Changing shift solenoids

[gofaster]

I have a 96 runner that has a PO753 code for the shift solenoids. I'm going to attempt to do this myself. I bought both shift solenoids just to be covered. From what I understand, you drain the fluid, drop the pan, and the solenoids are exposed. Are there any tricks? Any special tools?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[gofaster]

No one else has done this? Now I'm scared. lol

 

[Atreyus]

my brother did this job for me but I decided to change all 3 of the solenoids, 2 where bad and didn't know which ones so i figured I'll just change them all so I know there all new. It cost about $700+ in parts, $0 in labor with that said it took my bro about 30min-1hr was relatively easy for him.

 

[gofaster]

I bought 2 of them. I should have them by this weekend. We'll see. I'm thinking it is pretty easy too. I don't know.

 

[gofaster]

Well, I did it last night. Took me 2 hrs total. Everything seems to be fine so far! The worst part was messing with that stupid gasket goop.

 

[brian2sun]

I saw this thread too late, but I was going to say the solenoids are cake, it's the pan gasket that sucks, haha. But you already figured that out!

 

[sandy4runner]

what is the best way to get pan off?

Hi there,

1) I did not see the beginning of the thread, but what were the symptoms, that you decided you change the solenoids?

2) What is the best way to take the pan off, w/o damaging it?

Regards,
Seb

Well, I did it last night. Took me 2 hrs total. Everything seems to be fine so far! The worst part was messing with that stupid gasket goop.

 

[Down by the Water]

'96 shift solenoids

Well, I did it last night. Took me 2 hrs total. Everything seems to be fine so far! The worst part was messing with that stupid gasket goop.

I did this this morning and it seems to have made my problems worse. Now no OD at all, before it would occasionally refuse to go into OD or shift down while in OD.

 

[StreetCreeper]

I did this this morning and it seems to have made my problems worse. Now no OD at all, before it would occasionally refuse to go into OD or shift down while in OD.

Are you sure you put the right solenoids in the right places? Shift solenoid and lock-up solenoid are different.

 

[Down by the Water]

Shift solenoids

Are you sure you put the right solenoids in the right places? Shift solenoid and lock-up solenoid are different.

Not 100% sure...The brackets on the #1 & 2 shift solenoids are different than the lock-up solenoid. You can't install one for the other. I read that the shift solenoids are the same, interchangeable. Does anyone know if that's not true?

 

[zoombyu86]

Not 100% sure...The brackets on the #1 & 2 shift solenoids are different than the lock-up solenoid. You can't install one for the other. I read that the shift solenoids are the same, interchangeable. Does anyone know if that's not true?

I had the same code. My solenoids will be in today. My original problem was it not downshifting into 1st gear automatically. Was having to manually shift to L and then 2-D. Went into O/D fine.

What did you use to get the black rtv off?

 

[greenbomer]

WoW 700.00 bucks

I found a kit on E-Bay, three shift solenoid's,filter and pan gasket, 168.00 shipped. I did my 01 in March no problem's.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Not 100% sure...The brackets on the #1 & 2 shift solenoids are different than the lock-up solenoid. You can't install one for the other. I read that the shift solenoids are the same, interchangeable. Does anyone know if that's not true?

Shift solenoids on mine were interchangeable.

 

[StreetCreeper]

What did you use to get the black rtv off?

Scrape it. I used a metal and plastic drywall putty scraper along with some weird metal brush "thingy" I found. The metal brush worked well for me especially with getting all the nooks & crannies. I also used the blade of my Swiss Army knife to dig out the gasket around the bolt holes.

I took the time to clean it thoroughly.

 

[truedef]

I found a kit on E-Bay, three shift solenoid's,filter and pan gasket, 168.00 shipped. I did my 01 in March no problem's.

Wow that makes me feel better after stumbling into this thread, not that I have any issues, I am just interested in keeping my 4runner like a tank.

Someone above said it cost them $700 in parts.

 

[Down by the Water]

I had the same code. My solenoids will be in today. My original problem was it not downshifting into 1st gear automatically. Was having to manually shift to L and then 2-D. Went into O/D fine.

What did you use to get the black rtv off?

I used a gasket scraper, dull wood chisel I had laying around and a metal wire brush on my drill. I cleaned it really well.

Dropping the pan is easy, it's just messy.

I dropped it off at AAMCO this morning to see if they could help in diagnosing the problem. They called me a while ago and said that it drives fine for them and that it's not throwing any codes on their machine?

Oh well...

 

[BamaDrewski]

Scrape it. I used a metal and plastic drywall putty scraper along with some weird metal brush "thingy" I found. The metal brush worked well for me especially with getting all the nooks & crannies. I also used the blade of my Swiss Army knife to dig out the gasket around the bolt holes.

I took the time to clean it thoroughly.

SUGGESTION: Back when I changed out my transmission filter, it came with a rubber gasket. After crawling under the truck and spending hours getting off the old FIPG (Fill in Place Gasket) with transmission oil dripping in my face and eyes, I decided I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT EVER AGAIN. I used the rubber gasket and it has been 6 years with ZERO issues. The benefit of course is if I ever have to go back into the transmission pan, I won't have to deal with that scraping, peeling, wire-brushing, etc.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Wow that makes me feel better after stumbling into this thread, not that I have any issues, I am just interested in keeping my 4runner like a tank.

Someone above said it cost them $700 in parts.

This is the exact kit I bought off of Amazon for my 97. Has worked perfectly so far.

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[WallyWest]

Thanks Bama, I'm probably doing this soon as well and was dreading the whole gasket thing. I've done it before but I hate messing with that gunk.

 

[StreetCreeper]

SUGGESTION: Back when I changed out my transmission filter, it came with a rubber gasket. After crawling under the truck and spending hours getting off the old FIPG (Fill in Place Gasket) with transmission oil dripping in my face and eyes, I decided I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT EVER AGAIN. I used the rubber gasket and it has been 6 years with ZERO issues. The benefit of course is if I ever have to go back into the transmission pan, I won't have to deal with that scraping, peeling, wire-brushing, etc.

Yeah I used the Felpro gasket from Orielies and have not had any issue so far. It's not rubber but some type of cork-ish material.

I wasn't going to screw with a FIPG ever again.