jde740

Hi, I have a 98 4Runner Limited 4x4 3.4 V-6 Auto Trans. 30-40le 169k mil. Check engine light came on, and the code p0773 shift solenoid E Electrical showed on the scanner. I think the solenoids are located on the valve body, I am unsure how many there are and I am unsure if you can just replace one or all of them. Also would like to know if a D.I.Y. can do this. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

PismoJoe

Yes you can replace them but sometimes changing the fluid can help this problem if there is a blockage in the valve body. I'm guessing you have an A340 series transmission, search 'shift solenoid replacement'

jde740

Also I noticied a pinkish white puddle fluid underneath my 4Runner dont know where it came from any idea of what this could be

kball

check your coolant color and your trans dipstick and see if the fluids look the same. If so search for "pink milkshake" could be the trans cooler built into the radiator went south.

gdutch

Eesh, sounds like yet another milkshake. Did you notice your engine overheating at all before the CEL came on?

mt_goat

Searching "strawberry milkshake" will probably provide more hits here. Sorry to see another one go down.

Good luck.

jde740

I did notice the temp gauge up higher than usual, it never was in the red though. I bought the vehicle knowing about the solenoids and its been sittin for 95% of the time and I have had it for a month or longer. I notice the "strawberry milkshake" puddle as describe after I took it to be put on a high dollar scanner. What causes this and where is it coming from, and can it be fixed.

mt_goat

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/g.../#post51428945

jde740

Checked the radiator and trans fluid and its definetly "strawberry milkshake" can someone inform of what my next step is to do

kball

Whatever you do don't drive it! Get it towed to a shop to have it flushed like crazy. Unless you plan on doing the flushing yourself...

PismoJoe

Just read post #8 by mtngoat that is a good thread for you to look at

Flushing it will not fix this issue, you need a new radiator or an external tranny cooler. I would go the external tranny cooler route to avoid having this issue again in the future.

kball

I should have been more specific. I meant flush the trans like crazy. The new radiator and ext cooler was more obvious I thought. My bad...

After reading previous posts again I'm thinking whoever sold this to you may have known about this problem. And if it's been sitting for months with the coolant in the trans flushing may not do anything. It may already be too late.

jde740

Ok I've owned since June 9th, 2010 and have only drove it home when I bought it and a few other times not more than a half hour at a time, because of the p0773 solenoid issue. Also the trans cooler busting on me that happend a couple weeks ago. Do you think this is still fixable? My plan today is to drain the fluid out of the transmission I read that on here you should do that if you plan on fixingi it. Also can I keep the factory radiator thats already in their and somehow bypass the bad trans cooler and just plumb it up to a external cooler and fan? I have been reading thread after thread, but I have so many questions concerns of my own its ridiculous! thanks

PismoJoe

Ohhh got it haha yeah that would be a good idea.

JDE- most of the time you need to replace the radiator because coolant is leaking into the trans cooler portion. If its a small leak, you might try capping off the tranny cooler ports in the radiator and then getting an external trans cooler.

Pretty much that would just let you get a little more life out of your radiator. I don't know about your area, but local radiator shops around here charge about $50 to reset tanks and patch leaks, so you might call up a local shop and see what the deal is.

You want to position your trans cooler flush against your radiator, that way your radiator fan will draw air through the trans cooler and the radiator. Make sure there is no gap between the trans cooler and radiator.

I guess you could locate the trans cooler elsewhere and hook up its own small fan to it, but that would be making this task more difficult than it needs to be

jde740

I Have the transmission pan unbolted and its loose, it still wont come off, I've unbolted the nut that holds the transmission dip stick on, still nothing. Should it come off there or do I have to take something else off.Do I even need to take the pan off or not

mt_goat

It would be a good idea to take it off at some point. Do you have the RTV seal broken all the way around?

jde740

yea its just hanging there i cant manuver it out of there, the transmission crossmember is in the way along with a sway bar in front

mt_goat

The dip stick tube separates in the middle, there is am o-ring seal at the union. It just wiggles apart.

jde740

What do you think my next step is to do, Radiator?

PismoJoe

Wait are you replacing solenoids, doing the filter, or what? I would do that and change the magnet as well while you're in there.