Transmission whine on cold start up

[thegipper]

So just a couple days ago, my 4R started to make a whining noise when I started it up. It was in the single digits, maybe low teens when it did this. I have started it up before in that cold of temperatures but it never made the noise.

At first, I figured power steering pump. The PS pump whine does change when I turn the steering wheel but its faint and seems to be pretty normal.

I believe there is a second whine though, its louder and lasts for approximately 20 seconds. At about 20 seconds the whine sputters and goes completely away.

When I shifted into reverse, it took about 2 seconds to go into gear, something it never did before. About the same time to go into drive.

I went driving on my merry way and everything shifted fine like normal. Once it was warmed up, all the previous symptoms were gone. I could start it back up, no whine and again zero issues with shifting ect.

I checked the fluid level (I know how to do it properly) and the level is perfect. Fluid looks perfect and has been changed a bunch recently. PS reservoir has the correct amount of fluid, the fluid was changed last summer.

Could this be a clogged tranny filter screen and on very cold days, the tranny pump is being starved for 20 seconds until it warms up? That's what I'm thinking at this point.

Thoughts?

 

[thegipper]

I should add that the next day it wasn't nearly as cold and it didn't make the noise at all. It is only doing it when it very cold out.

Still thinking I should drop the pan and clean out the filter (probably never done). I will monitor in the mean time but I don't think it's a "critical" problem as of right now.

 

[johnbyebye]

My guess is the pump working hard since it only happens when it's cold. Transmission fluid contains a lot of wax that makes it very thick when it's cold. When mine is cold the shifts are delayed a bit until it warms up.

+1 on checking the filter.

 

[thegipper]

My jeep used to do the same thing minus the whining noise. It would take awhile to shift when it was really cold until its warmed up. The only reason why I have at least some concern is, it never did this before, even when it was really cold.

This is why I think the filter is probably dirty as hell. I know it hasn't been cleaned, probably ever. It's finally getting too clogged so that when its really cold, its starving the pump for that first 20 seconds.

I'll probably just drop the pan, clean the filter, clean everything out and put it all back together. Shouldn't be that much work at all.

 

[thegipper]

Here is a video of the noise.

The more I think about it, I may have a tranny swap in my future.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2FIW5bo0UWIaTQtb0JVdGZaUU0/view?usp=drivesdk

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[johnbyebye]

Here is a video of the noise.

The more I think about it, I may have a tranny swap in my future.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2FIW5bo0UWIaTQtb0JVdGZaUU0/view?usp=drivesdk

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When my TC was failing it made a similar noise but only in gear. A whining noise that occurs in neutral or park as well does point more towards the pump. If the noise doesn't go away after cleaning the filter I would just drive it since there aren't any other issues right now. But, expect to be replacing/rebuilding/swapping it at some point. Hell, it could last two more years. Hard to say.

 

[thegipper]

Long story short on my tranny issue I was having, it appears to be fixed (clogged tranny filter as I suspected).

More details can be found here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/235022-parts-list-future-tranny-swap-2.html

thanks everyone for the help/advise

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