Transmission woes (reverse feels like brakes are on!)

[Qyota]

OK, now I'm getting a little frustrated with this thing. I've had it 3 months (on Friday), and I've had pretty much nothing but trouble! I'm finding out reasons why perhaps the previous owner sold it.

The latest thing is with the transmission. I've been getting "the clunk" after a stop or right before taking off from a stop. I was prepared to tackle that this weekend with a grease gun...hitting all the driveshaft lube points.

But the bigger problem is reverse. When I put it in reverse, basically nothing happens unless I give it a good amount of gas, then it begins to move back slowly...almost as if the parking brake is on. It's not on, of course. If I try to just creep backward, without throttle...it won't move. So, as you can imagine, if I'm trying to back up slowly to a trailer or something, it's a very jerky process...as I have to give it gas, then hit the brakes, then give it gas...etc.

Any ideas what might be going on? I have an appointment at the dealer where I bought it (NOT a Toyota dealer, unfortunately), and it should be covered under the 3 month/ 3000 mile warranty (as I notified them about the problem yesterday).

Thanks for any help.

 

[410toy]

Dude I feel your pain sometimes I think my 4runner fights me all the way. I bought mine used too. It was someones second car and sat out on Cape Cod for about 10 years before I picked it up (55,000 miles). As far as the backing up goes you might just need the e-brake adjustment and or the rear drums either replace or adjusted I highly doubt it would be the front discs sticking but you bought it used some you don't know what rotors and pads are up front. as far as the transmission clunking I don't know mine dose that every once and awhile don't think its a big deal? you might want a tranny flush how many miles are on your 4Runner? if you do get a flush make sure the place you do it has a T-tech machine. I replaced all my fluids with royal purple and my truck runs more quite and shifts are much much more smooth!! second thought about the transmission clunk could be the front breaks I have had a similar issue recently when I slow down and come to a stop my break pads (I think) make contact with the rotors and then at the last second clamp the rotors. thought it was the transmission but the 4Runner trannys are pretty bullet proof! any way find out what the dealer says. If you don;t feel they are being honest get a second opinion from a Toyota dealership.

 

[4Evr4RunN3R]

the transmission clunk you are describing is normal. i experience that every so often. as far as for the problems in reverse, your rear brakes might be stuck and that's whats slowing you down. i had similar symptoms one week where i noticed if i put it in reverse, i would need to give it gas in order for it to move. also with the brakes being stuck, driving on the highway for a while and coming to a stop, it would smell like ass. took it to my mechanic and he adjusted the brakes so that they would release and wont get stuck when i pull the e brake ( though i have an automatic trans. but i pull the e brake as a habit due to driving stick all the time)

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

OK, now I'm getting a little frustrated with this thing. I've had it 3 months (on Friday), and I've had pretty much nothing but trouble! I'm finding out reasons why perhaps the previous owner sold it.

The latest thing is with the transmission. I've been getting "the clunk" after a stop or right before taking off from a stop. I was prepared to tackle that this weekend with a grease gun...hitting all the driveshaft lube points.

But the bigger problem is reverse. When I put it in reverse, basically nothing happens unless I give it a good amount of gas, then it begins to move back slowly...almost as if the parking brake is on. It's not on, of course. If I try to just creep backward, without throttle...it won't move. So, as you can imagine, if I'm trying to back up slowly to a trailer or something, it's a very jerky process...as I have to give it gas, then hit the brakes, then give it gas...etc.

Any ideas what might be going on? I have an appointment at the dealer where I bought it (NOT a Toyota dealer, unfortunately), and it should be covered under the 3 month/ 3000 mile warranty (as I notified them about the problem yesterday).

Thanks for any help.

Dude, I'm sorry about your troubles. I've never had any issues with my 4Runner that were of that degree, always little shit that didn't really matter...

And that whole ECU thing, oh god.

Sorry dude, not your typical Toyota experience.

 

[One_96TR4]

The dealership you bought it from should take care of you. Most of them are pretty dececnt. I'm speaking on a whole though. If they seem shady then get a second opinion at another dealer or mechanic shop. If something is wrong and the dealer decides not to fix it. Contact the BBB or there should be a dealers association or something to get in contact with. If you say you've had nothing but trouble with the truck the dealer should have been taking care of what ever the issues were provided they were mechanical in nature. They sold you the truck in driveable condition so you should be able to do just that without all this stress. Hopefully it's nothing big. good luck.

 

[Qyota]

The warranty is powertrain only...and actually wouldn't have covered the ECU replacement last month. And they TRIED to fix my keyless entry problem, but ordered me the wrong fobs. So, both issues I had to resolve on my own. Hence, I don't have much confidence in this place. And, they are the only ones who will do any warranty work, so I can't yet take it elsewhere and have it paid for. I'm currently looking for a good Toyota indie in Madison, WI.

Anyway, I should have mentioned that the reverse issue doesn't happen all the time! When i take it out of the garage in the morning, it backs up just fine...in fact i have to keep my foot on the brake lightly so I don't pick up too much speed in reverse. Of course, the rpms are up around 1500 at this point as well...

So, I guess it *could* be an e-brake issue. I'll crawl under there today and scope it out when I'm lubing the driveshaft.

Thanks

 

[4daRUNNER]

does your check engine light come on? have you seen it come on since you had this 4runner? have it checked at the nearest autozone. i bought my 98 and had to put a new tranny. but after i thought to myself if i really needed to replace it. im still having a small similar problem on occasions. buy before i had very similar problems. a code showed up the other day saying it was a lock-up solenoid. ??? just giving you my troubles.

 

[Qyota]

It's really intermittent today...and no CEL.

Today it drove pretty normal, even after I lubed all points on the driveshaft this morning. Reverse was better today, but still flaky. When I got home in the afternoon, I did a small test. I put the car in drive, and let the idle creep it forward (I don't know about your 4runner, but mine doesn't move much at idle). Then I shifted to neutral, and then to reverse, and let it idle/creep backwards. I did this several times, and each time the truck kind of lumped it's way along. It was not a smooth motion in either direction...almost like it was chugging, but the rpms were fine.

 

[JKW]

Did you fix it?

Qyota-

How did you fix this problem? We are experiencing the same problem. Thanks for the update.

JKW

 

[99Grunner]

U might have a frozen caliper. Put it in neutral and see if it rolls forwards or back. When u do that if it doesnt move then a caliper might be frozen. Check your E-Brake cables. Just a thought.

 

[Qyota]

Qyota-

How did you fix this problem? We are experiencing the same problem. Thanks for the update.

JKW

My brakes are fine. The issue was in the transmission. This problem was alleviated with a transmission fluid change (actually, 2 fluid changes...the last one with a new filter). However, I still don't think the idle or "crawl" speed in drive is as fast as it should be. But, reverse now works as it should.

I'd definitely recommend a fluid and filter change as a first step. I just had a drain and fill done, not a flush.

Good luck!

 

[JKW]

My brakes are fine. The issue was in the transmission. This problem was alleviated with a transmission fluid change (actually, 2 fluid changes...the last one with a new filter). However, I still don't think the idle or "crawl" speed in drive is as fast as it should be. But, reverse now works as it should.

I'd definitely recommend a fluid and filter change as a first step. I just had a drain and fill done, not a flush.

Good luck!

Thanks! I'll give that a try.

JKW