95 T100 automatic tranny overheating A/T oil temp?

Retrop · 08-12-2009, 03:06 PM

I have a 1995 T100 with an automatic tranny and the red A/T oil temp light keeps coming on and staying on while driving down the interstate. I am in the middle of a 1000 mile road trip and I am worried i may be smoking the transmission. I used the drain plug and drained as much as possible it didn't smell burnt and replaced it with new tranny fluid. What does the light mean? What is the best way to handle the problem? Should I get the tranny profesionally flushed? Is it better to take it out of overdrive so it is not shifting and keep driving to let the tranny cooler do its job? Any help would be great!

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topdown4runner · 08-13-2009, 04:29 AM

Do you have an auxilary tranny cooler?
Are you pulling a heavy load?
My '95 used to do the same thing, then I installed an aftermarket tranny cooler & the light never came back on.
Pulling a '87 4runner and an in bed camper up & down the interstate between Orlando Fla. & Alabama with no problems. Just not enough HP to keep up with the rest of the V8 crew I was towing with.

BamZipPow · 08-14-2009, 07:23 PM

How good is yer cooling system? Hook up a Scangauge II to the ODBII port and see what the actual coolant temps are...

If you can...install a trans temp gauge. At least you'll know how hot it really is.

I would drain and refill a few more times if that's the only way you have to exchange the trans fluid. Probably need to git a new drain plug washer though... Doing the drain/refill a few times will git you closer to new fluid in yer trans. I went with the method where you drain the trans (3 quarts) and then use the trans pump to pump out a quart at a time out of the return hose. Refill with the same amount that you removed and repeat until the fluid is clean. Pretty simple and you can do it by yerself. It does go a little faster if you have someone helping you though.

A trans cooler would really help. I got the B&M 70264 from Summit Racing fer $60 plus handling. I have 2 of them on my 1998 T-100 Xtra cab mounted behind my custom dropped air dam panel. I currently have my panel in place so it's only cooling via radiation and not so much direct airflow. I can pull the panel out anytime I'm stopped so it can git direct airflow if I'm loaded heavy or towing.

98-T100 · 08-22-2009, 05:19 PM

just watch it when your draining your tranny fluid because the threads on my transmisson fluid pan stripped out. pretty soft metal. i ended up drilling it out, put a bold up through it with washers on both ends and cranked it down. its a perminent thing now . all i can do know is take the whole thing down when i need a change :/

08-13-2009, 04:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
topdown4runner Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Somewhere between Disney World & Daytona Beach Posts: 14	Do you have an auxilary tranny cooler? Are you pulling a heavy load? My '95 used to do the same thing, then I installed an aftermarket tranny cooler & the light never came back on. Pulling a '87 4runner and an in bed camper up & down the interstate between Orlando Fla. & Alabama with no problems. Just not enough HP to keep up with the rest of the V8 crew I was towing with. __________________ '87 4Runner '95 T100 '97 4Runner

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08-14-2009, 07:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
BamZipPow Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 129	How good is yer cooling system? Hook up a Scangauge II to the ODBII port and see what the actual coolant temps are... If you can...install a trans temp gauge. At least you'll know how hot it really is. I would drain and refill a few more times if that's the only way you have to exchange the trans fluid. Probably need to git a new drain plug washer though... Doing the drain/refill a few times will git you closer to new fluid in yer trans. I went with the method where you drain the trans (3 quarts) and then use the trans pump to pump out a quart at a time out of the return hose. Refill with the same amount that you removed and repeat until the fluid is clean. Pretty simple and you can do it by yerself. It does go a little faster if you have someone helping you though. A trans cooler would really help. I got the B&M 70264 from Summit Racing fer $60 plus handling. I have 2 of them on my 1998 T-100 Xtra cab mounted behind my custom dropped air dam panel. I currently have my panel in place so it's only cooling via radiation and not so much direct airflow. I can pull the panel out anytime I'm stopped so it can git direct airflow if I'm loaded heavy or towing.

08-22-2009, 05:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
98-T100 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seabeck, WA Posts: 7	just watch it when your draining your tranny fluid because the threads on my transmisson fluid pan stripped out. pretty soft metal. i ended up drilling it out, put a bold up through it with washers on both ends and cranked it down. its a perminent thing now . all i can do know is take the whole thing down when i need a change :/