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I don't understand what turning has to do with the shifting :confused:

Just wondering about maintenance history. Fluid changes or flushes (w/ or w/o filter change) and how often? Can you say with certainty what type of fluid is in there? I've heard that wrong fluid types can create your symptoms too.

Lastly, I'm not doubting your automotive knowledge, but checking the fluid is kind of a pita and people frequently ask how to do it. It wouldn't hurt to check it again. Just discussed here
 
004Gunner said:
I don't understand what turning has to do with the shifting :confused:

Just wondering about maintenance history. Fluid changes or flushes (w/ or w/o filter change) and how often? Can you say with certainty what type of fluid is in there? I've heard that wrong fluid types can create your symptoms too.

Lastly, I'm not doubting your automotive knowledge, but checking the fluid is kind of a pita and people frequently ask how to do it. It wouldn't hurt to check it again. Just discussed here
Click to expand...

As far as maintenance history I have no idea. I just bought it last week so I have no idea if the tranny has been serviced or not. As far as the turning thing I have no idea. I hope I don't have to get the tranny replaced. That would really suck :mad:
 
In that case I would recommend a series of drain and fills along with a transmission filter change. The filter runs around $40 for an OEM and I would recommend you just buy a case of Dexron III tranny fluid. A DIY flush would be ok too, it really depends on your preference. Most people would advise that you stay away from a power flush (flushing machine) due to unknown maintenance history.

The tranny fluid could be just worn out, contaminated, burnt, etc. leading to rough shifting from inadequate lubrication. No way to know for sure but starting with proper maintenance is a good first step.

Edit: Link for DIY flush here.
 
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This thread might be of some use:

TSB for Tranny Lag

Basically when turning around a corner your truck "thinks" you are coming to a stop and shifts into 1st, but then when you get back on the gas the engine revs and it shift sort of hard going back into second. Really disappointing Toyota hasn't came out with a fix for this like they did with the 5th gen and Tacomas!!
 
I know this is pretty darn old but I need to know this my transmission shifts hard when shift to drive...for first gear and barely 2nd gear but drives normal the rest of the way and when you drive normal come to stop and go it takes of normal. I just filled it up cause it was low and it has most like the original fluid but what's weird the check the fluid and its a red light brown before I filled it...I hope I can get a answer ..thank you..
 
I have the same issue. Mine is a 2001 4runner SR5 with 177,750 miles. I bought the car about a year ago. The mileage was about 159,000 then. It shifted seamless on the 45 minute test drive. After a few weeks, I noticed hard shifts from first to second. I've noticed accelerating harder makes the issue better. I also shift smooth going around corners. I've asked a couple mechanics about it, but they just told me my fluids were fine. They weren't eager to do anything other than check for codes (there are none) and check the fluid. I've done nothing to it. Recently it has been doing better. I'm not sure it that's just because the temperature is dropping due to Fall coming around. Nevertheless, there are bad days and good days with it. Whether the car is hot or cold, the issue still occurs occasionally.
 
PhdNPrerunners said:
Hey guys on my 99 4runner when I drive it like a grandma it shifts hard into second and third but when I accelerate hard it shifts smooth into every gear. The tranny has 155k miles on it so i think it shouldnt be going out already. Also I checked the tranny fluid and it is full. What do you guys think it could be?
Click to expand...

It's 6 years later, but did you ever figure that out? Mine is almost identical, except some shifts are harder than others. Shifting while turning is buttery smooth - you don't even notice. The shifts going straight aren't alarmingly hard, but you notice it. I'm running Maxlife ATF and a magnefine filter using the stock cooler. It's got 200k and the pan has never been dropped.

I'm going to try either Castrol IMV or Toyota Type-IV fluid. My reasoning is that since the Maxlife fluid meets WS spec, it is thinner than it should be for this application, especially when with the wear that comes with 200k.
 
I have the exact same issue! Can be it either engine mounts or transmission mounts?

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W4R123 said:
I have the exact same issue! Can be it either engine mounts or transmission mounts?

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
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I tried different fluid. It does shift noticeably better than with Maxlife. However, the issue is still there. Next up is a transmission mount. Anyone have experience with aftermarket mounts or do I cough up for OEM?
 
Hard shifting

Has anyone ever found a solution to this problem. I recently purchased a 2002 4runner and I am having a similar issue. From 1st to 2nd I get a jerk and sometimes from 2nd to 3rd. I feel it especially on the highway in stop and go traffic. Sometimes I will step on the gas and it will immediately shift into second without going through the rpm range. Im not sure what it could be. Thanks in advance for any help.
 
T4R2014 said:
I tried different fluid. It does shift noticeably better than with Maxlife. However, the issue is still there. Next up is a transmission mount. Anyone have experience with aftermarket mounts or do I cough up for OEM?
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For anyone wondering, I solved this. My kickdown cable was too tight. Loosened it and shot silicone spray into the cable to keep it working smooth. Damn does it shift SMOOTH. I was starting to accept it as the nature of a 200k transmission with 20 years of towing history, but this definitely wasn't the case. I did get it shifting quite well on the Castrol fluid, but this measly adjustment fixed every complaint I had in the transmission.
 
Same Problem

I have the same issue with the transmission shifting hard. A little history about two years ago I had the pan dropped and new filter replaced and fluid refilled not flush or power flush just 3 or so quarts refilled. This was right around when I bought the car and shortly after I noticed the hard shift. I have a case or two of toyota dextron 3 or whatever the oem tranny fluid is and have drained and filled it maybe four times over the years. This does not seem to do much. Today I went out and adjusted the kickdown cable. Or what I though was the kickdown cable. The hayes manual calls it a TV cable and shows it next to the throttle cable in the engine bay. The hayes manual also shows that proper adjustment should have the metal stopper 1mm out of the rubber boot. Mine was in the rubber boot and so I adjusted it to be just poking out. It seems to have helped very slightly. Question is
1 is this the kickdown cable
2 did I tighten it or loosen it and is having the metal stopper poking out 1mm the right adjustment. Or where did you adjust it to.

Thanks
in advance.

Also I have the P0420 code and it seems like my cats are bad. It has been on for about a year and I seem to be getting 17MPG on average. I need to smog check and am looking into aftermarket cats and new gaskets and new AF O2 sensors. Order to fix. or clean the engine since I don't know if I have dirty exhaust valves. Should I sea foam then change everything.
 
Tran/Engine Thump

Similar Topic

Just purchased 1999 Runner with new Toyota Crate motor x3yrs ago and rebuild tran.. paperwork included

questions is...
when I stop at red light sometimes it feels like the engine/tran shifted forward like its mounting bolts are not tighted, other times it doesnt

Also sometimes hard shift when engaging drive, usually after backing up, and I am at a complete stop

any ideas

New to 4r.org so any help would be great
 
I'll pass along my experience on this thread since it has been quiet for a while. I had the 'hard-shifting' or unusual shifting problem roughly two years ago. My vehicle is a 2012 SR5. Propeller shaft had been replaced under warranty (TSB), 60k service performed recently so all of the normal things checked out. I live in the southwest, Tucson to be specific. It turns out that packrats had knawed through the wiring to the transmission dirctly on top of the trans. The tech at the Toyota dealership and I both looked at it with a light and an inspection mirror and the only way to get in and repair it was to drop the entire transmission, re-solder and seal up the wires, and then put it all back together. That was it. Problem solved with about 8 or nine hours of labor, unfortunately.
 
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