Toyota 4Runner Cold Tranny Won't Drive

[MotoSook]

I tried searching the 4Runner forum, but it was a let down.

Anyone with a 4Runner or Toyota ever experience this?

My parents have a 4Runner and when it's cold, it won't go into drive. It will go into reverse and move in reverse just fine. But when cold (first time in the morning) in "Drive" it won't go. If I rev the engine, the tranny will engage suddenly with an unwanted pop. I can feel the thing creep (maybe not) as if the rear brakes were engaged, but the other actions don't seem to agree frozen brakes.

Anyone with info? I'm going to look at the brakes tomorrow, but somehow I don't think it'll be my problem.

[crustychief]

Cold like FREEZING cold? Maybe the fluid is contaminated with a little moisture and is clogging up a servo or a port. When was the last time the filter and fluid was changed? Good luck.

[MotoSook]

My Dad told me he had the tranny fluid and filter changed last year, and I checked the fluid when this was happening. Fluid was at the right level and clean as can be on the dipstick. I though maybe it was that too.

The temps were probably in the 50's or 40's last time my dad came over and the thing sat int he driveway for an hour. Went out...and it would not engage drive.

There was a similar post onthe Edmunds forum...but no one ever responded to the post.

[crustychief]

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/engine-and-drivetrain/77303-transmission-wont-shift-when-cold/

I found this. I had a car that had some moisture in the tranny when I was stationed in Great Lakes same problem. I hope this helps.

[fintstone]

Had a similar problem in my '94. Soon it got so it didnt work at all. Had to have it rebuilt.

[MotoSook]

Well, we can try the fluid change. It couldn't hurt. I don't know who my dad took it too to change the fluid and filter, but it wasn't the best place or work.

Thanks "crusty."

Great Lakes...use to work near there...and tested some gasoline meters during one cold winter up near there...man do I hate winters. Blowing cold and the gasoline was running all over when we had to make a change to the test loop. Cold steel...yuk! Steel toe boots get cold when you are standing in the snow for hours.

[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Had a similar problem in my '94. Soon it got so it didnt work at all. Had to have it rebuilt.

Man, Stoney, don't tell me that (Good to see a post from you. Hope all is well)

I'm hoping it'll just be a fluid change. My pops has had bad luck with cars all his life. And he religiously changes the oil and washes and cleans his cars. I get my car care anal habits from him....but the guy just can't seem to have a car the only needs minor maintenance.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Souk

Man, Stoney, don't tell me that (Good to see a post from you. Hope all is well)

I'm hoping it'll just be a fluid change. My pops has had bad luck with cars all his life. And he religiously changes the oil and washes and cleans his cars. I get my car care anal habits from him....but the guy just can't seem to have a car the only needs minor maintenance.

Things are good. Hope the same is true for you. My '94 had a lot of miles...including towing my 911 cross country on a 2500lb trailer a couple of times..nothing but mountains here...so maybe you pop's is something else. What year is his?

[MotoSook]

Things are good here too. Have a son who's going to be 7 months old tomorrow. Couldn't be happier.


If I recall correctly the 4runner is a '99. He bought it used without my knowledge a few years back. It did have a hitch on it which the dealer removed (I could see the shadow of the hitch shortly after he bought it). I really dislike automatic transmissions. I wish he wasn't so opposed to a manual, else I'd buy him a used BMW 3-series that'll go until the panels rust off. But he's 68 yrs old going on 78, so I can't blame him.

[fintstone]

Things good here too. My daughter got into med school this year and I just got promoted (Chief Engineer). My 4 Runner has been pretty good to me. 200k miles and only a tranny rebuild and brakes. But the Toyata tranny rebuild was crazy expensive. Probably should have swapped one in. They changed the tranny to a different type a couple of years after mine...so your father's is probably different. Good luck!

[MotoSook]

Congrats on the promotion and daughter's Med School.

Way back when, my pops had a Blazer that needed a tranny rebuild. He spent over $700 on it...and not long after, the engine developed a knock. That stupid Blazer is the reason why I haven't bought a GM product up to last year when the wifey had to have a kid hauler...we ended up with a Saturn Outlook. If it goes the way of the Blazer...I'm setting it on fire and driving it through the dealer's show room

[fintstone]

I saw a 70's Blazer today on a "for sale" lot that had been so totally restored that it looked like on of the gold plated 911s that you see here on PP. Flawless! New paint, interior, suspension, engine, tires, wheels, every bolt and screw...It was fully optioned and had a bright orange paint job. I never really liked them...but my wife had to drag me away from this one. It was like it had been in a time capsule. They were asking $20K.

[MotoSook]

Before they restored that thing, it probably saw more service and had better reliability than the crap GM was producing in the 80's like pop's Blazer.

An old tank like that would probably make a nice tow vehicle.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Souk

Before they restored that thing, it probably saw more service and had better reliability than the crap GM was producing in the 80's like pop's Blazer.

An old tank like that would probably make a nice tow vehicle.

Yep, I was thinking the same thing. Parts are cheap and the Chevy 350 was a pretty darned good engine...and the fiberglass top can be taken off to make it a convertible truck in the summer...and no emissions test.

[fintstone]

Looked sort of like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250323620554

[MotoSook]

Look at the size of that rear end. Stump puller! Better hope your car is ties down well on the trailer you're gonna pull with something like that I won't tell you wife about it...you just gotta hide from her.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Souk

Look at the size of that rear end. Stump puller! Better hope your car is ties down well on the trailer you're gonna pull with something like that I won't tell you wife about it...you just gotta hide from her.

LOL! I finally got her to like my '74! I have been working on her to agree to a second Porsche...I have convinced her that she likes 993 convertibles. The prices are getting pretty good...almost in my range...so I have to be careful not to scare her away. Everytime I show her something like that Blazer...she like the Porsche a little more.

[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Everytime I show her something like that Blazer...she like the Porsche a little more.

That's a solid plan! Eventually she'll be begging you to buy another 911.

I worked on my wife for several years. Now she won't turn away a 993 or even a 996 Cab....alas we new have too many little ones and no more room for another fun car. Though I keep watching the 993 market



Gotta hit the sack....getting up early to go over the 4Runner for anything but a tranny rebuild (crossing my fingers ) Catch you later, Stoney.

[fintstone]

Good luck my friend!

[mattdavis11]

Souk,
I'm not sure if your problem is inherent to the 4Runner or not, but the Land Cruisers with the A443 transmission sometimes have a problem with the shift solenoids later in life. I have never been crossed with the problem myself, but as far as I know it's a DIY fix. Drop the pan and install. If you haven't checked out IH8mud.com, you might try there for more information.