Flat Battery = 1st Gear Trouble? WTF?

[Socco]

Hey All, I'm confused. Don't worry, It happens a lot.

In the last week or two I've found my '99 to have a flat or nearly flat battery. I Haven't figured out what is causing the battery problem yet. I've got a 40mA draw on the battery with the key off. 33mA on MPX-B fuse and 6mA on Dome fuse. That doesn't seem excessive, although I never measured it before to compare. I'm suspecting a worn out battery at this point.

The part that really stumps me is that once I jump it and put it into any forward gear, it feels like I've got the parking brake on. Neutral and reverse are completely normal. After "powering through" about 100 feet, the "resistance" disappears.

Thoughts??

 

[wanta4runner]

Hey All, I'm confused. Don't worry, It happens a lot.


The part that really stumps me is that once I jump it and put it into any forward gear, it feels like I've got the parking brake on. Neutral and reverse are completely normal. After "powering through" about 100 feet, the "resistance" disappears.

Thoughts??

Come to think of it, when I test drove the runner I just bought he had to jump the battery from it setting so long. When I went to take off it seemed really sluggish like you described but when I left the first stop sign there was no lag. Could be caused from the dead battery but not sure. GL

 

[rideexileex]

Two things -

In the past, ive noticed that after a dead battery and a jump start, like you said, it feels like there is zero torque converter action... the truck barely moves. I've been able to either shift down to first or reverse and it works fine. Just run the truck enough to charge it, and then restart the car. Problem usually clears right away.

Second, 40ma isn't all too much power draw... but your battery might have gone bad and is shorting, causing the battery to drain itself. Whats the voltage across the battery?

 

[Singtoe]

Jump start it and take it to the local auto parts store. Have them load check the battery. 99.99% sure that your battery has crapped out. Take it to the palce where you bought your battery and they might warrenty it for you.


With the ecm losing its memory, it is relearning and thus the sluggish feeling at first.

 

[gmv4k]

Does your e-brake work? If not I'll bet it's your bellcranks that are frozen.

 

[eric70412]

Read this link!

2000 4Runner Automatic Transmission (Battery???) Problem - Transmission Discussions at Automotive.com

 

[ellner357]

I didn't read the whole thread linked. But it sure sounds like it could be a battery problem. I know in my experience with big rigs and automatics it certainly can cause tranny symptoms from a bad battery. Never seen the exact symptom but I've seen them kick out of gear to the point of needing a tow all because of bad batteries.

 

[eric70412]

Mine was doing this for about a month a year ago and I saw that forum in the link provided above about how all these people with 4 runners are having the same symptoms as me. I think 3 or 4 of those guys said they replaced the battery and they went away. I was gonna try it but mine quit doing it for some reason. I think my battery is like 4 years old and was still starting fine so I never replaced it. I saved that link for future reference in case it's starts doing it again. Hard to believe just a battery would cause those symptoms though wow. If it's starts doing it again I will definitely try that first!

 

[Socco]

Second, 40ma isn't all too much power draw... but your battery might have gone bad and is shorting, causing the battery to drain itself. Whats the voltage across the battery?

It was 12.03 last night and 11.8 this morning, so too low.

With the ecm losing its memory, it is relearning and thus the sluggish feeling at first.

I put the load tester on it this morning. The battery just fell on its face, I could barely get 120A out of it (at 6 volts to boot.) I had a spare 24F kicking around that I leave on a trickle charger, so I load tested that as well. Its ok, so I'll throw that in for now and we'll see what happens.

I would love to understand what exactly causes this tranny symptom. I don't quite buy the "relearning" theory, with that rationale the engine should run like a bag too. Would it not?