Transmission slip (95)

[DoctorJest]

I'm hoping someone'll be able to give me some tips on this. Our '95 4Runner has an issue where it'll occasionally slip; you'll lose power for a moment, then it'll come back and all will be well. It doesn't happen always; I'd say maybe one trip out in every two or three. It also only seems to happen in what I'd guess is the second gear in the automatic transmission.

It did the same thing today, slipping, but then it seemed to settle in neutral after that, as if it had become confused while switching gears; after we parked up and started up again, though, it behaved perfectly normally and got us where we were going (and, blessedly, back home again afterwards).

I've recently used an additive in my power-steering tank, something that's supposed soften and expand the seals to fix a leak; it seems to have worked a charm on the PS leak, but I noticed on the bottle that it also says it can help to fix transmission slip that is caused by gear polishing; I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and whether anyone knows enough to say whether or not this sounds like it could help?

(Also -- honestly, if it comes down to replacing the transmission, I may try this bottle on the transmission first anyway. It costs about $12, and if I'm going to have to shell out for a whole transmission, then that's a fairly negligible expense...)

 

[fourwd1]

You may want to start by checking to see if the trans ECM has any error codes stored.
There is also a test you can do to help narrow it down to a mechanical or electrical problem, see the FSM.
Also, 2WD or 4WD ?

 

[Jhacker1]

I also am an owner of a 95 and i have had the same problem. My truck (not saying yours too) usually does it when the truck ain't that warm. And i have really noticed it when I'm stopped on a down slope. I've asked a couple people and they seem to think it is the trans fluid not warm and not grabbing. I haven't had it checked in depth because frankly i'm afraid of having to replace a trans. If ya don't mind thou, once you find out what it is then shoot me a PM so i might have an idea what my prob is.

Best of luck to ya bud!! :bigok:

 

[2Walker5RS]

I had the exact same prob... Felt like the tranny was slipping... Then it would settle into gear then slip again etc... etc...

Turned out to be my shifter position.... It was SLIGHTLY past drive... Just enough. I now make sure (give it a wiggle...) to make sure its locked in.


Mine was a simple fix, hope this is your prob!!! Other wise I would look towards the ECU.

 

[DoctorJest]

Well, I'll certainly check the shifter; I've noticed similar problems with the gear shift in other cars in the past, but didn't think about it in this one, as I've only ever seen it be out of gear or in it, not actually slip during driving. Worth a check, though!

It's a 4WD. And for the computer, I''ll need to look up something about how to begin with that one -- I know there's a garage around here that can read the error codes, but they've become really sloppy with their work over the last couple of years, so I'm not about to take it back in there even for something like this. It'd rankle to pay them for anything after the messes they've made in the past.

If that doesn't help, a friend of mine's a mechanic, and I'll get his opinion on it too before I look to anyone else. Though if it's to do with the fluid not grabbing, then maybe the little magic bottle might help after all; there's a mobile mechanic up in our neck of the woods I'd ask about that before trying it, though. Ours has mostly slipped when it's fairly cold, too, though not only then.

So, I'll start with checking the shifter, and I'll post back here once I find anything that helps out...thanks for the responses, guys!

 

[rustbucket]

Well, I'll certainly check the shifter; I've noticed similar problems with the gear shift in other cars in the past, but didn't think about it in this one, as I've only ever seen it be out of gear or in it, not actually slip during driving. Worth a check, though!

It's a 4WD. And for the computer, I''ll need to look up something about how to begin with that one -- I know there's a garage around here that can read the error codes, but they've become really sloppy with their work over the last couple of years, so I'm not about to take it back in there even for something like this. It'd rankle to pay them for anything after the messes they've made in the past.

If that doesn't help, a friend of mine's a mechanic, and I'll get his opinion on it too before I look to anyone else. Though if it's to do with the fluid not grabbing, then maybe the little magic bottle might help after all; there's a mobile mechanic up in our neck of the woods I'd ask about that before trying it, though. Ours has mostly slipped when it's fairly cold, too, though not only then.

So, I'll start with checking the shifter, and I'll post back here once I find anything that helps out...thanks for the responses, guys!

How's the fluid level? Make sure the truck is at operating temp the while parked hold the brake and run through the gears P-L the back to P and check the fluid level with the truck running...

I'm dealing with the same type of problem on my 89 and today it was finally warm enough( 20 degrees) for me to investigate it further, my fluid appears to be extremly low but I can't get a good reading on the stick due to toyotas poor placment of the trans dipstick....but I'm gonna pick up some lucas and another bottle of atf and check it again tommorrow and fill if needed.

You have to fill through the poorly placed dipstick tube though so I'm not sure how to do it exactly, I may have to buy a special funnel.

 

[DoctorJest]

I don't see it getting up to 20 degrees anytime soon! I'll need to check the transmission fluid levels, but I'm pretty sure I checked it recently, and I haven't seen any leaks apart from the PS leak that I already sealed up; so I wouldn't expect it to be low. That said, I know I checked it before it got cold, so maybe it was really longer ago than I'm thinking it is now...