Death of a good transmission? (Bikini model click-bate incuded)

[StreetCreeper]

So about 4 or 5 days ago I noticed that the transmission on my 97 Ltd seemed to be a little slow on shifting after slowing down. Example: driving along at 50 mph and begin slowing for a red light ahead. After slowing down to about 20 mph, the light turns green so I let off the brake and apply throttle but there seems to be a slight delay or "something" as if the transmission has to "think" for a split second what gear to shift into.

This delay is slight enough that my wife doesn't even notice it, but like many of us on this forum, I mentally monitor every thing on my truck and when something is repeatedly "off" no matter how slight — I'll notice it.

Transmission fluid is at the proper level and I kept telling myself that it was just the driveline clunking and needing lube....again. But deep down I knew it was not the driveline.

Sure enough, I just got the CEL today so I pulled the codes.

First one I knew about already, p0446 (evap leak or faulty vsv) but the next two are "p0770 shift solenoid E malfunction" and "p0773 shift solenoid E circuit electrical".

I did some initial reading and see that this could be bad news. Either the solenoids are bad or there is an underlying problem that has caused the solenoids to fail...in which case I guess it will get expensive.

So I'm thinking I need to drop the pan and replace the solenoids while looking for metal shavings in the pan?

Does anyone know of a write up on this? I'll look again tonight when I'm at home on a computer, but so far I didn't see one on my phone.

I'm hoping that this is not going to be the nail in the coffin for my transmission. With 383,000 miles on it, the transmission has worked perfectly until now. There no unusual noises or sounds when driving and it shifts fine while accelerating and decelerating, it's just when I slow down then quickly apply throttle that there is a "delay/clunk" of the transmission shifting.

Anyone with experience doing this if you have any tips/suggestions or other useful advice, I am all ears.

Included pics...cause everyone loves pictures...and bikini models.

 

[solsnowbarger]

I just came for the bikinis, I can't help ya man. Sorry

 

[LookAtThatDog]

I got P0770 Solenoid E. Mine was slipping and making all types of noises. A transmission guy told me it's most likely the torque converter falling apart and ruining the trans. I replaced the trans and torque converter. It sounds like your situation is different.

Here's some writeups that I saved:

https://web.archive.org/web/2012092...t/stevenjackie/transmission flush/tranny.html

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/6...-transmission-a340f-solenoid-replacement.html

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156446

 

[TheDurk]

I just came for the bikinis, I can't help ya man. Sorry

Same here. I don't do slushboxes.

 

[BlackCat914]

 

[MtnT4R]

I have a sneaking suspicion the clickbait is working against you here. Good lord that's a tiny bikini.

Anyways, I digress.

I had a stuck solenoid code in an Audi I owned a few years ago. Got the estimates from the shop and decided to sell it at a loss. Dropping the tranny is far from cheap on those high end imports, but if it was my 4Runner I would explore the problem further. It would be worth it to drop the pan and see what you can see.

 

[T4R2014]

Any history of fluid changes? At that mileage I wouldn't feel too bad..

 

[smyrna4run]

I'd find a reputable transmission shop and have them diagnose it before changing out the solenoid. I had the same code on mine - I had a shop look at it and $65 later found out it was just a little low on fluid - nothing wrong with the tranny.

Sounds like your fluid is fine - but its probably worth $100 to figure out exactly what the problem is.

 

[StreetCreeper]

I have a sneaking suspicion the clickbait is working against you here. Good lord that's a tiny bikini.

Anyways, I digress.

I had a stuck solenoid code in an Audi I owned a few years ago. Got the estimates from the shop and decided to sell it at a loss. Dropping the tranny is far from cheap on those high end imports, but if it was my 4Runner I would explore the problem further. It would be worth it to drop the pan and see what you can see.

Yeah I'm right in the spot of "do I spend the money to fix a tranny that otherwise runs perfect but has 383,000 miles on it, or do I replace it with a lower mileage one". Of course, I'm broke as always so I'm leaning heavily towards trying to keep the current transmission alive.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Any history of fluid changes? At that mileage I wouldn't feel too bad..

Unknown what the PO ever did. I did a 4+ quart drain and fill about 10k ago (6months). I've intentionally not done any flushes or anything since the tranny is pushing 400k. Last time I flushed a transmission — it died a week later. So I tend not to mess with flushes anymore.

I'm sure the fluid could use some freshening up though. Not black but it's not nice and pink either.

 

[StreetCreeper]

I'd find a reputable transmission shop and have them diagnose it before changing out the solenoid. I had the same code on mine - I had a shop look at it and $65 later found out it was just a little low on fluid - nothing wrong with the tranny.

Sounds like your fluid is fine - but its probably worth $100 to figure out exactly what the problem is.

I'm too poor to take my truck to a shop unless it's absolutely necssary. Fluid is topped up however. I wish it was that simple though for me

 

[jgue467]

If you clear the 770 type codes will the ecu throw them again? I ask cuz several weeks ago, my threw a 770 for no apparent reason, I cleared it and it hasn't returned. I realize you have some kind of symptoms but thought i'd mention it could be a false code. Are you sure its the tranny with the hesitation and not the engine? Luck.

 

[VolcanoT4R]

Any chance you've done some other maintenance recently and possibly left a wire harness disconnected (or fell loose). Might be a long shot, but checking them is free.

 

[MtnT4R]

Yeah I'm right in the spot of "do I spend the money to fix a tranny that otherwise runs perfect but has 383,000 miles on it, or do I replace it with a lower mileage one". Of course, I'm broke as always so I'm leaning heavily towards trying to keep the current transmission alive.

Its worth noting that I continued to drive the Audi for about a year and a half with only the occasional clunk that scared the crap out of me- every time I was half expecting to look back and see my transmission on the road behind me. Just my uneducated opinion here, but a slight thump is probably not damaging anything too fast(that's what the shop told me the first time I took my car in, anyways, emphasizing probably). You should have time on your side, unless anyone else chimes in with a crap you gotta fix that right now or set it on fire and claim the insurance warning.

383k? If it was my baby I would start setting aside the money to fix it, but your trucks emotional value to you could be entirely different...

When I was younger and bought my first truck, a good mechanic friend told me a good rule of thumb was that Dodge on average cost about $100/month in typical maintenance costs(usually due all at once when something major craps out). So I took his advice and set up an automated monthly transfer to an account set aside for mech issues, and its definitely saved me a lot of stress and wiped out checking accounts since then. If you started putting aside $50 a month or so, but the time this gets worse or you decide to take a peek for metal shavings you'll have a little slush fun handy.

 

[BlackCat914]

Its worth noting that I continued to drive the Audi for about a year and a half with only the occasional clunk that scared the crap out of me- every time I was half expecting to look back and see my transmission on the road behind me. Just my uneducated opinion here, but a slight thump is probably not damaging anything too fast(that's what the shop told me the first time I took my car in, anyways, emphasizing probably). You should have time on your side, unless anyone else chimes in with a crap you gotta fix that right now or set it on fire and claim the insurance warning.

383k? If it was my baby I would start setting aside the money to fix it, but your trucks emotional value to you could be entirely different...

When I was younger and bought my first truck, a good mechanic friend told me a good rule of thumb was that Dodge on average cost about $100/month in typical maintenance costs(usually due all at once when something major craps out). So I took his advice and set up an automated monthly transfer to an account set aside for mech issues, and its definitely saved me a lot of stress and wiped out checking accounts since then. If you started putting aside $50 a month or so, but the time this gets worse or you decide to take a peek for metal shavings you'll have a little slush fun handy.

A slam or harsh shift generally isn't total bad news. It's the slipping that is no Bueno.

 

[MtnT4R]

A slam or harsh shift generally isn't total bad news. It's the slipping that is no Bueno.

But that should just increase wear and tear on the gear synchrons(no idea how to spell that), right? Maybe clutch plate too. Not sure, most of my experience is on manuals.

 

[BlackCat914]

But that should just increase wear and tear on the gear synchrons(no idea how to spell that), right? Maybe clutch plate too. Not sure, most of my experience is on manuals.

Not generally speaking, no. The firmer/harder the shift the less slipping of clutch plates. In a racing application, hard/firm shifts are done with valve body mods or replacements (shift kits), which tend to increase line pressure and pressure equals heat. If you can keep the fluid cool, it's actually easier on a trans.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Cool fluid means cleaner fluid which leads to a longer life for an automatic tranny.

To the OP, I would be happy to get 383,000 miles out of an auto tranny without some kind of major repair. I'd look for a used one pronto. You could drop the pan and ohm out the solenoids, but IMO the effort wouldn't be worth it.

Maybe an R150 swap instead....

 

[1BADBEAST]

Transmission?

I can't help you with the transmission problem but those headlights sure are nice. Just wish the high beams were on.

 

[kpinthebay]

Damn that Derek Jeter has all the fun.