Transmission Woes

[MStudt]

I've been having transmission issues for the last 5 weeks, and possibly longer. I started noticing something wasn't right with the way my 4runner was sounding about 8 weeks ago when we where coming through Colorado. At first I thought maybe it was the road causing a slight rumbling sound because it came and went. A week later that rumbling sound was constant everyday, and at all speeds.

About 5 weeks ago, and out of no where I had a very hard shift into 4th. To the point that the vehicle jolted once it engaged. This happened the next time it shifted from 3rd to 4th too. I didn't notice a spike in the RPM's to indicate a slippage between the gears. Ever since then I've been babying it, and easing off the gas just before it shifts into 4th. When easing off the gas it'll shift into 4th with no issues.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LittleCaesar]

When was the last time you did a drain and fill? Maybe take a magnet to the old fluid to see how much metal there is in it....

 

[Scramble]

I've been having transmission issues for the last 5 weeks, and possibly longer. I started noticing something wasn't right with the way my 4runner was sounding about 8 weeks ago when we where coming through Colorado. At first I thought maybe it was the road causing a slight rumbling sound because it came and went. A week later that rumbling sound was constant everyday, and at all speeds.

About 5 weeks ago, and out of no where I had a very hard shift into 4th. To the point that the vehicle jolted once it engaged. This happened the next time it shifted from 3rd to 4th too. I didn't notice a spike in the RPM's to indicate a slippage between the gears. Ever since then I've been babying it, and easing off the gas just before it shifts into 4th. When easing off the gas it'll shift into 4th with no issues.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I was getting a hard shift from 1st to second in my old Accord. When I went easy on the gas it shifted smoothly like you. I changed all of the shift solenoids. It was fine after that. Sold it to a neighbor 2 years later & never heard any complaints. She still has it.

 

[MStudt]

When was the last time you did a drain and fill? Maybe take a magnet to the old fluid to see how much metal there is in it....

Entire system was flushed 2 years ago when the transmission was swapped out, and was running perfectly smooth until last month.

 

[thegipper]

If I were you, I'd drop the pan and inspect the magnets. While your at it, remove the filter and see how filthy it is.

You could also test the shift solenoids.

If all that checks out and the fluid is in good condition, not much more you can do. Just keep driving it and see if anything changes.

 

[MStudt]

If I were you, I'd drop the pan and inspect the magnets. While your at it, remove the filter and see how filthy it is.

You could also test the shift solenoids.

If all that checks out and the fluid is in good condition, not much more you can do. Just keep driving it and see if anything changes.

Easier said than done in apartment living. I may take it to a shop to look it over, and start searching for a used one somewhere.

 

[tystaco]

One positive is that you are in Eugene...nearly the heart of 3rd gen country...so many of these rigs floating around out here, and tons to pick from in junk yards for various parts.

 

[shadcore]

If you think you got trans problems, you should see what i'm dealing with! Cracked bell housing, cracked transmission, cracked transfer case, and a bent drive shaft. Bought the truck a month ago.

 

[johnbyebye]

If you think you got trans problems, you should see what i'm dealing with! Cracked bell housing, cracked transmission, cracked transfer case, and a bent drive shaft. Bought the truck a month ago.

Surely this didn't occur through normal wear and tear.

 

[shadcore]

Surely this didn't occur through normal wear and tear.

I can't post a new topic yet (new member) but yeah, I'd like input on how this happened.

 

[kball]

I've been having transmission issues for the last 5 weeks, and possibly longer. I started noticing something wasn't right with the way my 4runner was sounding about 8 weeks ago when we where coming through Colorado. At first I thought maybe it was the road causing a slight rumbling sound because it came and went. A week later that rumbling sound was constant everyday, and at all speeds.

About 5 weeks ago, and out of no where I had a very hard shift into 4th. To the point that the vehicle jolted once it engaged. This happened the next time it shifted from 3rd to 4th too. I didn't notice a spike in the RPM's to indicate a slippage between the gears. Ever since then I've been babying it, and easing off the gas just before it shifts into 4th. When easing off the gas it'll shift into 4th with no issues.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

How does your fluid look? Have you bypassed the radiator trans cooler?

 

[MStudt]

How does your fluid look? Have you bypassed the radiator trans cooler?

Fluid is good, and I have a B&M cooler on it.

 

[96RedRunner]

Fluid is good.

Always a good thing! Something I read doing research on the A340F. Can develop shifting problems when the balls in valve body wear to a certain point. Your symptoms somewhat match.
Whats the history on your trans milage wise? Info leaned toward being a high milage issue.

 

[MStudt]

Always a good thing! Something I read doing research on the A340F. Can develop shifting problems when the balls in valve body wear to a certain point. Your symptoms somewhat match.
Whats the history on your trans milage wise? Info leaned toward being a high milage issue.

The transmission was from a donor with 143xxx on it, and I've since put about 20xxx on it. I would hate to think after 163xxx miles this thing would have issue, but who knows. I'm going to get it to a shop next week for them to take a look, and see what they think.

 

[mtbtim]

If you find you are going to have to replace the transmission, you should really try to avoid paying a shop to do it for you. I know you're currently living in an apartment but I bet there's lots of T4R members local to you that have a garage and tools that would be willing to help you out.

This is a fairly labor intensive job and I bet shops will charge a decent chunk of change to do it for you.
[MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I have a 3 video series of pulling the transmission on his rig and reinstalling a remanufactured one from Toyota. Check out the videos and consider doing the job yourself with the help of another T4R member in your neck of the woods. Good Luck!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oZDSjlxl2Q4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O4GA3UhPC5Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4YY3IfnzaQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[MStudt]

If you find you are going to have to replace the transmission, you should really try to avoid paying a shop to do it for you. I know you're currently living in an apartment but I bet there's lots of T4R members local to you that have a garage and tools that would be willing to help you out.

This is a fairly labor intensive job and I bet shops will charge a decent chunk of change to do it for you.

It's a pretty easy job that unfortunately I've already had to do once. It's more time consuming than anything. Finding a transmission with the t-case still attached is ideal, but not likely in Eugene. Or at least not that I'm seeing right now.

I'm not sure if I'd rather swap in another transmission or just get another 4runner and start over. I'm leaning towards getting another 4runner simply due to the rust issues I have, but who knows.

 

[96RedRunner]

The transmission was from a donor with 143xxx on it, and I've since put about 20xxx on it. I would hate to think after 163xxx miles this thing would have issue, but who knows. I'm going to get it to a shop next week for them to take a look, and see what they think.

Your good with those miles regarding what I mentioned. +- 400k is the area info was talking about.

Your not too far away from prime hunting grounds for Runners, the SW.

 

[shadcore]

If you find you are going to have to replace the transmission, you should really try to avoid paying a shop to do it for you. I know you're currently living in an apartment but I bet there's lots of T4R members local to you that have a garage and tools that would be willing to help you out.

This is a fairly labor intensive job and I bet shops will charge a decent chunk of change to do it for you.

[MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I have a 3 video series of pulling the transmission on his rig and reinstalling a remanufactured one from Toyota. Check out the videos and consider doing the job yourself with the help of another T4R member in your neck of the woods. Good Luck!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oZDSjlxl2Q4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O4GA3UhPC5Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4YY3IfnzaQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I just wanted to give you a huge "thank you" for the videos. I'm tackling this job and your videos are making things much easier.

 

[mtbtim]

I just wanted to give you a huge "thank you" for the videos. I'm tackling this job and your videos are making things much easier.

You're welcome. [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] (aka Sean) and I love hearing our videos are helping people out. Thanks for letting us know.

 

[ORPHeus]

A/T light blinks flashes vehicle running smooth otherwise

I'm new so can't post new thread.
So: 1999 T 4Runner Sr5/4wd
Was on a trip and had been driving for 40 miles at 65 mph on cruise when the A/T temp light started flashing. When I'd take my foot off the gas it would stop IMMEDIATELY.

So, therefore, it was always happening on cruise.

So I looked it up and noticed other people had similar problems at same speed/distance. The yesterday when I started it, let it warm to operating temp it started flickering again. There is no pattern. This isn't a blink it's the briefest of flickers. Then it will go dark, and flicker again. It seemed almost to match up with small bumps on the road (I live in deep country), and thought it might be a loose wirre. But if it were a loose wire, whether I had down on the gas or not would not matter.

The car runs in perfect margins everywhere else. SInce I bought it a year ago, although the vehicle has 230,000 miles on it, thos one-family-owned 4runner shifts and drives smooth as ˟˟˟˟ from a duck's ass. The tranny has been a little noisy since I bought it. A problem I remedied when I took the center cabin/plastic housing off the shifter and found that the boot there was torn. Contacting the guy who'd sold it to me he told me the tranny had been replaced in 2002 (it's a 99) and it had always been (very) hot around the shifter. You could warm a cup of coffee it had been so hot. So I insulated it. To no real immediate effect, except reduced cabin noise and temperature (what I'd wanted). I am SURE, at the very least the fluid has not been changed in 50,000+. The last owner, who had inherited from sister seemed to take her for granted. The fluid is a "normal" red and the level is perfect.

So there I am with a perfectly running vehicle with a blinking/flickering a/t temp light with no other symptoms except it stops when I take my foot off the gas. Again, it began on a longish trip. Yesterday it started out of the driveway. No way it could be overheated that quickly. RIght?

I fear the worst.

*The vehicle has some rust. A few weeks back I had a coolant leak. It was from the rear heater return. I by-passed to no immediate effect. Save for stooping coolant drip. Which had been my goal. I searched five states for a good Sr5. This vehicle means a lot to me. As a side note, I saw a LOT of them over 175,000 miles.

SAW THIS ON FORUMS