For 76 yr old Dad's 85 4runner. His 85 was jerking into gear like he had a shift kit in it. When climbing a hill sometimes it would not shift into lower gear causing him to pull over and let traffic pass. Dad is on fixed income so I put it in the shop for him. I had shop put a new Tranmission solenoid in it as the shop wanted to put a new Tranny in it (not in my budget.) So far it shifts great no jerking but it will still not always shift into a lower gear climbing a hill. Works fine off road or manually in lower gears. But a big highway hill and it wont drop down a gear sometimes.
Should I replace the Shift solenoid next? could there still be a code if there is no check engine light on dash board?
Thank you in advance, can't afford new tranny and my Dad lives to fish and this 4runner adds years to his life.

 

I picked up my dad's 4runner today and drove it home, will take to mechanic this week. It shifted hard like it had a shift kit but sometimes shifted smooth. While driving a highway hill it slowly lost speed from 70mph to 55mph and would not kick in to a lower gear even with the OD off and the power button in. At a stop light it seemed like it missed 2nd gear and went to 3rd. Another time from a stop light it was hitting high rpm's and didn't shift to higher gear untill I pushed in the power button. So, basically it's bogging down climbing hills and it's not shifting properly also it idles a little high. After reading alot of post today I think I need to flush the fuel system and go through the carb and fuel tank/lines and replace the transmission. I must be dealing with several problems. Thanks anyways!
Was hoping it could be a shift solenoid though?

 

OD light flashing? check the engine codes that are stored..please do a search on how to do this.

btw don't automatically assume its a solenoid issue before diagnosis! thats what i did and it turned out to be a simple TPS (throttle position sensor) issue which solved 90% of my problems that you described and a slipping 27 yr old transmission... now in process of swapping in a 5sp

 

What he said.

:wabbit2:

 

OD light not flashing but his dash lights don't always work either. Taking truck to my friends shop this Thursday, I will have him pull codes and check TBP. Hopefully that will solve the bogging. My Dad thought tranny stopped jerking into gear,when I drove it it still did that but not every time that I started out from a stop. I guess when I had the Trans solenoid and fluid replaced it shifed better for a week or two and Dad thought is was fixed. I'm grateful for your response and will keep you informed should you come back to this thread, I should no more by next week. My Dad gets lousy gas milage too, hopefully has to do with TBP and can kill two birds. good thing I'm learning this stuff because My Dad said when he kicks the bucket he's giving the truck to my 12 yr old Son.
Thanks again!

 

I recieved the codes from my friend today who has a shop. (2) (4) (5) 2 is air flow meter 4 is water temp sensor 5 is oxegen sensor. My friend said number 5 might cause the truck to bog but he don't know? if anyone is still out there, do you think its the TBP still and would the TBP cause the tranny to shift like I have a shift kit sometimes but not always? I must be having multiple problems and I don't no where to start. I would rather tell the mechanic to put a specific part on like a new TBP rather than have him try and fix all those code problems but I don't know what to do and I'm on a tight budget. Thanks for the last response, hope your still there.

 

Has anyone had these codes before that can tell me how to fix them, I told my mechanic friend that I would deal with the codes because I can't afford to have him figure it out.

 

Try adjusting your TPS first, i was having issues like shifting in and out of OD with my auto trans. for a while and just adjusted and tested my tps and it was bad, replaced it with a good tps and problem solved, also adjust your kick down cable as it might be streched out after 27 years of use, start here under repairs section. www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/index.shtml

 

2 - Test using 4crawler method, if bad get a good one at junkyard for $30
4 - Replace water temp sensor aka ECT sensor (underneath the throttle body, right plug closest to valve cover) for $30
5 - Replace with new Denso O2 sensor for $60, I've heard the autozone Bosch type o2 sensors don't work good for these motors but no personal experience. I've always used Denso OEM.

 

Will get mechanic on all suggestions Monday the 17th and get back to you asap, thanks!

 

Ordered a new TBP sitting in box at home but while it was in the mail I towed my Dad's 4runner 5 hrs to go hunting. when we got there it wouldn't go into drive, no hi-2 or high-4 only low-4. The truck might have been towed with hubs locked, long story as to why we are not sure, to many different people locking and un-locking when we got to camp. It's a mess because I don't know if it was towed with hubs locked.
All I know is I broke something and want to know what, so I can fix it.
This was the first time we ever towed the 85 automatic 4runner. Either I was suppose to disconnect the drive shaft and didn't and jacked up my tranny(towed in neutral) or the freakin hubs were locked and I jacked something up in the transfer case. I know it's not the original problem I posted because this 4runner always went into gear until after the tow. Any opinions would help, thanks!