Transmission thump noise when it gets to 3rd gear!!

[mmora]

Hello, I hope someone can help me with my problem.
I have a 2001 Toyota 4 Runner with approximately 95,000 miles, the vehicle has never had any problems since I first puchased it in 2001 until yesterday when I was driving and the transmission made a thump noise when it was going into 3rd gear.
The truck is an automatic and I had no problems when it went from 1st to 2nd but as soon as it was switching to 3rd it felt like the transmission was trying to catch 3rd gear and when it did I could feel it and hear it.
Has this happened to anyone else?

Could it be it the transmission fluid needs to be flushed or new fluid added?

 

[TheBlueWave]

What does your fluid look like? Is it dark red-brown or pink-orange? If your fluid is burnt it will be brownish in color and you should have it flushed/replaced. If it still clunks, uh oh...

 

[Uneek]

I beg to differ, if the transmission fluid is burnt and it has never been changed, don't change it. If you do, you're setting yourself up for transmission failure.