Ben894runner

Hello I just got a 89 4runner sr5 3.0 with the auto tranny my tranny temp light came on going up this steep trail next to my house and it just boged out would not spin the tires in 4-low drove it back home and I can't find a easy way to check tranny fluid level those big air intake hoses are in the way and won't run when I take them off so I got it out it looked a little low put some fluid in it now when I drove it down the street It would not make it up th road in 2wd like it's got too much load and then it poped out of gear (I was in 1 gear) so I turned around and made it back but I noticed when I took it out of 4wd the truck was shaking alot in 2wd hubs unlocked now it not shaking but will drop out of gear in a 1/2 mi ??? I'm not sure if it a bad tranny mabye too much fluid or the transfer case not working right and I also notice a oil leak from engine right by above the left side of the water pump and looks like a tranny leak too tranny cross member wet oil soaked I like this 4runner alot but not if it don't got got the balls to make it up the trails (i also got a Dana 44 that came with the 4runner (not installed) thanks alot and any help is alot of help

Ben894runner

Any help with My problems on my 89 4runner will be helpful plz help thank you

ToyoTech559

not sure if your gonna get much help on this. not too many guys run auto. i myself love my auto in my 88 runner.

the temp light is telling you that your overheating. due to the hill climb and probly because your running large tires and not geared right. i have 32inch tires with stock 4.10 (suppose to be 4.30 stock) i had a long hill climb and it overheated my tranny. i quickly stopped and let it running till it cooled off and light turned off. i now have regeared and havent had any problems. i went to 4.88 gearing.

you should be able to check your fluid level from the drip stick without removing anything. just grap the stick, unlock it and pull it out. its a little tricky and your right it is tight on space.

how is it popping out of gear? its automatic? are you putting the shifting in 1st?

if your in 4wd with hubs locked on the street and getting a vib. it could be worn cv axles. but personally i try not to run 4wd on dry pavement anyways.

Ben894runner

Hello thanks for the response I took my tranny pan apart today and notice alot of gunk (filter/magnet) so I cleaned good now just waiting for a tranny filter kit. I also notice I drained almost 1 3/4 gal of dark brown tranny fluid the Manuel says auto tranny capacity is 4.8 I think so i'm not sure if it was over full. I will find out when I put the 4.8 and see if it shows on dip stick. The 2wd shaking I don't really use the 4wd on road I ment when I was in 4wd hubs locked it did not shake 4-L worked fine just a little gut less when I was on the way back down the trail I unlocked hubs and put in 2wd and started shaking only under a load

Ben894runner

4.8 quarts

Team420

If the tranny overheated... then ya... ur gonna have nasty stuff in there, and the fluid will be burnt...

Might try flushing the fluid before replacing the filter, a drain and fill will only replace SOME of the fluid... to flush, id pull both cooler lines from the radiator, stick the return line into a bucket of frsh fluid, and the feed line into an empty bucket, run motor till frsh fluid is coming out... This could take 10 qts, or it could take up to 40...

Also... its not really a "filter" its more of a fine mesh screen, and can just be cleaned with brake clean, or even water for that matter, just make sure its completely dry before putting it back in the tranny.

Ben894runner

Thanks I think I will do a tranny flush but befor I do I forgot to say that my reverse was not working at all so could that be that the screen was cloged so bad (or worse bad tranny)??? I know when I pulled tranny filter it was so dirty that it was hiding about a quart of ATF so I cleaned filter I hope this will fix . I just also noticed my driver side hub would not free up (was always locked) I took it apart and the round spline piece came off it's spring put it all back together now it unlocks and locks perfect so I hope that fixes my shaking problem thanks

ToyoTech559

4.8 qts is probably just how much drains out from the plug. but like Team420 said. the complete system takes around 10-12qts but do flush it all out would be with a machine or how Team420 said

Ben894runner

4runner has no reverse this morning so should I do the flush or is the tranny burnt up ??? I need some advice thanks (don't want to waste money on a bad tranny)

ToyoTech559

hard to say. what have you done so far?

Ben894runner

Going to flush tomorrow morning I took the tranny pan and filter off full of gunk all clean now just got to get the gaskits and put it back together I hope this fixes my tranny problem if not should I rebuild get a used one from a juckyard or find a 5-speed that will fit ??? I wanted a 5-speed but this one was close to were I lived

Ben894runner

you got a auto right is yours gutless in 4-L on a steep hill or will it spin the tires. the day I got my 4runner I put it in 4-L and tryed this nice steep hill/trail I went up full trottle 1 gear 4-L and was going so slow/boged not reved like I hoped. when I stoped at the have way Point it would not go any further should it be this gut less ???

Team420

have a look here

http://ncttora.com/fsm/1990-1995_4Rn...es/repair.html
Yours is the a340h

and here
http://ncttora.com/fsm/1990-1995_4Rn...2/troubles.pdf

It could be something simple... like a solenoid or switch.... or it could be something more serious... When the at oil temp light flashed, it could have meant it was overheating (although I think it just stays on when thats the case) or it could have stored codes, which would help ya figure out whats goin on...

read up in the fsm, check for codes, and run thru the diagnostic procedures.... report back here with ur findings.

ToyoTech559

I have a v6 3.0 auto. When I had my old set up. 32 inch tires and stock gears. Steep hill climbs was a problem sometimes. I never do it at wot. That's just asking to blow the trans. If you have to give that much guess. Look into re gearing or a 5 speed swap. You still have said what size tires your running. Or more info on what has been done. I have regeared to 4.88 and I creep up steep hills now with little to no throttle in 4l

Ben894runner

My 4runner has stock size tires 15 in. rim I think. pretty gone I do plan on re-gearing some day soon probley when I do a sas I got a Danna 44 for the front or sure how to do the swap I got some buddies with welder. another qustion i got some tires on 16 in. rims from a 2000 silverado and they fit the bolt pattern just not the center ring could I use these tires i will post pics of my 89 r4unner soon

8_9_runner

How many miles on that tranny? I also recently picked up an 89 with v6 and auto trans. No problems yet. I do want to do a tranny service but I hear conflicting stories on whether to do or not to do the fluid change. Please let me know how yours goes.

Ben894runner

Hello changed the tranny fluid did not help much has no reverse and now I have a big big problem I think the motor blew on my 4runner I was driving up a hill at about 4000 rpm and the motor just died and I tried to start and no nothing I think it's siezed i will find out later when I do some test what should I do if motor Is blown up find a 3.0 and tranny or go with a newer v6 or even a chevy vortec 292,4.8l or 327,5.3 l I want to be street legal and will have to pass California smog test I want it to able to tow and be alot faster 0-60 on the street plz any help will be helpful thanks