Transmission woes

[t4r92]

Hey guys,

I recently purchased a 4Runner with 123000 miles on it (had about 121XXX when I got it).

Long story short is that it's mint, aside from one thing that I think could be a result of a transmission or electrical part relating to the transmission.

When I start the runner in the morning when the truck's cold, i'll pull out of the driveway and it'll shift out of first and into second and then won't shift into third until 2700 rpms, which is uncharacteristic of the vehicle after it warms up.

Is this normal, or should I look into preventative maintenance. I work at Holley and am planning on doing an Earl's tranny cooler here soon to avoid the headgasket problem, but any other help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I love this 4Runner and there will ALWAYS be one in my immediate family if I have anything to do with it!

 

[brian2sun]

The tranny not shifting normally in the morning is completely normal. The truck needs to get up to temp before the computer will allow normal shifting into 3rd. O/D won't work at all when it's cold.

The external tranny cooler will prevent ATF mixing with your coolant, but only if you bypass the stock tranny cooler inside the radiator so don't forget to do that too. The head gasket has nothing to do with that other than when a HG blows, the engine oil mixes with the coolant and the "chocolate milkshake" that results is similar to the "strawberry milkshake" that results from the ruptured stock tranny cooler.

 

[notrayray]

Idea behind it is to up the RPM's to get the ECU into closed loop operation faster, there by creating less emissions.

 

[t4r92]

Idea behind it is to up the RPM's to get the ECU into closed loop operation faster, there by creating less emissions.

Forgive me, but could you go into a little more depth about that?

I appreciate the responses definitely. I've always just approached it from the standpoint that you don't want to rev an engine halfway through it's rev range right after startup when it's cold.

Thanks.

 

[brian2sun]

That's why you should let it warm up a minute or 2 first instead of forcing it to shift to 3rd when it's cold. Forcing 3rd is still better than screaming 5K in 2nd on a cold engine.

 

[t4r92]

That's why you should let it warm up a minute or 2 first instead of forcing it to shift to 3rd when it's cold. Forcing 3rd is still better than screaming 5K in 2nd on a cold engine.

Definitely. I tend to wake up at the last minute in the morning however, so leaving immediately is what I've been faced with lately. Time for that to change though.

 

[notrayray]

Forgive me, but could you go into a little more depth about that?

This can better than I very could dream to. :cheers:

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h58.pdf