1987 4runner Auto Trans acting crazy
#1
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Thread Starter
1987 4runner Auto Trans acting crazy
So to start, I have searched through threads on YT about these transmissions and it seems like most people have the problem of overdrive not engaging.
My problem is:
From accelerating at a redlight, when i start accelerating to get to speed, I shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd smoothly and normally (assuming 1st gear is the gear you start driving with when accelerating from a stop). the third gear usually revs close to 3,000 RPM then shifts into a slop mess that boggs my engine down (I assume this is overdrive). Once it shifts into this power robbing bogging gear, it immediately downshifts, then immediately shifts to the bogging gear, then back to the lower gear (what I assume is third) and drives normally to the point where it SHOULD have switched to overdrive in the first place. This all happens within 5 seconds and its pretty quick but the shift out of third into the slop gear is a hard shift and it totally kills all of my acceleration and is very frustrating.
This is the first Automatic Transmission I have ever had, and based on research I was wondering if it was my O/D solenoid or one of my other solenoids? The transmission does not do this in ECT mode, and honestly id drive around town with ECT on, but the revs can get a little high before shifting.
Any help is GREATLY APPRECIATED, keep in mind, im a novice.
THANK YOU!
My problem is:
From accelerating at a redlight, when i start accelerating to get to speed, I shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd smoothly and normally (assuming 1st gear is the gear you start driving with when accelerating from a stop). the third gear usually revs close to 3,000 RPM then shifts into a slop mess that boggs my engine down (I assume this is overdrive). Once it shifts into this power robbing bogging gear, it immediately downshifts, then immediately shifts to the bogging gear, then back to the lower gear (what I assume is third) and drives normally to the point where it SHOULD have switched to overdrive in the first place. This all happens within 5 seconds and its pretty quick but the shift out of third into the slop gear is a hard shift and it totally kills all of my acceleration and is very frustrating.
This is the first Automatic Transmission I have ever had, and based on research I was wondering if it was my O/D solenoid or one of my other solenoids? The transmission does not do this in ECT mode, and honestly id drive around town with ECT on, but the revs can get a little high before shifting.
Any help is GREATLY APPRECIATED, keep in mind, im a novice.
THANK YOU!
Last edited by dbbowen; 11-23-2015 at 10:20 AM.
#4
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I will edit this post later.. But I seem to remember something like this. On my 86 sr5 it had a transmission relay that went bad. On mine its a blue ( I think its blue) box about 2 inches big its above the and to the left of the break peddle( where the clutch peddle would be. )
Like i said i will edit this later once I look at my notes.
Maby it was the overdrive relay. ( I had the work done , I did not do it my self.) It might be on the transmission. Mine worked worked fine with the over drive off.
yeap that was it, I could only be checked 160-195 deg.. if they did not catch it that had to let the truck cool down and start over. Cost a lot to get it figured out.
Like i said i will edit this later once I look at my notes.
Maby it was the overdrive relay. ( I had the work done , I did not do it my self.) It might be on the transmission. Mine worked worked fine with the over drive off.
yeap that was it, I could only be checked 160-195 deg.. if they did not catch it that had to let the truck cool down and start over. Cost a lot to get it figured out.
Last edited by Obmi; 11-24-2015 at 11:45 AM.
#5
Registered User
Thread Starter
I will edit this post later.. But I seem to remember something like this. On my 86 sr5 it had a transmission relay that went bad. On mine its a blue ( I think its blue) box about 2 inches big its above the and to the left of the break peddle( where the clutch peddle would be. )
Like i said i will edit this later once I look at my notes.
Maby it was the overdrive relay. ( I had the work done , I did not do it my self.) It might be on the transmission. Mine worked worked fine with the over drive off.
yeap that was it, I could only be checked 160-195 deg.. if they did not catch it that had to let the truck cool down and start over. Cost a lot to get it figured out.
Like i said i will edit this later once I look at my notes.
Maby it was the overdrive relay. ( I had the work done , I did not do it my self.) It might be on the transmission. Mine worked worked fine with the over drive off.
yeap that was it, I could only be checked 160-195 deg.. if they did not catch it that had to let the truck cool down and start over. Cost a lot to get it figured out.
So you are saying for you, It was the transmission relay? Did you ever figure out if it was on the transmission itself or by the brake pedal? My transmission seems to work differently when the engine is cold vs when warmed up. Seems to work better when cold.
Thank you for your time and response
#6
Registered User
Try testing, replacing and or adjusting your TPS first, my trans. would go into 4th and 3rd back and forward all the time, until i tested the TPS and it was bad so i replaced it, adjusted it and that took care of my problem. http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/TPS/index.shtml
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#9
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Thread Starter
Awesome obmi! Thanks for the photos and part number!!! I was in my dash looking for that relay last night and couldnt find it! All I could find was my O/D Relay. Any insight on to where it is?
After HOURS AND HOURS of searching and researching, it seems like this transmission relay or my lock-up solenoid is whats wrong. Money wise the transmission relay would be a nice cheaper fix. I really really hope its not the lock-up solenoid
After HOURS AND HOURS of searching and researching, it seems like this transmission relay or my lock-up solenoid is whats wrong. Money wise the transmission relay would be a nice cheaper fix. I really really hope its not the lock-up solenoid
#10
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I don't know of this is the original place. But this is were it lives now.
Near the fuse box
Just above the foot "Thing"
About as high up as the steering wheel.
Near the fuse box
Just above the foot "Thing"
About as high up as the steering wheel.
#11
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Thread Starter
Wow thank you for the photos and help. It looks like Your Transmission relay is where my O/D Relay is plugged. Ill check if the part numbers are different. Thats pretty much where my O/D relay is at with the same type of male plug, except my box is Black and says O/D relay.... Maybe the Previous Owner has the wrong part installed in there. Thank you so much for the help!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#13
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Thread Starter
Hey fellas, A little update.... Swapping in a manual next weekend. Found a guy with all the needed parts from his wrecked 4runner. Just waiting on my clutch kit from marlin to get here. Thanks for all of the insight. If you need any automatic parts or anything DM me. I dont think I have enough posts to post in classifieds
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