Tranny problems-again!

laureena23

New member
I made a post a few months ago about how I had the dreaded pink milkshake problem. I had it all flushed about 6 times and replaced the radiator, which isn't even 4 months old yet.

My fiance wrecked his truck so he used my 4Runner the other day and said it was acting up again. He checked the dip stick and sure enough saw the pink and thick fluid happening all over again.

Would a full flush and a filter be the fix or what should I expect to hear from the repair guys?
 
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Once you've had a confirmed case of the milkshake - you've already begun the process of a degradred transmission. Some have had luck with the route you took, but in my case, and in the case of many others, it's only a matter of time before the transmission needs to be repaired or replaced.

If you did indeed get the milkshake again, with a new radiator, that would be a new problem. What brand radiator did you put in?
 
I did have the milkshake for sure. The radiator was whatever one is the most recommended on here, I can't remember the name of it right now off the top of my head.

I'm thinking its time to get rid of her but I just don't want a car payment again :(
 
Was the brand Koyo?

It seems very unlikely that you suffered another milkshake after only that long unless their was a design or installation failure. I would try to verify that you got leakage in the radiator, and you have it in the new for sure, then you might be able to get some liability from koyo (not sure what kind of warranty they have).
 
Yes, it is a Koyo thats in there right now.

My fiance says its not another full on milkshake situation right now (yet) but when he was driving it, it shut down and when he checked the dip stick, it doesn't look the way it should.

When I had the milkshake a few months ago, I was stranded on the side of the highway and the fluid was leaking all over the place, it definitely was worse than what this is.

He just thinks its going to happen again which is why I'm asking what I should do.
 
You shouldn't have gotten "milkshaked" twice if the Rad was put in correctly. Take it back to the shop and see what they say.

Is your truck a 'she' or "he"? I thought women refer to their trucks as male?
 
Like I said, I don't know if it is the milkshake again for sure. All I'm saying is the dip stick is pink and milky again, I just wanted some advice/what to expect with this.

The radiator was definitely put in correctlyer. I'm taking it somewhere tomorrow hopefully to have it looked at.

And the truck is female since I am.
 
It's probably just leftovers from the previous milkshake that didn't get compeletly flushed out. What exactly does "acting up again" entail?
 
It's probably just leftovers from the previous milkshake that didn't get compeletly flushed out. What exactly does "acting up again" entail?

That's what I was thinking too.

OP, so you had it flushed 6 times? That's like somewhere in the neighborhood of 100+ qts. of ATF. Did they actually flush it or just pull the drain plug and drive it, drain it, drive etc.. 6 times? I'm asking because if it was really flushed 6 times, it would have been very expensive and I doubt much if any milkshake would be left. The fact that there's some still in there makes me question their definition of flushing.
 
Acting up meaning it isn't driving properly, it feels like the transmission is binding up.

I didn't take it anywhere to have it flushed, my future father in law flushed it 5 or 6 times, he's very mechanically inclined so I couldn't see myself paying an arm and a leg to take it somewhere.

My fiance thinks its just because all of the fluid wasn't able to get out of the transmission so its still sitting in there, which is why I'm taking it somewhere tomorrow.
 
I would also bet it wasn't fully flushed correctly. Also, did your father in law actually drop the pan and replace the transmission filter as well?

Oh an if you get it figured out install a tranny cooler if you haven't already.
 
Alright quick update:

Picked it up from the shop today. The guy said it was very very pink, it runs much better now but will need to be flushed again in 2-3 weeks depending on how its driving.

Another little turn in the story: a girl I work with told me her husband is dying to buy it off of me for whatever the KBB value is. He doesn't want me to put any money into it to fix it because he's been wanting a 2WD 4Runner for a long time and loves mine. He would take it as is, for KBB value.

I looked it up, its worth about 5K, which would be a nice down payment on something newer. I'm so completely torn with what to do..lol
 
Alright quick update:

Picked it up from the shop today. The guy said it was very very pink, it runs much better now but will need to be flushed again in 2-3 weeks depending on how its driving.

Another little turn in the story: a girl I work with told me her husband is dying to buy it off of me for whatever the KBB value is. He doesn't want me to put any money into it to fix it because he's been wanting a 2WD 4Runner for a long time and loves mine. He would take it as is, for KBB value.

I looked it up, its worth about 5K, which would be a nice down payment on something newer. I'm so completely torn with what to do..lol

Does he know about the transmission problems? If so, then I'd say sell it to him. You won't get that much after it goes for good. You could probably get another 3rd gen for what you will get from him. One without tranny problems.

Did your mechanic say why you had another milkshake? I wouldn't want to keep driving it if it had a potentially leaky radiator.
 
Does he know about the transmission problems? If so, then I'd say sell it to him. You won't get that much after it goes for good. You could probably get another 3rd gen for what you will get from him. One without tranny problems.

Did your mechanic say why you had another milkshake? I wouldn't want to keep driving it if it had a potentially leaky radiator.

:withstupid: What he said... Although I haven't found much luck getting a later year 3rd gen for that amount...I'd say 97-98 possible though.
 
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Well it wasn't a full on milkshake again, it was just leaking because it had so much fluid left in it from the milkshake before. He said its going to turn pink again soon, which is why he wants me to do have it flushed again.

The guy who wants it knows everything that has ever happened to it. She said he would end up lowering it for car shows I guess and make it completely different than what it is now which is why he doesn't care about whats wrong with it.

I feel bad asking for $5k just because I know what is wrong with it but I'm not sure what to do, I think its worth that much given thats the only thing mechanical wise thats wrong. Just a little rust and cosmetic things also but thats easily fixable for him. Its a great deal for me because I really don't feel comfortable keeping it knowing I might have to keep putting so much money into it and never knowing if the tranny is just going to go completely someday soon.
 
lol I know, it seems too good to be true. I just need to make sure I can get another vehicle and get that figured out first..
 

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