Holla

Hello--

I have a Auto 99 4-Runner with 100,000 miles on it. Tranny has been serviced at around 60-70K.

The problem that has JUST surfaced is when its been sitting all day out in the cold at about 10* or colder--I start it up and let it idle for a few minutes put in it drive and the tranny wants to start out in (Ill say 4th gear) whatever gear it is , it IS NOT first cause the car will hardly move..lol

I have to manually drop it into first and then she will start out in first and I throw it into drive after that and shifting is all good. After the first initial dropping it into first all other times I come to a stop it starts out in First gear like it should and no problems the rest of the day.

Now that its getting warmer--say upper 20's-30's the tranny has no problem starting out in first gear as it should.

Other than that the tranny shifts correctly and its smooth as can be.

Any suggestions from the pros in this forum

4runnin2002

my 02 feels like that 2, but ive just thought it was from 285's and a colder engine.....

Holla

Well I know mine has a problem when its COLD--it doesnt start out in first gear after sitting all day unless I manually put it in 1

Erich_870

My 99 does the exact same thing. It doesn't have to be super cold outside, or sit for a full day. It could be fine in the morning, but when I leave work for the evening it will move VERY slowly unless I put it into low.

I've left it in drive to see what it does and it will catch with a jolt after about 75 ft.

I've never heard a good explanation for possible causes...

Erich

AppleJack

That is not normal. Have it checked out.

bwhyit

Check the fluid level and condition. I've seen similar problems caused by low fluid. And it doesn't have to be THAT low, I'm talking 1/4 - 1/2 qt.

Just a starting point.

edzo

not normal

my 99 transmission works great at minus 20 F

mkgarrison5

curious if it could be old atf thats thicker than normal due to the cold plus it being burned out... does it do this warmed up?? tranny warm i mean? when is the last time you dropped the pan and cleaned and or replaced the filter screen?

Paul H.

When they serviced the tranny, did they just do a drop and fill or did they actually flush it. If all they did was a drop and fill then they just replaced a small amount of fluid. I recommend a flush which replaces all of the fluid.

Blk97Sr5

When this happens, does your engine rev higher than normal also, maybe around 3 - 3.5K RPM before shifting? Mine does something similar but goes away after the temp needle gets up to about the 1/8th mark. And it only does it when it is cold (below freezing). I always thought that this was by design so that the engine and trans fluid would warm up faster.
If I start the truck and let the it warm up for a few minutes - like when I am brushing snow and scrapping ice off (damn upstate NY weather!); it will drive and shift fine. That is why I came to the conclusion that it was by design that it shifted that way when cold.

edzo

by design it will not come out of 2nd till warm, but not the other
way around. it should always be in 1st when cold

Erich_870

I've never taken my rig to a transmission shop. We don't really have anyone in town and I'm NOT going to the dealership again

I'm not familiar with the inner workings of the transmission, but it seems to me it has to be a mechanical part sticking open or closed. I know the transmission fluid is sent through different channels and valves depending on the gear selected, so if it won't go in Drive, but I can down shift to Low, then something is effecting it from time to time. Maybe there is something rolling around, or moving with the transmission fluid.

I have no place to crack it open to take a look during the winter, so I'm hoping to drop the pan this summer when it's dryer.

Erich

mkgarrison5

have you checked your fluid level?? you need to drive around for atleast 15 mins to allow the tranny temp to get to operational temp.. while the motor running pull the dip stick and check it--- make sure you are on level ground and we will go from there... to me it doesnt seem like a sylenoid problem but you never know.. we will start simple so check your fluid;

Adam F

Your shift solenoids are not functioning properly. Get the FSM and read up.

Holla

Yea I talked to the tranny dude at Toyota and he said first off a complete flush and that "May" fix it. If thats not it then its a solenoid in the tranny and they dont go into the tranny at all so I would have to take it to a tranny shop and Hope they can fix it???

Im sure Im due a flush but really I dont think thats going to fix it do you Adam?

Is there a First gear solenoid? There has to be one part thats the culprit for this problem--its pretty simple cut and dry what the tranny does when cold.....

Funny thing is I wont know if its fixed till next winter...lol

mt_goat

X2, solenoids control the shifting/gear selection. They can get sticky or clogged up. Do a search for "solenoid" its been covered on here before.

Holla

SO if its a solenoid, then flushing the tranny is not going to help my problem OR will it?

mt_goat

I GUESS its possible, but the PROS generally replace BAD solenoids. Things as small as lint from a rag can cause problems with solenoids. There was a long thread on here not too long ago about replacing solenoids (hint hint) .

mt_goat

Here's the thread I was thinking of: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/4...cation-137360/
And that reminds me, are you getting any codes (CEL)?

Holla

MT Goat--

Im not getting any codes or check engine lights at all. Im somewhat mechanical--so if it involves droping the pan only and swapping out a solenoid, I could do that. If it means droping the valve body I dont know..lol

Time to buy my 08 Tundra I guess...lol