Transmission Whine

[IAmTodd]

My 4R just rolled 50k miles and I decided it was time to change out the transmission fluid. At that time I figured it best to install a transmission cooler.

As a little background I purchased it at 44k and the transmission always had a slight whine to it. I was never concerned over it so I just drove it.

This weekend I did the pump two out, pump two in method to exchange out 14 quarts of fluid with Amsoil's OE Fuel Efficient ATF. It is rated for WS and after some extensive reading no one reports any issues with running it for extended periods. GREAT! Also read that some people on here that quite a few people have installed the B&M 70264 cooler. Another GREAT.

Did all that this weekend and took it for a test drive. The whine has gotten much louder. To the point where I'm now concerned. I removed the cooler but the whine is still persistent, although not quite as loud but still cause for concern. I'm going to be calling the dealer to book it in to see what they have to say but does anyone have any suggestions as to what is going on? At this point all I can guess is the pump is going out on it and I've just accelerated it. I knew I should have gotten a 6MT Tacoma

Here's the video, it sounds pretty much just like a supercharger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hndmSfNFeY

 

[Mike G.]

If you are positive that the whine is louder after the work, than I would take to a dealer or trusted shop. I would just offer this up, sometimes we hear things a little different if we think there is an issue, I have done this numerous times.
Do you think you could be hearing some normal gear/drivetrain noise? I could not hear any whine in the video, but my hearing is not that sharp.
Keep us posted on what happens.

 

[Sac State]

I knew I should have gotten a 6MT Tacoma :

You would just have to deal with bad throw out bearings then. I was going through TOB's every 30K miles. And it cost $1200 to replace. This was on a new FJ that was babied and never taken off road. Once warranty was up, cya.

I will never own another manual Toyota transmission.

 

[IAmTodd]

I did book it into the dealer for tomorrow. I really think it does sound different but like you said, if we're expecting something then maybe we make the sound be there. I don't think it's a normal sound as I've never heard a passing 5th gen 4Runner make this noise.
[MENTION=51030]joneseyyy[/MENTION] had an issue with the timing setup. He listed to my video and said it sounded similar. I'm hoping it's not that bad but doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies. I'll report back tomorrow when I find out more.

 

[IAmTodd]

You would just have to deal with bad throw out bearings then. I was going through TOB's every 30K miles. And it cost $1200 to replace. This was on a new FJ that was babied and never taken off road. Once warranty was up, cya.

I will never own another manual Toyota transmission.

Dang, I guess I should have stuck with my '94 Explorer. The manual in that thing was rattly as all hell but at least it was solid.

 

[MSinDC]

Dang, I guess I should have stuck with my '94 Explorer. The manual in that thing was rattly as all hell but at least it was solid.

HA! Funny you say that. I was about to offer up that the only whine I've ever heard was in my '93 Explorer manual that had a transmission fluid leak. It was fine when you had enough fluid in it, but started to sound like an Indy car when it started to get low. Sucked...only way to put more fluid in was a side plug on the transmission itself.

 

[IAmTodd]

HA! Funny you say that. I was about to offer up that the only whine I've ever heard was in my '93 Explorer manual that had a transmission fluid leak. It was fine when you had enough fluid in it, but started to sound like an Indy car when it started to get low. Sucked...only way to put more fluid in was a side plug on the transmission itself.

Yea, those 3 plugs at the top of the shift plate like to leak if you leave the rubber caps in them. I replaced with metal plugs and no more leaks. I did find it much easier to remove the shifter and fill through that hole. I always feared spilling ATF in the interior though. :crazy:

 

[alico268]

You would just have to deal with bad throw out bearings then. I was going through TOB's every 30K miles. And it cost $1200 to replace. This was on a new FJ that was babied and never taken off road. Once warranty was up, cya.

I will never own another manual Toyota transmission.

Just out of curiosity, did you leave the clutch pedal depressed while in gear at stop lights and such?

 

[Sac State]

Just out of curiosity, did you leave the clutch pedal depressed while in gear at stop lights and such?

No, clutch was only depressed to change gears. Left in neutral at lights, idle.

SET replaced the entire transmission no questions asked at 63K miles, outside of warranty. So they are aware of the garbage they are producing. Check the FJ and Tacoma forums, this is common and happens year after year with no improvement from Toyota. Best manual trannies I have ever owned were Honda and VW. Ford didn't have TOB issues, but it was clanky.

I fully intended to keep the FJ and pass it to my 6yr. old son, but the return of the TOB whine forced me to sell it while it was quiet. I would have gone ballistic if I had to pay such an expense to sell it.

Sorry, thread jack......back to OP

 

[IAmTodd]

As I figured they say it's a normal noise. They had a 2012 in the shop with 16k miles on it that had a very slight whine and they said it was the same. It's all documented and I have another 9k miles or so on my warranty so I'll just leave it go and take it back near the end of the warranty. We'll see if chunks fly between now and then!

Thanks guys.

 

[azn-sensation]

Just an fyi, my 2010 sounds the same way.

 

[nevetsvsx]

Mine has the same sound too. Coming from a v6 Tundra that didn't make this noise I am also mildly concerned but so far have been assuming that its normal.

 

[IAmTodd]

Just an fyi, my 2010 sounds the same way.

Mine has the same sound too. Coming from a v6 Tundra that didn't make this noise I am also mildly concerned but so far have been assuming that its normal.

I guess that's good to hear, maybe??

I thought maybe a new exhaust would cover up the noise, found this video of one and it's got the same whine as well so I guess we shall just rock on. :guitar3:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ORqElBEcTQ

 

[Whiplash Willy]

I guess that's good to hear, maybe??

I thought maybe a new exhaust would cover up the noise, found this video of one and it's got the same whine as well so I guess we shall just rock on. :guitar3:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ORqElBEcTQ

I heard the "whine" in this video at the very first part when they were revving at a stop with the stock exhaust. The whine is coming from the engine and not the transmission.

In your video, you are accelerating the whole time, to produce the whine, which also may be coming from the engine and not the transmission. Do you ever hear the whine when you are coasting in gear or in N? Can you hear the whine when you rev it when stopped? Is this maybe just a normal engine noise?

 

[IAmTodd]

The whine seems solely dependent on the engine RPM. It will whine in park, reverse or any forward gear. Accelerating or coasting. I figured it's either the engine or the transmission pump as I believe that spins at the same speed as the engine.

 

[IAmTodd]

Just as a bit of follow up on this the local dealer thinks there is no issue. I'm taking it in a few weeks to have another dealer listen to it. I don't think it's normal but maybe it is. I just find it hugely annoying to listen to when the windows are down. :nono:

I did find a case on a 2013 FJ where the timing chain tensioner went bad causing noises. It appears to be fairly easy to get to and only $60 so I may replace that for some peace of mind if dealer 2 comes back with normal.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I am also getting a weird whine on my 2014 Limited with only 488 miles on it.
It is kind of annoying. It is worse climbing small hills when the engine is working harder mainly in around town driving and it changes with engine rpm so I know it is not the axles. I guess the noise gets drowned out by road noise at higher speeds. I added some sound deadener around the transmission tunnel under the 4runner, it helped some but it still seems to whine to much. My 03 V8 with full time 4x4 never sounded like this. I may have the dealer look at it but I know they will say it is normal. It just does not sound like a $42k vehicle should to me. I guess I am hoping the noise goes away after I put some more miles on it.

 

[IAmTodd]

If it's the same sound I have I think it's downright embarrassing to drive around. If the second dealer states it's normal, and I'll only accept this for an answer if they can tell me what is making the sound I guess it will be time to invest in an exhaust to drown out the sound of the whine.

 

[adam2562]

ever thought about the water pump? it'll get louder with engine rpm

 

[IAmTodd]

It could be pretty much anything that spins with engine speed at this point.