Transmission hard shift from 1st to second.[Automatic]

[redneckstarterkit]

Picked this "PROJECT" up for the wife and fixing it up.

From a stop I'm getting a hard shift/ rough shift when shifting from 1st to second gear engagement but 3 and 4 and OD is smooth.

The odd thing is from a stop if I put the gear selector from [D] to [2] the 1st to second transition is smooth......???

The trans fluid & filter has been changed and the fluid levels are dead on and color is perfect.

Here pics of the truck when I picked her up.

 

[T4R2014]

Try loosening the kickdown cable. People read those stupid cable adjusting threads here and adjust the cables too tight because they think neck snapping shifts make their 20 year old 4Runner feel newer and sporty(ya thought bish).

 

[HDMac07]

Same issue!

I am having the EXACT same issue! I am 100% certain there was no pink milkshake going on and I have added an external trans-cooler just as a precaution. Shifts are the exact same before/after the trans-cooler. Shifting from 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd are rather hard shifts, but all shifts after those are perfect. I'm actually an ASE Certified tech and I am stumped. No codes, fresh fluid, and no issues to be found. Took it to a local transmission shop and they said that they were very positive shifts and that it was nothing to worry about. I'd love to hear from some folks who experienced this and it turned out to be nothing to worry about!! Need some peace of mind!

 

[StreetCreeper]

Picked this "PROJECT" up for the wife and fixing it up.

From a stop I'm getting a hard shift/ rough shift when shifting from 1st to second gear engagement but 3 and 4 and OD is smooth.

The odd thing is from a stop if I put the gear selector from [D] to [2] the 1st to second transition is smooth......???

The trans fluid & filter has been changed and the fluid levels are dead on and color is perfect.

Here pics of the truck when I picked her up.

I am having the EXACT same issue! I am 100% certain there was no pink milkshake going on and I have added an external trans-cooler just as a precaution. Shifts are the exact same before/after the trans-cooler. Shifting from 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd are rather hard shifts, but all shifts after those are perfect. I'm actually an ASE Certified tech and I am stumped. No codes, fresh fluid, and no issues to be found. Took it to a local transmission shop and they said that they were very positive shifts and that it was nothing to worry about. I'd love to hear from some folks who experienced this and it turned out to be nothing to worry about!! Need some peace of mind!

Probably unlikely, but any chance you guys have transmissions that the PO might have replaced/rebuilt or just have a shift kit/valve body upgrade?

Years ago I had a tranny rebuilt for a 1991Chevy Suburban 4wd and that damn thing would hold 1st gear forever and damn near chirp the wheels just cruising around a parking lot. Very annoying.

Anyways, just a thought.

 

[HDMac07]

Probably unlikely, but any chance you guys have transmissions that the PO might have replaced/rebuilt or just have a shift kit/valve body upgrade?

Years ago I had a tranny rebuilt for a 1991Chevy Suburban 4wd and that damn thing would hold 1st gear forever and damn near chirp the wheels just cruising around a parking lot. Very annoying.

Anyways, just a thought.

That was a thought of mine as well, I had a 2001 Z28 Camaro that had a built tranny with a shift kit and this feels EXACTLY like that. There's always a possibility that it was rebuilt, I just have no records to prove it.

 

[gamefreakgc]

If he installed the valve body kit, that would be the case.

When cold though, all 4Runner have a hard shift from 1st to 2nd.

 

[T4R2014]

Mine shifts smooth from 1st to 2nd even when cold. It's just locked out of 3rd till it is semi warmed up.

Like I said, check your kickdown cable. Too tight will result in crappy shifting. Also shoot some silicone spray into the cable to keep it lubed up.

 

[thinblue148]

I'm having the exact same issue but mine randomly throws shift solenoid E codes every so often.

 

[redneckstarterkit]

ttt anyone else ?

 

[alumarine]

ttt anyone else ?

Have you done anything?
T4R2014 gave a good suggestion.

 

[SteinRunner]

Mine shifts smooth from 1st to 2nd even when cold. It's just locked out of 3rd till it is semi warmed up.

Like I said, check your kickdown cable. Too tight will result in crappy shifting. Also shoot some silicone spray into the cable to keep it lubed up.

Definitely the best advice thus far. Make sure the steel ball is flush if not inside the rubber boot.

 

[T4R2014]

Definitely the best advice thus far. Make sure the steel ball is flush if not inside the rubber boot.

Glad I could help. These can get overtightened during reassembly of a maintenance procedure too. It probably just happens over time after a few jobs. No big deal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[redneckstarterkit]

Glad I could help. These can get overtightened during reassembly of a maintenance procedure too. It probably just happens over time after a few jobs. No big deal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PRAISE THE LORD JESUS!!!! PROBLEM FIXED!

The cable had some loose slack and I adjusted it snug and now she shifts smoooooooooooooooooooooooth as silk. Thank you guys, so glad I dont need a trans replacement!:biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

 

[T4R2014]

PRAISE THE LORD JESUS!!!! PROBLEM FIXED!

The cable had some loose slack and I adjusted it snug and now she shifts smoooooooooooooooooooooooth as silk. Thank you guys, so glad I dont need a trans replacement!:biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

I figured it was something that simple. I've driven some shifting excellent with 300k while some with 150k felt like shit. It's gotta be a cable adjustment issue in most cases.

 

[mikesayboom]

I figured it was something that simple. I've driven some shifting excellent with 300k while some with 150k felt like shit. It's gotta be a cable adjustment issue in most cases.

Im going to have to check this out. Since i did the valve cover maintanace and took everything apart and put back to gather my runner holds 1st gear forever before shifting into 2nd. add that to my to do list tomorrow morning when i change some fluids tomorrow.

 

[mikesayboom]

I figured it was something that simple. I've driven some shifting excellent with 300k while some with 150k felt like shit. It's gotta be a cable adjustment issue in most cases.

Im going to have to check this out. Since i did the valve cover maintanace and took everything apart and put back to gather my runner holds 1st gear forever before shifting into 2nd. add that to my to do list tomorrow morning when i change some fluids tomorrow.

 

[4skinner-74]

Try loosening the kickdown cable. People read those stupid cable adjusting threads here and adjust the cables too tight because they think neck snapping shifts make their 20 year old 4Runner feel newer and sporty(ya thought bish).

this is my first comment here on this forum but I wanted to say thank you for this particular comment because this was exactly what my problem was ,I had a hard shift (really was suspecting i had a tranny getting worn out or somethin) but come to find out the previous owner had just way overtightened the kickdown cable, fortunately I could still see where the original position was because the threads were less dirty in one area indicating from where it had been moved,anywhow,Thanks alot.I hope that in the future I can provide some helpful feedback as well.

 

[FD7683]

Try loosening the kickdown cable. People read those stupid cable adjusting threads here and adjust the cables too tight because they think neck snapping shifts make their 20 year old 4Runner feel newer and sporty(ya thought bish).

this is my first comment here on this forum but I wanted to say thank you for this particular comment because this was exactly what my problem was ,I had a hard shift (really was suspecting i had a tranny getting worn out or somethin) but come to find out the previous owner had just way overtightened the kickdown cable, fortunately I could still see where the original position was because the threads were less dirty in one area indicating from where it had been moved,anywhow,Thanks alot.I hope that in the future I can provide some helpful feedback as well.

Welcome to the forum! this is a great community to be part of for 3rd Gen 4Runners. I hope you are aware but this is a post from 2017. I was actually going to adjust my kick down cable a couple of years ago and i'm glad I stopped myself. Most 3rd gen owners have their gas pedal cable loose from years of use.