Terrible Noise From Transmission? Need Advice

[gamefreakgc]

Hello friends. Unfortunately something has gone very wrong with my 4Runner and it's starting to become undrivable. What started as a slight hesitation when accelerating from a stop has become a full-on racket. Now when in N or P there's no noise at all but when in D or R the noise is very very loud. When driving to a stop, the noise begins and when driving off from a stop the noise speeds up then slows down as the transmission shifts to 2nd.

The noise does not sync with engine RPM except when stopped in D or R. Sounds like my torque converter failed but there's a lot of grey shavings in the pan and the magnets were completely overwhelmed. Some shavings were roughly 5mm long so I would assume at this point the transmission is comprimised.

Video here: Shared album - Jerod Pivin - Google Photos

 

[Endlessblockades]

Hello friends. Unfortunately something has gone very wrong with my 4Runner and it's starting to become undrivable. What started as a slight hesitation when accelerating from a stop has become a full-on racket. Now when in N or P there's no noise at all but when in D or R the noise is very very loud. When driving to a stop, the noise begins and when driving off from a stop the noise speeds up then slows down as the transmission shifts to 2nd.

The noise does not sync with engine RPM except when stopped in D or R. Sounds like my torque converter failed but there's a lot of grey shavings in the pan and the magnets were completely overwhelmed. Some shavings were roughly 5mm long so I would assume at this point the transmission is comprimised.

Video here: Shared album - Jerod Pivin - Google Photos

Sucks, man. As a fellow sufferer of impending AT failure (straining whine/groan in all moving gears), I feel your pain. I don't know enough about it to tell the difference between AT and torque converter racket, but I suspect that as our 3rd gen herd gets to 250-350k miles, we're going to be hitting the salvage yards harder for replacement units. Are we going to let these die? Hell no. My search has begun....good luck brother.

Edit - you're close to ToyAuto Mart | Rancho Cordova, CA

 

[mtbtim]

It sounds like you are in need of a transmission swap. I highly recommend going with a Toyota remanned.

The video series I made with Sean will help you with the swap.

If you supply the gas, food and beer, maybe I'll drive up and help you out when you have all the parts lined up.


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[gamefreakgc]

Sucks, man. As a fellow sufferer of impending AT failure (straining whine/groan in all moving gears), I feel your pain. I don't know enough about it to tell the difference between AT and torque converter racket, but I suspect that as our 3rd gen herd gets to 250-350k miles, we're going to be hitting the salvage yards harder for replacement units. Are we going to let these die? Hell no. My search has begun....good luck brother.

Edit - you're close to ToyAuto Mart | Rancho Cordova, CA

Yes, I live near 4Runner parts capital of the world. I'm watching the classifieds for Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market to see if a really clean low mileage unit shows up. If not, then I will go Toyota reman'd.

[MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION] that's a very kind offer of you. I will let you know as things draw closer. I don't trust to drive it much but with 1 car with a family of 5 it's going to need to get back on the road sooner rather than later. You wouldn't happen to know the part number for the 4WD AT would you? I seem to just be finding the 2WD version. Will be calling around tomorrow as well.

The rough part is that this is the second time the transmission has failed. The previous owner replaced the transmission with a used unit prior to 190K miles (and subsequently burnt the fluid before selling it to me). It's been supercharged it's whole life and think that's part of the blame. These things make so much heat.

 

[Endlessblockades]

It sounds like you are in need of a transmission swap. I highly recommend going with a Toyota remanned.

Maybe I can pick your brain over a beer at the SICMODS BBQ (if the rig makes it) I am doing a morning MTB race in the east bay that day then coming down! For me, with 2 kids in college, money is tight so the Pro-reman route might be out of the question for a couple years.

 

[mtbtim]

Yes, I live near 4Runner parts capital of the world. I'm watching the classifieds for Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market to see if a really clean low mileage unit shows up. If not, then I will go Toyota reman'd.

[MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION] that's a very kind offer of you. I will let you know as things draw closer. I don't trust to drive it much but with 1 car with a family of 5 it's going to need to get back on the road sooner rather than later. You wouldn't happen to know the part number for the 4WD AT would you? I seem to just be finding the 2WD version. Will be calling around tomorrow as well.

The rough part is that this is the second time the transmission has failed. The previous owner replaced the transmission with a used unit prior to 190K miles (and subsequently burnt the fluid before selling it to me). It's been supercharged it's whole life and think that's part of the blame. These things make so much heat.

I don't know the part number for your trans. I'd have to visit my local dealer to get it. I'll stop by the dealer today and get it for you. The parts guys there like me and they'll give me a quote for the transmission.

 

[mtbtim]

Maybe I can pick your brain over a beer at the SICMODS BBQ (if the rig makes it) I am doing a morning MTB race in the east bay that day then coming down! For me, with 2 kids in college, money is tight so the Pro-reman route might be out of the question for a couple years.

Biden is forgiving student loan debt so your problems are solved. Let your kids rack up student loan debt and then don't pay it back. It's the new American way.

But yeah, we can talk at the party for sure.

 

[brillo_76]

The problem is the remfg are extremely long back ordered.


I was talking to my parts buddy as I wanted to shove more cores into the system. Toyota won't do it.

I said I know several folks needing replacement transmissions now and I could have pulled a few and get them into the system. That was a no go...

My plan was to find what I could around here and core them to Toyota..Toyota just shot it down..


I wanted to do the same with engine cores.. nada.

I tried to help fellows.. Unless we can get Toyota to change their mind.

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

 

[Bad Luck]

Hello friends. Unfortunately something has gone very wrong with my 4Runner and it's starting to become undrivable. What started as a slight hesitation when accelerating from a stop has become a full-on racket. Now when in N or P there's no noise at all but when in D or R the noise is very very loud. When driving to a stop, the noise begins and when driving off from a stop the noise speeds up then slows down as the transmission shifts to 2nd.

The noise does not sync with engine RPM except when stopped in D or R. Sounds like my torque converter failed but there's a lot of grey shavings in the pan and the magnets were completely overwhelmed. Some shavings were roughly 5mm long so I would assume at this point the transmission is comprimised.

Video here: Shared album - Jerod Pivin - Google Photos

After watching the video I think your issue is planetary related. The noise doesn't happen in park, but happens in gear. The flexplate, torque converter, and transmission fluid pump spin the entire time that the engine is running but power is only transferred past the transmission pump/torque converter when in gear. Either way with the amount of metal in your fluid everything that fluid has touched is compromised so make sure to get a new torque converter as well. Since you are performance oriented it might be a good time to look at a higher stall torque converter. I believe the toyota supras used a similar version of the A340 so there might be some performance options there.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I don't know the part number for your trans. I'd have to visit my local dealer to get it. I'll stop by the dealer today and get it for you. The parts guys there like me and they'll give me a quote for the transmission.

I am getting responses from dealers that 96-99 4WD transmissions have been discontinued by Toyota. The 2WD versions are still available but dissembling a brand new transmission to convert it over to a 4WD output shaft is counter-intuitive. I will be looking for a used transmission instead.

If the other transmission years and drivelines also get discontinued soon, that could spell the end of a lot of 4Runners currently on the road.

 

[gamefreakgc]

After watching the video I think your issue is planetary related. The noise doesn't happen in park, but happens in gear. The flexplate, torque converter, and transmission fluid pump spin the entire time that the engine is running but power is only transferred past the transmission pump/torque converter when in gear. Either way with the amount of metal in your fluid everything that fluid has touched is compromised so make sure to get a new torque converter as well. Since you are performance oriented it might be a good time to look at a higher stall torque converter. I believe the toyota supras used a similar version of the A340 so there might be some performance options there.

That could be the cause. I am also in the camp that anything that fluid has touched needs to be replaced.

I've looked into high stall converters in the past but have been recommended by Gadget and URD not to go with one. They don't play nice on the road whenever the engine is operating under the stall speed. I think a stock torque converter has a stall speed of around 1800-2000. If I got say, a 2500 RPM stall converter then driving around town under that RPM will make the transmission act real funny, if that makes sense. Gadget went as far as calling one of the worst performance parts he installed on his old Tacoma.

 

[Bad Luck]

That could be the cause. I am also in the camp that anything that fluid has touched needs to be replaced.

I've looked into high stall converters in the past but have been recommended by Gadget and URD not to go with one. They don't play nice on the road whenever the engine is operating under the stall speed. I think a stock torque converter has a stall speed of around 1800-2000. If I got say, a 2500 RPM stall converter then driving around town under that RPM will make the transmission act real funny, if that makes sense. Gadget went as far as calling one of the worst performance parts he installed on his old Tacoma.

That makes sense to me. If you go with a reman or new transmission and plan on modifying the valve body you might want to keep your old one in case you need to revert back to stock for any parts warranty issues. Most places wouldn't check but you never know.

 

[brillo_76]

I take it a 5 speed manual swap not an option?

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

 

[clearock]

With the pwr ur pushing and from what I've read how u drive, there is another option that requires work but nothing u couldn't handle.... but not sure if u'd want to go down this rabbit hole as it sounds to me ur looking for a quick turn around. The strongest version on the A340 made comes with extra friction disc, billeted internals, larger TC, larger front pump and a # of other upgrades... and there are after market parts u can run to help with better shifting (the ones available to for any A340).
In order to run the larger TC would require a custom spacer and a few other things or u can run an OEM sized which would save u many fitment issues. The Best part is u can get the trans for around $100-150, people also just scrap them as they want the manual trans, with 30-60 thousand miles on the units. This is a swap I've been planning but haven't had time to do behind a 5vz yet. The JDM Aristo A340E 3f310 came only in 2wd but can be converted to 4wd (I've already done so for my 2jzgte atlas 4 swap 4runner. The case has a predrilled slot for a kick down cable if needed for ur yr 4runner and u can swap the VB to whats in ur trans as all the port holes are the same on the main case (I haven't had time to look into the ability to run a 3f310 VB. Don't have time right now to go into more detail but if this even interests U I can dig up pick of said internals when I partly disassembled one the better understand the unit and difference between the A340 in the 3rd gen 4runner, I also have one seating on a bench so I can get U a pic where the VB bolts up...

 

[RandyBobandy]

I've already done so for my 2jzgte atlas 4 swap 4runner.

I want to see pics of this

 

[Devbot]

Biden is forgiving student loan debt so your problems are solved. Let your kids rack up student loan debt and then don't pay it back. It's the new American way.

But yeah, we can talk at the party for sure.

Careful now, I made one very light joke at Biden's expense and my post was almost immediately removed and i was issued an infraction by the mods ound:

 

[nissanh]

I had a similar experience in my 2000 LC. This year there was a faulty needle roller bearing inside the O/D planetary gears. It happened out of the blue (350 miles away from home). I took it to Mr. transmission and got it fully rebuilt. The destruction inside the trans is way beyond just replacing clutches!

After the complete rebuilt, I feel the power of V8! Very responsive to the throttle and passing another car has improved exponentially! I feel that I took the correct decision to rebuilt it. Unfortunately toyota rebuilds are back ordered for LC. they charge me $3881 out the door.

Make sure to install an inline filter on the return line to catch any residue left inside the cooler system (no, you cannot get all clear of debris even with a power flush)

 

[clearock]

:lol:

Careful now, I made one very light joke at Biden's expense and my post was almost immediately removed and i was issued an infraction by the mods ound:

 

[clearock]

I want to see pics of this

To be clear a pic of what aspect specifically? i've posted a # of pics of said from time to time as the build has progressed

 

[gamefreakgc]

I take it a 5 speed manual swap not an option?

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

It would be a lot of extra work on my end. From what I understand, the ECU and engine wire harness is different and an ECU change would require a lot of re-wiring of my piggyback ECU as well as various sensors and signals I've altered over the years. Not to mention all the things I've changed in the engine bay and below that might obstruct the installation of the manual bits. I think it would cause more work than it is worth in my case, although I do love the idea of a supercharged manual. A quick check of my area had no 4x4 manual transmission 4Runners for sale at a low price though.

With the pwr ur pushing and from what I've read how u drive, there is another option that requires work but nothing u couldn't handle.... but not sure if u'd want to go down this rabbit hole as it sounds to me ur looking for a quick turn around. The strongest version on the A340 made comes with extra friction disc, billeted internals, larger TC, larger front pump and a # of other upgrades... and there are after market parts u can run to help with better shifting (the ones available to for any A340).
In order to run the larger TC would require a custom spacer and a few other things or u can run an OEM sized which would save u many fitment issues. The Best part is u can get the trans for around $100-150, people also just scrap them as they want the manual trans, with 30-60 thousand miles on the units. This is a swap I've been planning but haven't had time to do behind a 5vz yet. The JDM Aristo A340E 3f310 came only in 2wd but can be converted to 4wd (I've already done so for my 2jzgte atlas 4 swap 4runner. The case has a predrilled slot for a kick down cable if needed for ur yr 4runner and u can swap the VB to whats in ur trans as all the port holes are the same on the main case (I haven't had time to look into the ability to run a 3f310 VB. Don't have time right now to go into more detail but if this even interests U I can dig up pick of said internals when I partly disassembled one the better understand the unit and difference between the A340 in the 3rd gen 4runner, I also have one seating on a bench so I can get U a pic where the VB bolts up...

This interests me. I like the idea of a bulletproof transmission but I think my ceiling for one, with extra parts, is $1500. Any chance that would fit the budget? I'm not afraid to tear things apart as long as it's not too detailed. I've already done a valve body shift kit in my now destroyed transmission but that was at the limit of what I'm able to do as I almost messed it up beyond repair.

Make sure to install an inline filter on the return line to catch any residue left inside the cooler system (no, you cannot get all clear of debris even with a power flush)

That is great advice as I hadn't even though of that part. I have an external cooler so a filter will be in order for sure. It goes on the return line, correct?