Newbie here looking for some advice please...

[ExcitedRookie]

Greetings Ya'll

Here is the break down
I just bought a 1991 toyota 4 runner 4x4 V6 automatic
When i test drove it it ran very, very smooth and it was overall in good shape.

I took it home and was excited, i started to look up trails and destinations I would like to go to when spring arrives, you know the feeling i'm sure

Now to the point,

The next morning I jumped in my truck and warmed it up for a few minutes, put it in drive and went on my way...so as i headed out it didnt want to shift into 2nd or 3rd im not too sure...it just rev'd high when i try to give it gas
it wouldnt go faster than 20mph or so...I pulled over, and put it in 2 tried to take off and same deal...it just wouldnt shift to the next gear
Now at this point the truck temp gauge was at the halfway point, and i started to make my way back home...and presto it started working normal and driving smoothly again. When it would not shift I hit the gas trying to get out of faster mocving traffic and rev'd it close to 5000rpm, not sure if this may have caused any damage.

So when the truck is on a cold start it wont go faster than 20mph due to not shifting gears, when it is warmed up it runs normal.
The tranny fluid is pink/clean and not low, so im not sure if draining/changing the tranny fluid would resolve the issue but it has been suggested that it could.

So what could it be?! Is it a bad relay, or a solenoid? Did I just buy a truck with a screwed tranny or is this quite possibly a simple fix?


Also the reardoor wont open unless i do it manually which means taking off the panel and moving the lever myself...the window rolls down after clicking the button a few times, same deal trying to use the key. The problem besides those issues is that when the truck is off the "backdoor" light stays on...
how can I disconnect the sensor to this light? I plan to fix the window but not at the moment and dont like the fact that this light stays on.

Thanks you so much in advance everyone ^^

 

[YotaMan4]

my trucks back window would not roll down unless you pulled it down yourself and it ended up being the clips that connect to the window that the rollers make contact with to roll it up and down, your motor for the window is most likely bad, or not getting a good connection. about the shifting issue im clueless when it comes to that. sorry i couldnt be much help, hope you get it worked out man. OH also my back door open light stays on to, but turns off if i turn the truck off.

 

[Clone of the Mean]

Try and shift it manually from a dead stop. If it shifts that way and runs, chances are it's solenoids. Also is your O/D light flashing while you drive it? I think the BRAKE light on the dash is another indicator.

Go look up some of my first posts. It's all about diagnosing and changing solenoids. Good luck...

 

[ExcitedRookie]

Try and shift it manually from a dead stop. If it shifts that way and runs, chances are it's solenoids. Also is your O/D light flashing while you drive it? I think the BRAKE light on the dash is another indicator.

Go look up some of my first posts. It's all about diagnosing and changing solenoids. Good luck...

As far as the the O/D light going on and off I only seen it flash once since I've drove it and it was only a few flashes than it turned off, but it doesnt flash on/off when I drive, there is no check engine light on, or a brake light either.

When you say shift it manually, do you mean for from D to 2 or L on a dead stop?

 

[ExcitedRookie]

Try and shift it manually from a dead stop. If it shifts that way and runs, chances are it's solenoids. Also is your O/D light flashing while you drive it? I think the BRAKE light on the dash is another indicator.

Go look up some of my first posts. It's all about diagnosing and changing solenoids. Good luck...

So i shifted it manually and it seemed to have worked, although i am not entirely certain because it might of warmed up just enough to get it to run right
I warmed it up for about 2 min...started in L hit like 20mph shifted to 2 till like 35mph and put into drive and it started to work fine after that.
ill have to try again after it gets cold again to be certain...

If it is a solenoid, how do i determine which one?, those things are like 120 bucks! and I cant afford to replace em all...

 

[Clone of the Mean]

That's how mine started out, then got worse as time went by. Also check if it shifts from drive to O/D and back. Should shift around around 54 MPH. I bought the whole solenoid kit for less than $200 and replaced them all. It's a pretty generic kit for all of the Toyota auto trannies.

Somewhere there's a link that tells you how to diagnose the codes and what they mean. I think mine was a code91, which was the #2 shift solenoid. Maybe someone can guide you to the CEL diag link.

 

[ExcitedRookie]

That's how mine started out, then got worse as time went by. Also check if it shifts from drive to O/D and back. Should shift around around 54 MPH. I bought the whole solenoid kit for less than $200 and replaced them all. It's a pretty generic kit for all of the Toyota auto trannies.

Somewhere there's a link that tells you how to diagnose the codes and what they mean. I think mine was a code91, which was the #2 shift solenoid. Maybe someone can guide you to the CEL diag link.

200?! i can only find one solenoid online for 120, where is this set available?
Shifting goes like 1st to 2nd like at 25mph at 3500 or so rpm
2nd to 3rd around 45-50mph at 3500-4000rpm which seems high to me but i could be trippin.

Did you get the tranny flushed as well or did you only change the solenoids?

 

[priestsallore]

3500-4000 isn't exteremely high, it is just a tad higher than I shift in my '92 manual 4x4, at roughly 3000-3500. But like they said, check your cold start, & the solenoid, they should solve your problems.

As far as the rear window, that's always been one of the only trouble childs of our gen, sometimes the contact in the switch won't work, or it could be the motor gone out like one of the gentleman up top stated. It's not terribly hard to fix, just need 30 min, a few tools, and the ability to want to screw around with it.

 

[ExcitedRookie]

3500-4000 isn't exteremely high, it is just a tad higher than I shift in my '92 manual 4x4, at roughly 3000-3500. But like they said, check your cold start, & the solenoid, they should solve your problems.

As far as the rear window, that's always been one of the only trouble childs of our gen, sometimes the contact in the switch won't work, or it could be the motor gone out like one of the gentleman up top stated. It's not terribly hard to fix, just need 30 min, a few tools, and the ability to want to screw around with it.

thanks for the reply my friend
what do you mean exactly by check cold start?
At this point is does seem like a solenoid and am looking for a junked one to pull it out of but if it could simpler than than I'm willing to take a look
Ok so than i shouldnt be concerned with the RPM's, i was worried i might of caused some damage to the motor...

the contact switch clicks, you can hear it. and i keep clicking till it connects and the window lowers...same deal in using the key i have to keep clicking till it catches...but even with the window all the way down the door lock wont open : I...so i took off the panel and do it manually but since ive done that the backdoor light on the dash wont turn off when the truck is off but will turn off when its on?!

should i just disconnect the sensor?

thanks alot again for your help

 

[Clone of the Mean]

Didn't read the part about the revs being so high. Mine would only go to about 2300 rpms. Seemed like it stayed in 3rd gear from a dead stop. Sort of like driving a go kart. Mash the pedal and wait five minutes to get going fast.

Yeh, when I replaced the solenoids I drained, and filled it 3 or 4 times. Replaced the filter too. It's not real complicated to replace them. Drop the pan and they're all right there.

I got my kit from a shop here in town, try Rockauto.com or just call transmission supply places where you live.

 

[jirehn]

Hope you will enjoy your new Toyota, Nice mods, Welcome aboard!

 

[ExcitedRookie]

3500-4000 isn't exteremely high, it is just a tad higher than I shift in my '92 manual 4x4, at roughly 3000-3500. But like they said, check your cold start, & the solenoid, they should solve your problems.

As far as the rear window, that's always been one of the only trouble childs of our gen, sometimes the contact in the switch won't work, or it could be the motor gone out like one of the gentleman up top stated. It's not terribly hard to fix, just need 30 min, a few tools, and the ability to want to screw around with it.

Update
Just dropped the truck off at westside transmission for a free diagnosis
They should have the details in about 2-4hours
They better not tell me I need a new transmission:wtf:

Also the sunroof doesnt open, the screw just rotates and makes that winding sound...is this common problem with this generation as well?
Is it best to have it serviced or just look for a junked one and replace the whole unit?

I called the guy back who sold me the truck and told him it was bad karma to sell me the truck without telling me about this particular problem. I told him he should help me pay for the parts and I could wrench on it myself..he said to call him back when I know the details...wish me luck maybe I can get some $$$ back and make this a fair deal:naughty:

 

[Clone of the Mean]

From passed experience I guarantee they will tell you that you need a new transmission. I had 4 shops tell me "yep, it toast". That was almost 5 years ago. I did the solenoid swap last June. I figured if it didn't work I'd put them in a used tranny. So far so good.

 

[southbay]

Update
Just dropped the truck off at westside transmission for a free diagnosis
They should have the details in about 2-4hours
They better not tell me I need a new transmission:wtf:

Also the sunroof doesnt open, the screw just rotates and makes that winding sound...is this common problem with this generation as well?
Is it best to have it serviced or just look for a junked one and replace the whole unit?

I called the guy back who sold me the truck and told him it was bad karma to sell me the truck without telling me about this particular problem. I told him he should help me pay for the parts and I could wrench on it myself..he said to call him back when I know the details...wish me luck maybe I can get some $$$ back and make this a fair deal:naughty:

So what happened? I am having some shifting trouble also, from 3 to 4th only works when its warmed up.

 

[TN_GIJOE]

I"ve got the same issue shifting into overdrive when I first drive mine in the morning. I've read that it's got to do something with the transmission needing to reach a certain temperature before it starts to shift normally.