Time for a Transmission Cooler?
#21
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Thread Starter
That makes sense. I am going to stop by my friendly neighborhood transmission shop and talk to them -- try to get a feel for how they will go about diagnosing this. I really like this truck, and I plan to keep it a long time, so I want to get this problem solved.
#22
Contributing Member
Go back and reread Gadget's post. You can't buy advice that good, maybe he will go into more details on how he traced the problem down to the converter clutch solenoid.
#23
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Originally Posted by mt_goat
..........maybe he will go into more details on how he traced the problem down to the converter clutch solenoid.
#26
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Thread Starter
OK, I went and spoke to my as-it-turns-out-not-so-friendly neighborhood tranny man, who basically told me to go see my Toyota dealer. Hmmm... Anyway, since the dealer is a good hour+ drive and it doesn't seem like I'm going to find a good diagnostician locally ("Is it slipping? Then there's probably nothin' wrong with it.") I called the nearest Toyota dealer and ordered a replacement sensor. I spoke with my regular Joe mechanic who is going to do a flush and replace the sensor for me, and isolate the trans cooler in the bottom of the radiator and make sure it isn't clogged. Then it's road trip time and see if it happens again. If this takes care of it, then I'll be looking to install a trans cooler anyway, to hopefully prolong the life of it. Q: My Haynes manual doesn't even show the location of the sensor, but the parts jockey told me it goes "on top of the transmission," so how tough is it to replace one of these? Has anyone done it and can tell me? Thanks again, one and all!
#27
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Simple torque converter lock up test:
On a long flat or slight downhill, set the cruise (or use a steady foot on the gas) at about 60mph. Engine should be all settled down into it's low rpm cruise mode. Apply medium pressure to the brake pedal while maintaining speed. If the tach does NOT jump up about 2-300 RPM, your torque converter is not locking up.
Also check the sensor-I don't have the specs handy but will check them when I get to the sop tomorrow.
Good Luck
On a long flat or slight downhill, set the cruise (or use a steady foot on the gas) at about 60mph. Engine should be all settled down into it's low rpm cruise mode. Apply medium pressure to the brake pedal while maintaining speed. If the tach does NOT jump up about 2-300 RPM, your torque converter is not locking up.
Also check the sensor-I don't have the specs handy but will check them when I get to the sop tomorrow.
Good Luck
Last edited by Reldnew; 08-23-2004 at 12:59 PM.
#29
Contributing Member
Originally Posted by 4mydogs
Sounds like a good idea, Reldnew! I'll be going on a drive Wednesday after work where I can try that out.
Here are some more links for ya:
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h16.pdf
#31
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Reldnew
Simple torque converter lock up test:
On a long flat or slight downhill, set the cruise (or use a steady foot on the gas) at about 60mph. Engine should be all settled down into it's low rpm cruise mode. Apply medium pressure to the brake pedal while maintaining speed. If the tach does NOT jump up about 2-300 RPM, your torque converter is not locking up.
Also check the sensor-I don't have the specs handy but will check them when I get to the sop tomorrow.
Good Luck
On a long flat or slight downhill, set the cruise (or use a steady foot on the gas) at about 60mph. Engine should be all settled down into it's low rpm cruise mode. Apply medium pressure to the brake pedal while maintaining speed. If the tach does NOT jump up about 2-300 RPM, your torque converter is not locking up.
Also check the sensor-I don't have the specs handy but will check them when I get to the sop tomorrow.
Good Luck
#32
Contributing Member
You might also want to take a look at this thread where we did alot of tranny diagnosis on this one.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f16/automatic-transmission-problems-need-help-16332/
......but check the temp sender to ensure it works properly first.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f16/automatic-transmission-problems-need-help-16332/
......but check the temp sender to ensure it works properly first.
Last edited by MTL_4runner; 08-26-2004 at 06:08 AM.
#33
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by MTL_4runner
You might also want to take a look at this thread where we did alot of tranny diagnosis on this one.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16332
......but check the temp sender to ensure it works properly first.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16332
......but check the temp sender to ensure it works properly first.
Thanks for posting that thread -- I'll update when I know something.
#34
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Thread Starter
Follow up: The Light came on twice on the trip, once going and once coming. First time after driving a little over 100 miles on I-16 in Georgia (nearly all flat), and on the return trip at 135 miles. It was 90 - 95 degrees and I was running a/c, doing 70-72 mph. After 15 - 20 minutes idling on the shoulder the light went off and didn't come on the rest of the day, just as in previous instances. (Once it has done it's thing, it does not do it again -- until the next trip.) I made the 2 hour trip to my Yota dealer today and picked up the sensor, no more than an inch and a half long, bolt on one end and plastic piece w/ an o-ring on the other. They said "it just screws into the top of the transmission." That sound about right to you all? My regular mechanic is going to do a trans flush, and somehow make sure that the trans cooler in the bottom of the radiator is not clogged, and install this new sensor, tomorrow. Any thoughts before I turn him loose on it?
#35
Contributing Member
Originally Posted by 4mydogs
Follow up: The Light came on twice on the trip, once going and once coming. First time after driving a little over 100 miles on I-16 in Georgia (nearly all flat), and on the return trip at 135 miles. It was 90 - 95 degrees and I was running a/c, doing 70-72 mph. After 15 - 20 minutes idling on the shoulder the light went off and didn't come on the rest of the day, just as in previous instances. (Once it has done it's thing, it does not do it again -- until the next trip.) I made the 2 hour trip to my Yota dealer today and picked up the sensor, no more than an inch and a half long, bolt on one end and plastic piece w/ an o-ring on the other. They said "it just screws into the top of the transmission." That sound about right to you all? My regular mechanic is going to do a trans flush, and somehow make sure that the trans cooler in the bottom of the radiator is not clogged, and install this new sensor, tomorrow. Any thoughts before I turn him loose on it?
#36
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by mt_goat
You may want to drop the pan and change the ATF filter too. If you do drop the pan that would be a great time to install an after-market ATF temp gauge since I believe you have to drill a hole in the bottom of the pan for the sensor. That way you'll have more than just an idiot light.
#37
Contributing Member
Originally Posted by 4mydogs
That's a good idea. I suppose he would need a replacement gasket as well as the filter. As for a temp gauge, how high should it read (what is "normal" operating temp for the trans)?
#39
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
What a day this has been! My mechanic flushed the transmission, check all lines for blockages and found none, dropped the pan, did the filter, and when he went to find the sensor and replace it with the one my Yota dealer provided . . . couldn’t find it. I called to see if the dealer’s parts guy I spoke to (let’s call him parts guy number 1) could fax a diagram showing the location, only he couldn’t because he no longer works in parts. He’s in sales. A good place for him, since he sold me a part that doesn’t fit my Runner. But before parts guy number 2 told me that, he told me he couldn’t fax me a decent diagram because they don’t have very good diagrams in the parts department. (This even though parts guy number one distinctly told me that he looked at a diagram in the parts department showing THIS SENSOR fitting into “the top of the transmission.”) The service department, number 2 explained, has much better diagrams, so I asked him if I could speak to someone in service. “No,” he answered. You see, if they let service guys speak directly to parts purchasers, it would take too much time away from their duties in “service.” They “will not let service personnel speak on the phone,” parts guy number 2 told me, in no uncertain terms. He put me on hold, and finally came back with parts guy number 3, who he said, if anyone could figure it out he could. There are two (according to parts guy number 3) temperature sensors for my trans, and neither one is the one that parts guy number 1 sold to me. After I went to a better place and regained my composure, I asked number 3 what could I do? “Bring the vehicle into our service department,” was, of course, his answer. . .
I love what you do for me Toyota!
Well, at least I have fresh trans fluid for this weekend, in case we evacuate for Frances.
I love what you do for me Toyota!
Well, at least I have fresh trans fluid for this weekend, in case we evacuate for Frances.
#40
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On the 3rd Gen 4Runner which I think uses basically the same tranny, the over temp switch is located on the passenger side of the tranny. It is in the fitting that connects the tranny cooler out line to the tranny.
Gadget
Gadget