Transmission and headlight question???

[240m3srt]

Guys i think my automatic transmission has been "slipping" lately. When driving normal, the car will jerk back and forth. I removed the tranny oil pan, replaced the fluid, and cleaned out the filter(which was actually pretty clean). There was a fair amount of gunmetal colored residue around the pan so i wiped all that off. It still didnt help. BTW, its at 257000 miles.

Has anyone had to have their tranny repaired or replaced and if so how much was it? I have had horrible experience in the past with having shops rebuild my transmissions so i am inclined to just buy a used one and swap it in. Does anyone know what the newest year model is that has the exact same tranny? Maybe i can locate a low mileage newer yr model one.

As far as my hedlight are concerned here is the issue that occurs while driving at night with the lights on. When i put my turn signal on and go around a corner and it automatically goes off when the steering wheel straightens the headlights turn off then on. Happens extremely fast but kinda annoying, and i dont want other cars to think im flashing them. It wont happen if i manually turn the turn signal off its only if i let it turn off automatically, and it only on one side...turning the other way is fine. I never noticed this until i installed HIDs but i havent really had the truck long enough to notice if it had been doing this all along. Suggestions welcome.

 

[pat161]

Help us help you, give as much information as possible concerning your vehicle. You are in the 3rd gen forums so I will assume you have somewhere between a 96 and 02. Is it 4wd or 2wd, what trim level, was the old fluid bright red or was it brown and burnt smelling. Jerking back and forth could also be attributed to an engine misfire, are your plugs and wires new or of unknown age, how about your fuel filter?


As far as you headlight issue you have some type of short in there between the headlights and turn signals, knowing it only happens with the auto off signal function gives you a head start. If you are good with electrical, which I am not, download a wiring diagram and start tracing out wires. You mention HID's, perhaps when those were installed soemthing got messed up, have you rechecked all wiring associated with the new lights?

 

[240m3srt]

1996 4WD Limited with a fresh and good looking paint job

http://toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49708

Hey thanks bootown!:

Pat, as stated above the vehicle is a 96 v6 Limited 4wd. The tranny fluid smells and looks good. I know its not the engine because the engine never looses power(keeps the revs).

It feels like letting on and off the clutch while staying on the gas with a manual transmission...although not quite that jerky.

The headlight thing is just annoying...i guess ill look again at my wiring.

 

[240m3srt]

I have had a few of my "car guy" friends ride with me and they all think the problem is my transmission lock-out or lock-up. I know this has something to do with the tq converter. Everyone keeps asking me if 4runner is a mechanical or electrical lock-up, does any one know?

I found a used tranny at a local salvage yard for $350 including tq converter and transfer case. It has a 6 mo. warranty too. Im gonna ride this stock one out as long as i can then ill get this one or at least know how much to expect to spend.

 

[djmedik91]

If you have the port installed Hella fog lights, I would check the wiring underneath the steering wheel. This is where they hard wired the fog lights to the headlights, and maybe the short is there. You will see where they connected the fogs to the headlight wires. This allows the fog lights to switch off when the high beams are on.

I had a similiar problem when I installed HID's. I only had to use one headlight socket for both HID lamps and everytime I turned on the fog light switch it activated my high beams. I just rewired the fog light switch to be hot when I turn the car on.

 

[shawnstcyr]

On your trans problem: Try half a bottle of Trans Medic. It comes in a red and white can. I am not a big believer in additives, but I swear by this stuff. I have seen it makes hard shifting ( and sometimes no shifting) transmissions run good as new.

 

[240m3srt]

On your trans problem: Try half a bottle of Trans Medic. It comes in a red and white can. I am not a big believer in additives, but I swear by this stuff. I have seen it makes hard shifting ( and sometimes no shifting) transmissions run good as new.

Thanks for the suggestion, i will buy a bottle. So should i drain off some fluid then add 1/2 bottle, or add it to whats already there?

 

[shawnstcyr]

Thanks for the suggestion, i will buy a bottle. So should i drain off some fluid then add 1/2 bottle, or add it to whats already there?

jut add half the bottle. The can is not that big.