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Old 03-11-2016, 03:26 PM
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1990 Toyota Pickup Not Shifting To 4th Gear Easily On Freeway Right After Cold Starts

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Old 11-24-2014, 06:16 PM
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Ok the pics to me show the "kick down cable" as the throttle gas pedal cable. The cable under that should be for cruise control. Please for the sake of my sanity someone correct me. My 94 5 speed had those same 2 cables. My 89 5 speed only has one, and no cruise control. What the hell is this guy talking about?
Old 11-24-2014, 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Badger62811
Ok the pics to me show the "kick down cable" as the throttle gas pedal cable. The cable under that should be for cruise control. Please for the sake of my sanity someone correct me. My 94 5 speed had those same 2 cables. My 89 5 speed only has one, and no cruise control. What the hell is this guy talking about?
My 91 3.0L V6 3VZE Has three cables. One is throttle (obviously), then there is the cruise control, and a third one which I assume is the one being referred to as the "kick down cable". To be honest, I didn't even know about it until I read this post. I don't have a good picture of mine right now and I can't even seem to find one on google. I will take one tomorrow if and post it if someone hasn't already.
Old 11-25-2014, 09:24 AM
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I'm not familiar with the 3.0s. I avoid them like... nevermind too soon. Anyway... I'm a 4 banger kinda guy. Simple for my simple brain.

But again, what he has circled and labeled is the throttle cable.
Old 04-09-2015, 05:51 PM
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possible answer

Hey guys real quick...best way to check if its the kickdown cable, is to disconnect it and work it back to its base position (not pulled out). Test drive. If you shift normal on regular gas pedal pressure, your cable is holding you up. You can lube or oil it, but it juat might be old and binding. Ive done a few of these trucks. All of you are right about the temperature, but that cable will indeed cause a shift issue. Thats the passing gear cable and its the one that helps you drop a gear to pass and pickup overdrive. also check that fluid and that filter too. Hope this helps.
Old 04-10-2015, 02:54 AM
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The transmission is operating normally, as soon as my truck reaches temp my truck will shift into 4th and then overdrive. This is the way they work, I believe its a emissions thing to get the engine up to temp faster.
Old 04-10-2015, 04:25 AM
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Originally Posted by superex87
The transmission is operating normally, as soon as my truck reaches temp my truck will shift into 4th and then overdrive. This is the way they work, I believe its a emissions thing to get the engine up to temp faster.
4th gear is overdrive. Not 100 percent sure on toy trans but most shift though all the gears if your going fast enough, though the torque converter doesn't lock until the desired temperature is reached. Most people confuse lock up with another gear.
Yes they do that to warm up faster, both engine and transmission.
Old 04-10-2015, 04:56 AM
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hmm on my 3.0 with a340h it definitely does not shift into 3th until the engine is up to temp. I will be running down the highway at 50 mph and 3200 rpm. then the rpms drop to 2800ish then again to 2200. So to me it feels like it shifts to 3th then overdrive. Maybe something is wrong with my shift solenoids lol idk is it normal for the trans to shift into 3rd with a cold engine?

Last edited by superex87; 04-10-2015 at 05:00 AM. Reason: correcting info
Old 04-10-2015, 05:46 AM
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Originally Posted by superex87
hmm on my 3.0 with a340h it definitely does not shift into 3th until the engine is up to temp. I will be running down the highway at 50 mph and 3200 rpm. then the rpms drop to 2800ish then again to 2200. So to me it feels like it shifts to 3th then overdrive. Maybe something is wrong with my shift solenoids lol idk is it normal for the trans to shift into 3rd with a cold engine?
Doesn't shift into 3rd or shift to 4th? When the RPM's go from 2800 to 2200 as you said is probably the converter lockup.
Every auto I've driven shifts all the the highest gear no matter the temp, and once it reaches operating temp the converter locks. Like I said before most confuse the converter lockup as a shift.
Old 04-10-2015, 06:24 AM
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Originally Posted by JasonYota
...
Every auto I've driven shifts all the the highest gear no matter the temp, and once it reaches operating temp the converter locks. Like I said before most confuse the converter lockup as a shift.
Interesting ....

But what does Toyota have to say about this? http://www.cygnusx1.net/Media/Supra/...taTech/h16.pdf

"When the engine coolant is below a predetermined temperature, the engine performance and the vehicle's drivability would suffer if the transmission were shifted into overdrive or the converter clutch were locked-up. ... The ECU prevents the transmission from upshifting into overdrive and lock-up until the coolant has reached a predetermined temperature. ...
Some models, depending on the model year, cancel upshifts to third gear at lower temperatures."

I don't know if the A340H is in the latter (no-3rd-til-warm) category; I don't spend much time driving mine in REALLY cold weather.
Old 04-10-2015, 07:13 AM
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First I've heard about limiting a gear due to the temp. Might be a Toyota thing, I've never driven a toy auto.
On my Allison trans if the temp is below a certain point it will raise the shift points higher than normal to aid in warm up.
Old 04-10-2015, 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by JasonYota
... Every auto I've driven shifts ...
Originally Posted by JasonYota
... I've never driven a toy auto. ....
Yes, there are differences between manufacturers (and models, and years). Sometimes in surprising (to me) ways.

Fortunately for us, because our trucks are old enough there are a lot of the (otherwise copyrighted) Toyota manuals available online for free. I've owned my truck for 12 years, and I still keep coming across things that are different on the Toyota (specifically, my model and year) than on other vehicles I've worked on.
Old 04-10-2015, 07:38 AM
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it does not shift into overdrive when the engine is below normal operating temp. you can feel it shift once its warm enough into od and then you feel the torque converter go into lock up right after.
Old 04-10-2015, 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by scope103
Yes, there are differences between manufacturers (and models, and years). Sometimes in surprising (to me) ways. Fortunately for us, because our trucks are old enough there are a lot of the (otherwise copyrighted) Toyota manuals available online for free. I've owned my truck for 12 years, and I still keep coming across things that are different on the Toyota (specifically, my model and year) than on other vehicles I've worked on.
I had a senior moment there, my sister has a Camry that I've drove several times and a guy I used to work with has a sequoia that I've drove.
Old 12-08-2016, 06:08 PM
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If its a bad solenoid would that show up on the diagnostic code output ? My 1990 4x4 will not shift into overdrive.
Old 12-09-2016, 06:52 AM
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Have you checked for codes? http://web.archive.org/web/201408161...31diagnosi.pdf
The diagnosis system can find an "open or short" if that's what you're thinking about as bad, but just like little kids learn right before Christmas, there are lots of ways to be "bad." If the solenoid was filled with "junk" from bad fluid, it might not let fluid through.

Check for codes first.
Old 01-06-2020, 05:15 AM
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My 94 4Runner

Originally Posted by BMcEL
Normal. [/thread]

Now if it never shifts into or drops out of overdrive AFTER reaching operating temp, that is NOT normal and it could be a number of things. Thermostat, coolant temp sensor, throttle position sensor, and trans temp sensor can all cause it to intermittently kick in/out of overdrive after reaching operating temp. Ask me how I know.

my 94 4Runner des this and it has me puzzled. I can’t figure out it’s issue. Trans fluid level is perfect and sometimes it does great and the 4Runner itself is extremely cold natured and it does it more in cold weather. It will kick out of od on the interstate and it runs at 4K at 80 I really hate that it goes from doing good to no od it seems like. Suggestions?
Old 01-06-2020, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by James192030
my 94 4Runner des this and it has me puzzled. I can’t figure out it’s issue. Trans fluid level is perfect and sometimes it does great and the 4Runner itself is extremely cold natured and it does it more in cold weather. It will kick out of od on the interstate and it runs at 4K at 80 I really hate that it goes from doing good to no od it seems like. Suggestions?
There are probably somewhere between 15-36 posts above this, and the one you quoted covered the basics..

How about you tell us what you have already tested?

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