Help!! Transmission?

[4runnergirl]

I have a 2000 4runner sr5 I bought used in 2002. I've had ZERO problems with the car, save a strange squealing that I have figured to be my serpentine belt. Without notice, I jumped in my car today, backed out of my driveway, and put the car in drive. NOTHING HAPPENED. The car was running, and it wasn't moving. Pressing the gas only made the engine idle. I put it in neutral, back in reverse, both worked fine, but when I put it in drive, it still didn't work. I have now backed it into my driveway, and read my warranty, which reads that Toyota warranty doesn't cover transmission!! Is this what it is?

 

[EDGE]

whats the mileage, if your under 60k and 5 years it should be covered by the powertrain,

 

[EDGE]

welcome, by the way:awais:

 

[4runnergirl]

Upon starting for the second time, I let the car warm up for a few minutes, put it in drive, and the car seemed fine. I'm puzzled. My boyfriend is puzzled. He checked the transmission fluid, which was fine. Is it just that it needed to be warmed up or is this a sign of things to come? BTW, My car is at about 71,000 miles...I think the powertrain is up.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Check the transmission fluid level again but only after it's hot. The transmission fluid level is only accurate after it's been driven and is hot and must be checked while it's ruining and in neutral (e-brake on).

 

[EDGE]

It's possible whoever change the fluid last never put back the right amount, my friend burnt out a trans in a brand new Tahoe cause it was underfilled from the factory:arrow:

 

[bulldog-yota]

How cold is it where you are? I'll check the fluid and if you are in extreme cold you migth want to flush the transmission with a synthetic fluid like AMsoil.

Lots of people seem to have interesting transmission issues now in extreme cold conditions, at least till it warms up.

Probably just a fluid issue, rather than the transmission itself.

 

[Northof49]

When you check the fluid, also give it a sniff to see if it smells burnt.

Also, Toyota auto transmissions (and many others) have a safety when they're dead cold. If you jump in a vehicle, start it, put it in gear and try to start driving within just a second or too, it will barely move. It feels like massive slip, but it's just waiting to get all of the juices flowing.

 

[4runnergirl]

WOW - thanks so much for all your replies and thanks for the welcome I will check the fluid when it's hot - or have the boyfriend do it!

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Let us know what you find.

 

[MicaBlue03]

Procedure for checking transmission fluid level

ToyotaDoodz, I think you're right about the procedure for checking transmission fluid level, but I think they want the transmission to be in Park instead of neutral. I strongly suspect that it makes no difference, however, whether you're in Park or Neutral (it just engages the pawl or not).

They also tell you to run the shifter through the gears with the engine at idle and your foot on the brake, and then switch back to Park, right before you check the fluid level.

Instructions like these used to be in the operating manuals, but are now only in the repair/service manuals. I suspect it's because they want the dealers to do virtually everything, and that they don't want the liability of telling customers to stand in front of a running vehicle.

 

[EDGE]

WOW - thanks so much for all your replies and thanks for the welcome I will check the fluid when it's hot - or have the boyfriend do it!

do it yourself: