towing my jetski 900 lbs..

[giguchan]

Helo all,
I was wondering what is the proper setting for towing on a super hot day? I went for a ride the other day and was in stop n go traffic. While going up a short incline my transmission was making a clicking noise while under load(drive) Never did it in Neutral. was this possibly a case of my runner telling me it's too hot for this kinda shit? or do i have the start of a problem. the hump and the change compartment was pretty dam hot... I know it's under a lot of stress. I was towing in Drive most of the time and using the OD OFF when leaving after a dead stop. Should i have driven in OD OFF while underway?
thanks.

 

[giguchan]

btw the clicking or knocking i heard was after being in idle at a gas station for 25 minutes, then as i left the gas station i climbed a ramp/hill to get back out on the interstate thats when the Noise started. btw if never did it again for the rest of the trip.

 

[004Gunner]

You are supposed to have o/d off when towing the entire time according to the manual but I have towed with it on when I'm on the highway with flat stretches. Anytime you have a climb or need more acceleration when towing then you should definitely have o/d off. ECT is also another way to get more power. Bottom line is you were probably straining the transmission given the conditions.

 

[Snookster]

900 lbs of jet skis shouldn't make a difference, OD or not. I'm in hot as$ FL and I tow on a weekly basis. My boat easily doubles your load. I never use OD.

How many miles you got on your tranny? whens the last time you changed fluid?

 

[giguchan]

004,
Thanks for the reply. I was Hoping that was what the problem was. I'm most likely going to have a complete service dont on it just to make sure. I dont wann get stuck on the CROSS BRONX with a broken truck. I'm think i was straining the tranny,
thanks again.

 

[giguchan]

Snooky,
Thanks for the reply.. I have 115K on the ODO. I took it off of the lot BRANDY new in 97 turn around and had the cooler installed.. I have had the transmission serviced before but to tell you the truth i have never had it flushed.. I was told that it wont be the same so i never had it done.. perhaps it's time..

The following is a reply i typed to the same question at another place.. I'm putting it here just to give you a little more background on the entire situation.. thanks for helping me out.

Thanks for the reply.. I'll be honest with you... I have only started towing heavy items as of late. I have a small bass boat(450lbs incl trlr) that i have been towing and a pop up(1klbs) and thats 's only local.. the big deal is my Jet ski (900lbs+trlr)and long trips.
I took the truck off of the lot -brand new style back in 97. I have had the tranny service done but as for a total flush it's never been done. I have heard some say that it's not a good idea to flush a transmission.. something about it's never the same after that.. i mean the way it came from the factory.. can you clarify? I mean if it's not good i wont have it done.. but if it is good then I'm off to the dealer.. It should be common sense though to me.. just because of the fact that I am towing a heavier item. I had an issue with the tongue weight before but i think i got it all sorted out.. It just seems that it's being labored I know if i had a V8 sequoia i would not have this problem..
My problem would be at the Gas pump.

 

[Snookster]

for something small like jet skis a sequoia is not needed. I think a V6 can handle anything easily up to 3500 lbs. Anything over use the V8 or supercharge you 6. Honestly, I will never drive another 4runner without a supercharger.

On another note, the way I drive, a sequoia might get better than the 12mpg I've been averaging over the last 6 months.

hey gig, I also have almost 150K miles and I drive pretty hard. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[004Gunner]

Yeah I don't think it's anything to worry about either as long as you are keeping up on tranny maintenance and fluid levels.

 

[giguchan]

Snooky, 004
Thanks for the replies.... I guess i was just getting nervous I was imagining all kinds of Horrible things being stuck on the road, forcibly being towed by someone whom you Dont want to touch any of your chit. etc..
I will have the service done before anymore towing. Do you think there is anything to worry about having a complete flush, change done? I mean i never heard that Noise before and to hear that so far away from home.. man i was thinking some scary chit..
Snooky... What does a super charger do anyhow? and if i were to get one...@ $3k.. would that be a good idea at my mileage level?

 

[giguchan]

004,
as for Jersey being dirty... I was in Bayville the other day by the water getting my Ski worked on.... it's as pretty as hell there... clean, Nice folk... Didn't see no woman though tho.. Looks like a pricey area!!

 

[004Gunner]

Haha yeah the whole state is expensive. People think it's a dirty state but it isn't appearance wise by any means as a whole. It's the politics and the Jersey way that's dirty. . . a lot of the old school mafia mentalities are alive and well here!

 

[Snookster]

Snooky, What does a super charger do anyhow? and if i were to get one...@ $3k.. would that be a good idea at my mileage level?

forced induction
http://www.gadgetonline.com/Super.htm

some would say with 115K miles you engine is just being broken in.

On another note, if you are gonna supercharge it, do it right. get the 7th injector. The way gadget has his set up is exactly what I want to do eventually. Except I want a lift and rims and tires.

 

[giguchan]

thanks for the replies..
I have already scheduled to have the entire Tranny flush and filled with new fluid.
I called the dealership and made the APPT. I trust my dealer and it's not any more expensive than the local guy...
I was advised to check my fluid and see if it was burnt.My Fluid was fine had a nice red color to it.. I just had it at the dealership where they drained and filled it, but i did not go for the flush- this time i am... I got scared the last time on the Highway...Cheap piece of mind i call it. I still might do the super charger but that will be later on down the road..not too much further but further.

 

[Tomsriv]

I've never done a full trans flush, just change the fluid a few weekends in a row and you will get enough of the bad stuff out. Toyota was nice enough to include a drain plug.
I have towed with my 4cyl and didn't have a problem. You want to leave the OD off when going up a hill because the gears for OD cannot take a big load. I turned it on when I was crusing on the freeway, but whenever their was a hill on the freeway I would turn off the OD before the engine started to lug. So I would downshift before the engine had to.

 

[giguchan]

Thanks for the reply...
I dont really think there is much bad stuff in there but i want to make sure. I did get a little worried when i was towing.. I was not in OD Off either.. I'll do that from now on.