Auto transmission problem, please help...

[samguert]

Hi! I often lurk on this forum but its my first post here.

I have a 1997 4runner with the automatic transmission. The truck have 200 000 miles on it but one owner, really well taken care of. Im the second owner since the last month.

Today after 30 min of driving, the tranny started to slip until the truck stop completely. I tried the low, 2nd, and drive position, the engine always wine up like I was in neutral. I then shut the car off. I looked at the tranny fluid, level was good, no sign of milkshake. The oil is maybe a little old, like it have a little brown color to it, but not much and do not look burnt. 3 min later, I started it again and tried to move foward, everything worked fine as it should!!! I drove 5 min to home and parked the car.

At the end of the afternoon, I decided to try it again, same thing. I drove 30min, everything was fine, then the tranny started to slip again. I was just at the corner of my house, so I drove the truck in my garage before I couldn't move it anymore...

Do you thing my gearbox is on her way to death? Can it be just bad fluid?
Im aware that the past owner had the milkshake problem, but he noticed it pretty fast and had the dealer to replace the radiator and to flush the gearbox. Everything worked fine for one year after.

I need advice from you guys :sobbing:

 

[kball]

If it's brown it's burnt. I would change out all the fluid and hope for the best but it doesn't sound good since it was already milkshaked.

 

[541joseph]

All you can do is hope you have a big piggy bank and go to trusted shop and have then put s new trani in it.

 

[samguert]

All you can do is hope you have a big piggy bank and go to trusted shop and have then put s new trani in it.

I hope you're wrong because I haven't the money to do that...

Isn't it weird that after it would'nt move foward anymore, I just shut off the car and the second after I turned it back on everything started to work back just fine? Couldn't it be an electric problem, like a sensor or a solenoid?

 

[kball]

Couldn't it be an electric problem, like a sensor or a solenoid?

Could be but normally shifting to Low will make it work again. Yours didn't so it sounds worse off.

 

[541joseph]

I mean I guess there's a small possiblility that your tcm could be bad but I'm pretty sure you'd have a cel. I would try and change the trani fluid and see if it makes a difference.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I am wondering if the first owner did not have the same symptoms, realized what happened, and ditched it. How many miles since it was flushed?

You could pull off the pan and test the solenoids, but if there is no codes present, they are most likely fine.

No matter how quickly the dealer was able to flush out the transmission, any coolant that mixed with the ATF at that time began eating away the clutch packs so to say. Sorry to give ya bad news, but others here and on YT have well documented cases of either finding another used tranny or have the same one rebuilt.

 

[samguert]

You could pull off the pan and test the solenoids, but if there is no codes present, they are most likely fine.

Update: I looked at the codes : I have a P0750 and P0770 code. Shift solenoid problem. Can this be the source of my problem or the result of the milkshake or the old tranny fluid?

 

[LittleCaesar]

That is definitely good news so to speak. If a solenoid fails, it could cause the troubles you are describing.

There are three solenoids total and replacements are sold in a pack of three. I have seen them before for sale costing in US dollars about $180 but you may be able to find them in CAD bucks at a local auto store.

I don't think there is a a DIY for solenoid replacement, but it should be as easy as to undo the wire connection, undo the bolt, replace the old with the new and reseal the tranny pan.

This should help:
Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission

 

[samguert]

That is definitely good news so to speak. If a solenoid fails, it could cause the troubles you are describing.

There are three solenoids total and replacements are sold in a pack of three. I have seen them before for sale costing in US dollars about $180 but you may be able to find them in CAD bucks at a local auto store.

I don't think there is a a DIY for solenoid replacement, but it should be as easy as to undo the wire connection, undo the bolt, replace the old with the new and reseal the tranny pan.

This should help:
Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission

I found a pack of 3 solenoids for 195$, it says its for a A340e, A340f... What kind of tranny is in my 1997?

 

[541joseph]

99% sure it's the a340f

 

[LittleCaesar]

Look inside the driver's side door jamb. You should see the code A340E or F. 4wd, then F.

 

[afg10000]

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but those codes are bad. Toyota master Tech said even if you change the solenoids, you're only buying time. They wouldn't even bother, they'd just replace the tranny. Had the exact same codes and symptoms with my debacle last August. Had tranny rebuilt at Certified Transmission here in Omaha for $2600 with a 2 year warranty. I never had pink milkshake, I just roached the thing.

 

[samguert]

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but those codes are bad. Toyota master Tech said even if you change the solenoids, you're only buying time. They wouldn't even bother, they'd just replace the tranny. Had the exact same codes and symptoms with my debacle last August. Had tranny rebuilt at Certified Transmission here in Omaha for $2600 with a 2 year warranty. I never had pink milkshake, I just roached the thing.

You made me sad, but Im willing to give it a try. If I can gain some more time before the rebuilt/replacement.... I don't have that kind of money right now.

I found those solenoids : A340 E / F / H TRANSMISSION SOLENOID KIT - Fits Many Models

Does this look right to you?

 

[LittleCaesar]

Those look like the ones. Not a bad price.

As afg10000 postulated, it is a temp fix if it works at all. The transmission will have to be replaced sometime in the future. If it gets ya six months or more, at least you could have saved up for another one or a rebuild.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

If you look at the facts as to what is going on here the writing is on the wall.

Prior owner had the vehicle for 200K miles.

It had the pink milkshake.

He sold it to you.

Sorry bro, but the math is not looking in your favor.

The pink milkshake destroys the clutch packs. Everything I have read says once it's done, it's done.

 

[masphx]

Can't he or anyone find a totaled 4runner and pull the trsnsmission and replace it in thier 4runner? I mean it is still an unknown if it will actually work well but sounds cheaper and better then rebuilding a transmission.

 

[Schargedtaco]

Sounds to me like the originall owner noticed it was slipping or new it could develop problems and got out of it quickly. Why would an originall owner with 200k just up and decide to sell after 15 years. and then less than 1000 miles later she just happens to blow. I would have asked and requested service hx documentation as it could have been sooner than it happening the year prior. Sounds like it had just happened not long before you bought it. I'd go back to the seller and give him a piece of my mind especially if you paid a decent price for it.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Can't he or anyone find a totaled 4runner and pull the trsnsmission and replace it in thier 4runner? I mean it is still an unknown if it will actually work well but sounds cheaper and better then rebuilding a transmission.

I personally would not install a used transmission without either 1) knowledge of the vehicle prior or 2) a very good warranty.

A tranny is a whole lot of work to go through just to have the replacement fail 3 months later.

I did some quick checking on trannys for 3rd gen 4wd 4Runners. Used with a 6 month warranty average about $900 in my area, a Toyota factory remanufactured averages about $1800. I personally would do the factory reman all day long. Sure, it's twice as much but you are set for the life of the vehicle in all likelihood.