Concerned about 4 speed Tranny in Colorado

[fish0281]

Hey, thanks for this insight! I was really hoping someone for CO would comment with their experience. The speed issue is kinda one of the reasons why I'm looking at going with the fourth gen since there's more power. They're just so expensive.....

I mean, it's not like it doesn't work, you just have to be aware of the truck's limitations. It's not as powerful as a 4th gen, but it's also better (imho) on trails. It's geared REALLY well for when you need it - snow, off-road, camping, hell, even pulling a trailer. I used my little 3.4 to pull my buddy's Dodge quad-cab out of the snow... so power is only useful in specific applications. The 3rd gen is good enough for highway stuff, just isn't a race car.

Perhaps this would be a legitimate application of ECT.

It does help on the highway, especially when you have to pass on a climb. It's not substantial, but it does help.

 

[fish0281]

nope. if its hunting for the right gear, it wont last any longer. if you start a grade, you need to drop it down out of OD.

I hate to say it, but you are the reason the ford transmission died.

im sure a quick check of the owners manual will tell you to drop if out of OD for hills, while towing, etc.

the Toyota is no different. its not a matter of smart. OD is only there for fuel economy, so its a very high gear, to bring engine rpms down. if you hit a hill, or even a heavy headwind, the transmission will shift down. if this only happens once, no big deal. the problem is when it shifts back and forth multiple times. this will overheat the transmission. heat kills them quickly.

I don't take it out of OD when climbing because it kicks itself out of OD and into 3rd when it matters anyway. I do kick it out of OD for decents, but for safety reasons and to stay off the brakes. The way traffic flows on i70 through the mountains, your transmission isn't in OD unless it makes sense to be (e.g., the flat sections between climbs). The ford probably runs differently, but that has been my experience with the 3rd gen 4Runner.

 

[nevada]

I don't take it out of OD when climbing because it kicks itself out of OD and into 3rd when it matters anyway. I do kick it out of OD for decents, but for safety reasons and to stay off the brakes. The way traffic flows on i70 through the mountains, your transmission isn't in OD unless it makes sense to be (e.g., the flat sections between climbs). The ford probably runs differently, but that has been my experience with the 3rd gen 4Runner.

for a consistent steep grade, I can see that being fine.
its the varying hills that would be a problem. where its steep enough to cause it to shift down, but not steep enough to keep it there. the problem is when it shifts several times on the hills. for that reason, you are supposed to manually take it out of OD.

 

[jgue467]

The Rockies & my transfer case chain

Well my '01s tranny held just fine on several mountain climbs/decents this summer (west texas, sierra madre 3 times and rockies twice) but unfortunetly my transfer case's chain apparently got a little stretched on the final rocky climbs (steamboat to denver via 40/i70) so now i have an occassional rattle down there. I'll be looking for a used unit to replace it with next. FunFun!

So that could happen....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8bRph91yVI

 

[csp]

A whole lot is being made out of nothing in this thread.:shrug: