Won't shift from 3rd-4th (auto)

[A.Wilson013]

Well, like the title states, my 4Runner won't shift from 3rd to 4th gear for some reason...

Worked fine this morning, but when I took it out this evening to go buy some more snowboard wax for tomorrow I noticed my exhaust is abnormally loud. Looked at the tach and I was at 3200 RPM going 60mph. Typically I am right under 2000 RPM at 60mph...

It's almost acting like my overdrive is off, but it's not... I turned it off at 60mph to see if the RPM would change it all, it did not.

This is my first automatic transmission ever... Where do I even start...?

 

[LittleCaesar]

Any codes (too obvious I know)?

O/D solenoid may be gone. I take it if you run through the rest of the gears it shifts fine?

 

[combatmedic]

^Yup start w/ solenoids.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Any codes (too obvious I know)?

O/D solenoid may be gone. I take it if you run through the rest of the gears it shifts fine?

No codes, no.

The rest of the gears feel fine... I may be crazy, but it might be holding them a bit too long...? Unfortunately I have never paid attention to what rpm it usually shifts at...

 

[tbst]

Whats the status?

 

[A.Wilson013]

Whats the status?

I'm embarrassed to say, really.

Yesterday I did the grey wire mod, blue wire mod, whatever it's called. The one where you clip the wire in pin 8 to make the locker engage in any mode.

Anywho, I grounded the wrong side, which made the 4Runner think it was in 4Lo.

Fixed it up, good to go.

 

[combatmedic]

Dont be embarrassed bro, I'll give ya props for trying.. 99% of the population would take it to the stealership. You gotta start somewhere. You'll figure it out. At least you dont have a spring floating around in your radiator like this guy
<---

 

[LittleCaesar]

That will do it. But good job finding it.

 

[tbst]

It's less embarrassing that you said it, because now someone in the future will be able to use the info. I think a lot of people would have never come clean.

The steering issue completely fixed?

 

[z28forlife]

At least its fixed. Good job finding it out, I hate when people post problems and never repost the solution.

 

[RunninInGA]

I find most of my f-ups to be embarrassing. We're human and make mistakes by nature. I assume you identified the issue by retracing your last steps - so there's a lesson to be learned by all.

 

[MyFirstRunner]

Anyone experience anything similar? My 99 4Runner SR5 (212k miles) did this on the way to work this morning in the rain, would not shift into 4th. I'll check if there are any codes on the way home but no CEL's came on. Sounds like the main culprits are shift solenoids, or maybe a Throttle Position Sensor or even a bad ground? It's been raining lately and after 2 years my fuel gauge started working again randomly about 6 weeks ago so it could be ground wire related?

I did play around with the ECT switch and cruise control while driving but that had no effect, did not try taking off over-drive, I'll try that on my way home.

 

[MyFirstRunner]

Haha, turns out overdrive was off but I couldn't see dash light because it was behind my scangauge.

Good news!