Transmission Dying...Again?

[aontkos]

Hello all,

I have a 2000 4Runner with an automatic transmission. I had the transmission replaced with a Jasper remanufactured unit about 7,000 miles ago after the torque converter in my original unit crapped the bed. It was expensive, but the
nationwide warranty was worth it since I was planning a two month overland trip.

The overland trip went well and I traveled 5,000 miles in two months without issues. Somehow, in my last fifteen minutes of driving before getting home, it felt like my transmission was beginning to slip. I noticed instantaneous (and short lived) loss of power and RPM drops when accelerating and coasting. The truck would drop from 1,500-2,000 RPMs to ~500 RPMs and return to normal almost immediately.

The transmission fluid levels are fine, fluid looks good, and trans temperatures never got above 200F. No CELs or pending codes. I'm trying to figure out if this could be a fuel issue, misfire, or transmission issue. Any thoughts?

 

[JayRolla]

Hello all,

I have a 2000 4Runner with an automatic transmission. I had the transmission replaced with a Jasper remanufactured unit about 7,000 miles ago after the torque converter in my original unit crapped the bed. It was expensive, but the
nationwide warranty was worth it since I was planning a two month overland trip.

The overland trip went well and I traveled 5,000 miles in two months without issues. Somehow, in my last fifteen minutes of driving before getting home, it felt like my transmission was beginning to slip. I noticed instantaneous (and short lived) loss of power and RPM drops when accelerating and coasting. The truck would drop from 1,500-2,000 RPMs to ~500 RPMs and return to normal almost immediately.

The transmission fluid levels are fine, fluid looks good, and trans temperatures never got above 200F. No CELs or pending codes. I'm trying to figure out if this could be a fuel issue, misfire, or transmission issue. Any thoughts?

I literally have had better luck with used OEM trans and motors from junkyard or part outs. I have seen this happen many times.

My buddy had a 300hp Jeep 4.6L stroker built. The motor failed in 1000k miles. He had to pay for parts but they did labor. He also had to pay for shipping both ways. 2nd motor has held up fine.

 

[johnbyebye]

Hello friend,

Just popping in to say hey. Our trannys died at the same time lol.

Hopefully you don't have to get more tranny work done. It doesn't sound like a transmission issue to me but frankly, I'm not sure. Best of luck.

 

[octanejunkie]

Sounds like a forward pump issue. You can verify with a pressure gauge.

 

[aontkos]

Just popping in to say hey. Our trannys died at the same time lol. Hopefully you don't have to get more tranny work done.

Dude, we always seem to chime in on these automatic transmission posts at around the same time. I'm also hoping that it's not a tranny issue, but the lack of CEL codes isn't making for an easy diagnosis.

Sounds like a forward pump issue. You can verify with a pressure gauge.

So the transmission pump? I was really hoping for a fuel pressure issue, but once again, I'm sure that would throw a code.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Hello all,

I have a 2000 4Runner with an automatic transmission. I had the transmission replaced with a Jasper remanufactured unit about 7,000 miles ago after the torque converter in my original unit crapped the bed. It was expensive, but the
nationwide warranty was worth it since I was planning a two month overland trip.

The overland trip went well and I traveled 5,000 miles in two months without issues. Somehow, in my last fifteen minutes of driving before getting home, it felt like my transmission was beginning to slip. I noticed instantaneous (and short lived) loss of power and RPM drops when accelerating and coasting. The truck would drop from 1,500-2,000 RPMs to ~500 RPMs and return to normal almost immediately.

The transmission fluid levels are fine, fluid looks good, and trans temperatures never got above 200F. No CELs or pending codes. I'm trying to figure out if this could be a fuel issue, misfire, or transmission issue. Any thoughts?

Welcome to the club mine turned out be a ECM on mine. so I'm about to cough up another grand to replace.

 

[thegipper]

Welcome to the club mine turned out be a ECM on mine. so I'm about to cough up another grand to replace.

I have a 99 and a 97 ECM laying around if you're interested. I'm not sure what year you have but if either the 97/99 would work, let me know...

A grand for a new one is criminal....

 

[aontkos]

Welcome to the club mine turned out be a ECM on mine. so I'm about to cough up another grand to replace.

Did you get the same symptoms? No codes, just sudden drops/rebounds in RPMS?

I'm thinking that it's not the transmission. I would expect a slipping transmission to rev, not drop to the point where it seems like it might die while moving.

I took it for a test drive today and it drove fine. No issues whatsoever. This will be hard to diagnose and fix if it is intermittent and random.

I have a 99 and a 97 ECM laying around if you're interested. I'm not sure what year you have but if either the 97/99 would work, let me know...

Good to know! I'll get in touch with you if I can narrow it down to the ECM.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Hello all,

I have a 2000 4Runner with an automatic transmission. I had the transmission replaced with a Jasper remanufactured unit about 7,000 miles ago after the torque converter in my original unit crapped the bed. It was expensive, but the
nationwide warranty was worth it since I was planning a two month overland trip.

The overland trip went well and I traveled 5,000 miles in two months without issues. Somehow, in my last fifteen minutes of driving before getting home, it felt like my transmission was beginning to slip. I noticed instantaneous (and short lived) loss of power and RPM drops when accelerating and coasting. The truck would drop from 1,500-2,000 RPMs to ~500 RPMs and return to normal almost immediately.

The transmission fluid levels are fine, fluid looks good, and trans temperatures never got above 200F. No CELs or pending codes. I'm trying to figure out if this could be a fuel issue, misfire, or transmission issue. Any thoughts?

That's more of an engine issue than a transmission issue. When a transmission slips, it USUALLY will increase in RPM's since it has no load. Like you accidentally shifted to neutral and stepped on the gas, the RPM's go up.

A dip in RPM's is usually an engine issue.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Welcome to the club mine turned out be a ECM on mine. so I'm about to cough up another grand to replace.

A Grand? No no no... go used. Plenty of solid used ECU's out there for $100 or less. They take 15 minutes to replace. You could get 10 for that price!

 

[LittleCaesar]

Ever replaced the TPS? Any codes?

 

[aontkos]

Ever replaced the TPS? Any codes?

TPS is original. Still no codes...that would make things a little easier.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Did you get the same symptoms? No codes, just sudden drops/rebounds in RPMS?

I'm thinking that it's not the transmission. I would expect a slipping transmission to rev, not drop to the point where it seems like it might die while moving.

I took it for a test drive today and it drove fine. No issues whatsoever. This will be hard to diagnose and fix if it is intermittent and random.



Good to know! I'll get in touch with you if I can narrow it down to the ECM.

loss of power and ECM wouldn't shift the solenoid in correct shift points. Finally after a long period of time once 8 failure where detected in a row finally got a code

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

A Grand? No no no... go used. Plenty of solid used ECU's out there for $100 or less. They take 15 minutes to replace. You could get 10 for that price!

Unless there is a magic trick to getting the used ECM to accept my keys then yea.Toyota extra security feature really has me in a pickle.. The lock smith route was going to cost me as much, just for him to go in and work his magic and open the ECM up to accepting key and he just so happens to be the only guy in my area to do the task.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Unless there is a magic trick to getting the used ECM to accept my keys then yea.Toyota extra security feature really has me in a pickle.. The lock smith route was going to cost me as much, just for him to go in and work his magic and open the ECM up to accepting key and he just so happens to be the only guy in my area to do the task.

Accept the keys? I don't think our keys have chips in them. The key fob, if you have it, can be re-programmed.

What is the extra security feature? You mean the aftermarket alarms that were installed on some 4Runners?

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Accept the keys? I don't think our keys have chips in them. The key fob, if you have it, can be re-programmed.

What is the extra security feature? You mean the aftermarket alarms that were installed on some 4Runners?

99+ Key are equipped with a Emobolizer key typically u have 2 master and one valet which is program to the ecm. With a new factory ecm the ecm is set to accept and search for 3 emobolizer chipped keys.

 

[thecole1098]

99+ Key are equipped with a Emobolizer key typically u have 2 master and one valet which is program to the ecm. With a new factory ecm the ecm is set to accept and search for 3 emobolizer chipped keys.

Well, only the Limited 99 came with the immobilizer and I believe the same for the 2000. 2001 and up came standard pretty sure.