GorgeRunner

When my 95 4Runner with automatic transmission is going up hills, the engine races but the truck barely moves. It does it in both two and four wheel drive. There's no noises, burning smells or engine check messages.
It just started doing this today, before that it was fine. I got a bad feeling that the transmission may be shot, which would be sad because it would not be worth it to replace it and keep an otherwise fine 4Runner on the road.
Any ideas?

blake.nemitz

other than it being low on fluid sounds like its slipping, maybe time for a 5speed swap

ILLINOISYOTADAWG

check the tranny fluid if low will slip

Magnusian

Toyota could've solved this problem over 20 years ago by just giving everyone a 5spd to begin with!

rustyf99

iTrader: (1)

Magnusian, I wish! I inherited the auto, but it's Aisin and a solid unit when maintained. My first suggestion is to drain and drop the pan and make sure the filter is clear and clean. If it's gunked up, not enough fluid gets pumped through the system and it slips badly. I thought my trans was toast until I cleaned the filter, flushed, put in fresh fluid, and it's just like brand new.

It's definitely worth an afternoon of work to complete prior to committing to how many days of trying to get the tranny out of these too-cramped-to-reach-that-bolt monsters (especially with the 3.slo!)

Lotus1

Check the Shift solenoids. Try 4-Low and see if it moves.

This is what happened to mine and it fixed it.

infamouslyb

yeah i have a automatic and its snail-like slow. I wish it had a 5 speed.. but ill wait till i blow this tranny and the spare automatic one i have before i move onto better things

Kiroshu

Fact that you said slipping on hills. Tells me its low on fluid.

Magnusian

Still a good reason for a 5spd swap!

Kiroshu

^Lolz

AmpedRunner

X2(or X3 ) on checking transmission fluid. My dad and I rebuilt my sister's corolla's transmission (roasted a timken) after we put it back it would slip like you said yours does. Checked the ATF and found it low, so we filled it up and the problem was ssolved.

GorgeRunner

Thanks for all the advice. I will throw some fluid in and check it out. For some reason, the transmission dipstick never seems to give a good indication on the fluid level. I'll have to wait for warmer weather to check the filter, there's a couple feet of snow on the ground and I don't have a garage.
I agree with the opinion that an automatic transmission does not belong in a 4 wheel drive vehicle, but that's what I wound up with.

GorgeRunner

Well, I tried adding ATF and it didn't make any difference.
Frustrating; it runs fine on level ground, shifts fine, no clunking or delayed shift engagement, it just slips going uphill.
I'm hoping the tranny isn't shot, but I'm not too optimistic.

Dillon T4R

periodically check you ATF fluid and verify that it is full and still has a red color to it low tranny fluid can cause excessive heat and wear on parts causing early failure. it may be time for a rebuild

Kiroshu

Does it seem to go away upon warm up? The cold weather area you live in may very well have alot to do with it. A clogged trans filter when cold will not let fluid run through properly and cause slipping.

That would be my next step.

Assuming that you say the fuild lvl is fine a correct.

Replace trans fluid and filter.

david joseph

Listen to these guys and check the filter, also check the integrity of your wiring.

GorgeRunner

Well, the slipping transmission saga has come to an end.
I dropped the pan, cleaned the filter and flushed out the gunk in the transmission with TransTune from Seafoam and put in new fluid. No love. Dropped the pan and cleaned the filter again, more new fluid and two bottles of Lucas Transmission Fix. Not much if any difference.
So, I reckon the tranny is shot. Too bad, everything else on the truck works great.
I can't afford to fix the transmission, so I have to sell it as a project or for parts.

rustyf99

iTrader: (1)

Bummer, the TransTune, flush, filter, and fresh fluid with Lucas (one quart) worked like a dream in mine. I think my slipping was primarily due to bad fluid, thanks to a bad HG which overheated the radiator, which burnt the fluid...etc. Now I know trans slipping and burnt fluid is a sign of a bad head gasket (like we need more indicators?)

Too bad you're in OR, I got a good tranny in my garage I picked up for next for nothing when I thought the other one was bad.

Magnusian

Are you sure it's the transmission and not the torque converter? You might be able to find a replacement unit for cheap in a junkyard and see if changing it out has an affect. Your slipping problem still sounds like low fluid in the TC.