starik

I have a 95 4runner 4x4 with auto tranny.
when I shift to reverse the car doesn't move back and it feels like it has not enough power. when I shift to L4 the car will have a reverse but still not a strong one.it seems like I am loosing power or the tranny is slipping.
Do I have to change or repair the whole tranny?
What are the options?
Guy.

wurmy77

Did you check your fluid level? low fluid can create this problem

starik

The fluid level is ok, the oil was changed and the filter cleaned before 300 miles. I don't understand why the reverse is working only in L4.
I have manual hubs, and it happens even if the hubs are open.
Do you think I have to rebuild the tranny?

rustypigeon

It could be a slipping clutch pack. When you are trying to move, does your RPM go up normally with no vehicle movement? Or does the engine bog down?

It is probably working in L4 since it takes less energy to get moving in that gear. It is slipping, but still providing a slight amount of torque to turn the output shaft in the very low gear setting.

A bad "Direct Clutch" or a bad "First Reverse Brake" can give you reverse problems. Does the tranny operate in all other gears normally? The "Direct Clutch" operates in 3rd and O/D as well. Are those gears slipping? The "First Reverse Brake" also operates in 1st gear. Does that gear slip?

starik

The tranny works fine in all gears. The only problem is in reverse.
The RPM go up normally, it is only a gear problem.
The reverse is slipping, it doesn't have enough torque. It can move the car when the ground is totally flat. Also the L4 is slippery but it has enough torque to move the car.

rustypigeon

Could be a problem somewhere in the reverse hydraulics preventing the clutch packs from holding proper line pressure. This could be in the valve body or elsewhere.

I would avoid using reverse as much as possible. Slipping clutch packs are not good for the transmission, or the fluid.

How many miles are on this transmission?

starik

The tranny with 160000 miles on it.

rustypigeon

I failed to mention that the "First Reverse Brake" only operates 1st gear when the selector is in "L", not "D".

Put the selector in "L" and see if 1st gear slips. If it does, you have a problem with the First Reverse Brake. Either worn clutches or a leak in the hydraulics.

Lotus1

I bet it's your shift solenoids. I had similar problems with mine and they solved my issues.

starik

How can I checck the shift solenoids? What are they, and how do the solenoids work?

rustypigeon

Shift solenoids typically cause problems in the forward gears.

They can be tested in two ways. 1) disconnect the wiring harness on the drivers side of the tranny. Do the "manual driving test" by putting the selector through the various ranges. You should be able to drive in reverse, and manually shift up gears when moving forward. I don't have a service manual handy but I believe L=1st gear, 2=3rd gear, and D=O/D.

2) you can dissconnect the tranny wiring harness from the ECU. With the harness disconnected, apply positive batt voltage to the solenoid wires to the tranny. There are three solenoids in the tranny and you should be able to hear the solenoids click when battery voltage is applied. Again, I don't have my service manual in front of me so I can't tell you what wires on the harness are the solenoid wires. A subscription to alldatadiy.com should have the info you need if you want to check the solenoids yourself.

Did you try driving forward with the selector in "L"?

starik

forward in L is no problem. L works in reverse also, but has no real power.

rustypigeon

When I say "L", I mean the transmission selector as in P,N,D,2,L, not the 4x4 selector. Put the tranny into "L" and try to drive forward.

starik

The car moves forward in L!

jhughes

I'm having the same problem with my 95 4runner. Did you ever solve the problem? Not sure what to do about mine.