Occasional Transmission Problem

[forlornRunner]

Hello forum friends!

You guys have been great. I sort of blindly stumbled my way into this 4Runner and what started off as a big regret has become pretty great. I love this truck. I actually listed it on CL earlier in the week to see what kind of interest there was and I find myself getting offended when people respond. I'm like, what the hell do you think you're doing? That's MY truck.

That reminds me, I need to delete that listing.

Anyway... 91 3.0 L automatic.

Very occasionally, like 5% of the time, the transmission won't shift into third gear. It just gets stuck between 2nd and Neutral. When all this happens all I have to do is stop driving and it's working the next time I get it. One time I got in 10 minutes after having this problem and it still was doing it. Then I gave it an hour and it was fine. So maybe heat has something to do with it, or maybe that was coincidental.

Besides this the transmission seams perfectly fine. Always shifts up right around 3,000 and I can't feel it or hear it unless I'm paying attention. 4h and 4l work just fine, though the indicator doesn't light up. (I think that wire is cut off, see my earlier post.)

The guy I bought it from told me he was having this problem and ended up solving the problem with a $10 fix. Regrettably I didn't write down what he said he did. I feel like it was a solenoid but could have been an additive.

Thoughts?

 

[forlornRunner]

Also, how the f#@k do I put a picture in my profile thumbnail?? I want everyone to see my mf'n truck when I post.

 

[forlornRunner]

I've been trying to get the fluid level dialed in, with questionable success.

Problem got worse, not shifting into third almost half the time.

I put in a bottle of Lucas noslip and that fixed it for a day. Tried another bottle and that also fixed it. For a couple days.

Also, bump.

 

[HanginInUtah]

Kinda feel bad no one has commented, so here goes mine.

I don't have much experience with shifting problems, only with complete lack of output. And that can happen around 200K or so, so be careful. Has to do with the direct drum losing it's tabs to keep it locked into the case of the transmission. But I'm off topic...

I think you are onto something with the solenoids. BUT... someone else will have to help with their knowledge or experience. I have never experienced that.
There ought to be some threads in here about that...

 

[cap10]

I have never had any luck with any tranny "fix" that came out of a bottle . What I would suggest is to go ahead and drop your tranny pan and do a filter and fluid change.
Once you remove your pan you should be able to get a overall idea on the condition of your transmission.
I have never did a fluid and filter change where I did not find some sludge in the bottom of the pan (mostley around the magnet) but if there is a huge deposit you might want to start thinking of a rebuild.
The color and smell of the fluid itself can also tell you the condition of your transmission.
I am not a tranny guy thats for sure. I can just tell you what i have learned from trying to cure my own trucks and cars of the same kind of condition you have posted about.
I was told i had a solenoid that needed replaced once and even after pulling the pan and finding way to much sludge i went ahead and replaced a solenoid . I ended up buying a used tranny off of C.L. and a new torque converter .
And of course there are ways to test your transmission by using pressure gauges. You should be able to find this info in your manual.

As for myself i always start with a fluid and filter change. Who knows, you might just have a clogged filter?