How loud is your automatic tranny?

[aontkos]

All of these threads about failing automatic transmissions have me freaking out.

Right before Thanksgiving I noticed that the transmission on my 2000 Limited makes a slight "whizzing" noise when its in gear. I only notice it when I park next to a wall or next to another vehicle. It doesn't make any noise when in N or P. I haven't noticed any issues with shifting or slipping; it also doesn't seem to whine while driving. A few days ago I flushed about 8qts using the transmission cooler line (the fluid was already clean, but I wanted to make sure I didn't see anything odd).

Whats the next step? Should I take it to a transmission shop? I'm suspecting the torque converter or a fluid pump, but this is beyond my experience.

Thanks!

 

[johnbyebye]

All of these threads about failing automatic transmissions have me freaking out.

Right before Thanksgiving I noticed that the transmission on my 2000 Limited makes a slight "whizzing" noise when its in gear. I only notice it when I park next to a wall or next to another vehicle. It doesn't make any noise when in N or P. I haven't noticed any issues with shifting or slipping; it also doesn't seem to whine while driving. A few days ago I flushed about 8qts using the transmission cooler line (the fluid was already clean, but I wanted to make sure I didn't see anything odd).

Whats the next step? Should I take it to a transmission shop? I'm suspecting the torque converter or a fluid pump, but this is beyond my experience.

Thanks!

How sure are you that it's the transmission? Have you pinpointed it to the bell housing?

Other parts of the 4runner such as the power steering or alternator can make noises much like the tranny.

 

[aontkos]

How sure are you that it's the transmission? Have you pinpointed it to the bell housing?

Other parts of the 4runner such as the power steering or alternator can make noises much like the tranny.

I've narrowed it down by literally pressing my ear to the transmission pan while the truck is in gear. As much as I would like for it to be the power steering or the alternator, I don't think that's the case.

 

[T4R2014]

You've been reading the forum too much. Does it drive fine? Good. Do you maintain it? Good. You drive an old truck. If it's going to fail then it will. No sense in worrying over some posts by strangers on a forum.

If it really concerns you to the point of where you toss and turn at night, then start with the simple things. My rear brakes were seizing up in the morning. Naturally all I got from here were deadset posts by forum experts saying that my axle seals were leaking on my shoes and my days were numbered to the point of where I would be sitting in my driveway with a 4Runner on jack stands, smelling like shit and covered in gear oil.

I dropped it at the mechanic. The shoes are worn and the grease on all the important crap is dried up. Change it and the my shoes no longer stick.

Don't let the forum convince you your 4Runner is on life support and requires complex and expensive fixes.

 

[johnbyebye]

I've narrowed it down by literally pressing my ear to the transmission pan while the truck is in gear. As much as I would like for it to be the power steering or the alternator, I don't think that's the case.

In that case, it is more than likely the torque converter or pump. I am in the same situation, but I am driving it until it dies or I have the cash to rebuild it which could be a year from now. Who knows.

Get it diagnosed sooner rather than later to avoid any metal making it's way through the rest of the transmission. Depending on your mileage, you might get away with just replacing the torque converter or pump. After a certain point though, it doesn't make sense to just replace those parts on a high mileage transmission. That is up to your discretion though. There are a few options for you in the way of rebuilds, used, or re-manufactured.

 

[johnbyebye]

You've been reading the forum too much. Does it drive fine? Good. Do you maintain it? Good. You drive an old truck. If it's going to fail then it will. No sense in worrying over some posts by strangers on a forum.

If it really concerns you to the point of where you toss and turn at night, then start with the simple things. My rear brakes were seizing up in the morning. Naturally all I got from here were deadset posts by forum experts saying that my axle seals were leaking on my shoes and my days were numbered to the point of where I would be sitting in my driveway with a 4Runner on jack stands, smelling like shit and covered in gear oil.

I dropped it at the mechanic. The shoes are worn and the grease on all the important crap is dried up. Change it and the my shoes no longer stick.

Don't let the forum convince you your 4Runner is on life support and requires complex and expensive fixes.

That's really the reason why I became more comfortable to just drive mine despite the noise.

 

[St Runner]

You put it in gear and put your ear to the transmission pan? You came close to not having to worry about it anymore. T4R2014 is right, drive it and if it breaks fix it. There are a lot more important things in life to worry about.

 

[aontkos]

Thanks for the insight, everyone. Much obliged. I'm trying my best not to worry about it, but I have an overland trip planned for late next summer so I'm trying to resolve issues before they arise. We'll see what happens. These transmission threads seem to be common lately, or maybe I'm just more sensitive to them.

You put it in gear and put your ear to the transmission pan? You came close to not having to worry about it anymore.

That's what the parking brake, wheel chocks, and the brake pedal are for. :ear:

 

[johnbyebye]

Thanks for the insight, everyone. Much obliged. I'm trying my best not to worry about it, but I have an overland trip planned for late next summer so I'm trying to resolve issues before they arise. We'll see what happens. These transmission threads seem to be common lately, or maybe I'm just more sensitive to them.




That's what the parking brake, wheel chocks, and the brake pedal are for. :ear:

I feel you. I wouldn't even drive mine because of the noise. I was worried that it was on the brink of giving out on me. I had a mechanic friend look at it and he very bluntly told me not worry about. There are no signs that the transmission has a problem other than the noise. I mustered up the cajones to drive it and I've put 1500 miles on it so far. The noise hasn't gotten any worse and it still gets me from point A to point B. The mechanic's philosophy was to get the most money of the transmission as possible before worrying about fixing or replacing it. Putting on some of your favorite tunes is a good way to drown out the noise.

Cheers