Transmission Problem

[xion69]

2003 Toyota 4-Runner V8 2WD 5 speed w/ 91K miles.

When driving long distances on a hot day downshifting to 4th causes the engine to bind and speed decreases. The RPMs actually stay around 4K. If I stay in 5th and give it gas it will pick up speed. All other gears seem fine. It will run through all gears with lots of power untill 4th.

When I say bind I mean lug down.

It only happens when I drive long distances and it's hot out.

I spoke to a few folks and they point to a engine issue as a transmission will never cause the engine to bind it will only slip and the RPMs should increase which they do not in my case.

Has anyone ever seen this before.

I know I need to bring it to a professional but to who. I don't want to pay Toyota high pricing. I want to go to a specialist.

Thanks

 

[xion69]

No one?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Is the fluid fresh and full?

 

[xion69]

Fluid has never been changed but it's full.

Trying to explain it better:

It's almost as if the traction control kicks in. It acts sorta like if you are loose gravels and you give it the gas the engine governs itself down. But at 70 mph.

I also stopped at the parts store and borrowed their code reader. There were no codes.


Thanks

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Wow, that's odd. Wish I had something more to offer. Please post whatever the result is...
:cheers:

 

[CBR_GUY_IA]

Do you mean the vehicle is acting like there is "engine braking". Like a manual transmission or an auto that's in first or second? I'm not sure what you mean, but by the sounds of it kind of sounds like the torque converter continuing to stay locked up causing a slight engine braking issue. Is this only when the throttle is completely closed and the problem goes away at any throttle position?

 

[xion69]

I would not say braking.


It's like the engine governor kicks in. The RPMs stay around 3500 and the speed decreases. If I give it all the gas it downshifts to 3 and takes off like a bat out of hell.

When it happens the engine boggs down like it's in a bind.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

In the fuse box there's two fuses right next each other. One is for the EFI the other says Trans or ECT, I don't remember. Pull both for 5 minutes or so and that'll reset the 'learning' feature of the EFI and the trans. See if that helps.
:cheers: