Toyota 4Runner Transmission Problems

294 messages,  Last post on Apr 09, 2013 at 7:37 AM

You are in the Toyota 4Runner Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota 4Runner, Transmission, SUV

#258 of 294 Re: O/D indicator light flashes [964runner1] by schlaney

Jun 12, 2011 (7:01 am)

Replying to: 964runner1 (May 07, 2011 9:34 am)
i am having the same problem with my 93, flushed tranny, full tune up, the light will go off for about 50 miles and will run great during that time, then the light comes on, right back where i was. It is at the garage right now...did you find the answer, cause we are guessing right now, and i can't really afford to keep fixing the wrong problem

#259 of 294 Re: 2009 4-runner Transmission Problem [sherid590] by sherid590

Jun 20, 2011 (8:56 am)

Replying to: sherid590 (Oct 20, 2010 9:40 am)
ok, well since my last post we have moved from Kentucky to Utah. I finally got in contact with the Toyota dealership here in Utah to see what they had to say about this lagging problem between 1st and 2nd gear. After 2 visits and having the regional or district person drive the vehicle, they acknowledge that there is a problem and it is most likely a computer problem but until Toyota Corp comes out with a fix there is nothing they can do about it. I still don't understand why Toyota came out with a fix for the 2010 model but nothing has been released for the 2009. The dealership did say that Toyota won't come out with a fix until there is enough evidence to prove its happening with a huge number of the 2009s. Not exactly what I wanted to hear but at least this dealership acknowledged the problem with is more than I can say for the dealership in Kentucky.

#261 of 294 Re: 2009 Toyota 4 Runner transmission problem [mitch903] by c130bum

Jul 01, 2011 (8:49 pm)

Replying to: mitch903 (Jan 22, 2010 9:33 am)
I had the same problem with my 05 4Runner. It was something very simple and cheap. A good friend of mine, a mechanic in NY, told me to buy a bottle of "Limited Slip" transmission additive. There are several types on the market. I put about 4 ounces in the tranny, and the transmission shudder stopped immediately! I had changed out the tranny fluid with the "WS" type 3 times, and it did nothing. This additive worked great. The three Toyota dealerships I brought it to had no idea what was causing it. My friend explained the reason the tranny would do this... acting similar to the way a clutch works. Apparantly, the fluid had lost its viscocity, and just this little bit of additive worked great. First, I would drain the fluid and refill with "WS" type fluid to restore some of the viscocity, and while that service is being performed, just add the additive with it. The tranny holds a lot more than what comes out. Only about 4 quarts will empty out from the drain plug, the rest stays in the tranny. So you never actually drain all of the fluid. Therefore it would take multiple servicings to change out all 12-14 quarts in the unit. So just get a special size socket to undue the fill port, and add the additive yourself if you are mechanically inclined. If you search on line, you'll find some pdf documents with photos of the fill port. The bolt says "WS" on it, so you'll know you have the correct bolt. You may need to buy a pump unit to pump the additive into the tranny. You can get these at Wal-Mart or any auto store. They are the same thing as your dish soap dispenser in operation, just built to pump much heavier fluid. If you are adding only a 4 ounce bottle, don't worry about it affecting the tranny. It dillutes into the 12-14 quarts but adds the grip that the tranny clutch plates need.
Hope this helps. It worked for me. I had about 145K on mine when it started happening. It was like I was driving over a rumble strip under light acceleration between 2-3, 3-4, 4-OD. I've put about 10K on the vehicle since, with no rumbling at all. Simple $5.00 fix. One dealer told me I neede a new Transmission! lol Of course he did.
Again, hope this helps.

#262 of 294 Re: DFriz [dfriz] by jonartz

Jul 02, 2011 (11:52 am)

Replying to: dfriz (Jun 02, 2011 8:47 pm)
It sound Like it was put in to park while the vehicle was still rolling and broke the park pin. That broken pin probably wasted the tranny when they tried to drive it. Your call on Used, Re-manufactured, or trying to get it rebuilt. It usually cost 150 bucks just for them to open it up to see if it can be rebuilt.

#263 of 294 Re: DFriz [dfriz] by jonartz

Jul 02, 2011 (12:08 pm)

Replying to: dfriz (Jun 02, 2011 8:47 pm)
Oh make sure its not just the linkage first. I'd hate to see someone buying a trans and have it be the shifter. Have someone move the shifter Back and forth (With the parking break set) while someone is underneath looking to see if the shifter is moving the lever on the trans. It could be stuck in Neutral with a broken shifter. Then again it could be the transfer case. Make sure the Its not just the 4x4 lever just got kicked into neutral.

#264 of 294 drive od shift by greggtfarm

Jul 23, 2011 (10:36 pm)

my 92 4 runner can't decide if it needs to be in drive or OD first it wont shift into OD then it keeps shifting between drive and OD all other gears seam to shift fine and tranny isent sliping just wont pic a gear whats up?

#265 of 294 91 4runner by cruzin95619

Aug 07, 2011 (3:13 pm)

when I put my 4runner in reverse it feels like its in neutral. I checked the tranny fluid and it looks too full. Can this be as bad as too low? The truck has 244,000 miles on it.

#266 of 294 Re: 2009 Toyota 4 Runner transmission problem [c130bum] by daddyhall2011

Aug 09, 2011 (6:38 pm)

Replying to: c130bum (Jul 01, 2011 8:49 pm)
I have a 2006 4runner 4.7 8 cylinder engine, 125,000 miles. I starting to get a high pitch whining noise on acceleration. Will fluids help my problem? I really need the advice please, I don't have 4,000 dollars for a new transmission.

#267 of 294 Re: 2009 Toyota 4 Runner transmission problem [c130bum] by daddyhall2011

Aug 09, 2011 (6:43 pm)

Replying to: c130bum (Jul 01, 2011 8:49 pm)
I'm sorry I forgot to ask, do you have exact Web sites that I can find help on how to add fluids to my transmission, and info on sensors and other things for this closed automatic transmission? I have to drive 50 to a 100 miles a day and it's my only car.
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