PlumberDragon

Hey all,

My first post with YotaTech here and I'm not wishing to flood you guys with a repeat question. I also don't wish to revive an old thread, so here I go. Ill start with a standard day of the issue I have.

I drive a 1994 4Runner SR5 V6 with the 3VZE. Everything runs decent except the one issue I am having with the transmission wanting to shift into the 4th gear. And once its been running a while it shifts back a gear and does not want to use the 4th gear.

A typical morning
I start the car. Warm it up. Then I start my commute off to work. Driving 80Kmph the tach sits around 3250rpm. I can speed up over 110kmph and the rpm hits about 4250 without a shift. about 15 mins of a drive i stop for a coffee, and drive off again. Then the transmission has no issue shifting up and it runs at a smooth 2150rpm going 80.

A typical highway drive
Warming of the car is the same as above, but around 30 mins into the drive to the rockies (I live in calgary) I reach an incline at scott lake hill. The transmission has been working nice and running in the 4th gear. Then my asending of the hill begins. Its shifts down and my rpm is at 4000 going 100kmph. Then it refuses to shift down and Im screaming at 4000rpm for the rest of the drive to canmore (60miles in total or 100km) I drop my daughter off and return home. Then the transmission like to work properly, until about 10 minutes out of home. Then it reverts back to being confused and not shifting. This is down hill all the way back to calgary. 4000+RPM all the way home at freeway speeds..

I have changed the transmission fluid with a GL4 redline transmission fluid. Being new to maintenance I would love a bit of help. I have tools and know how to check electrical systems. As i said before I have read some old threads somewhat similar issues, but they are really old posts and I would not like to revive something so old.

Thanks for the help.

Clayton308

Maybe shift solenoids 🤔 maybe plug a code reader if you have one and see!…

scope103

A code reader for a 1994 Toyota. Hmmm. I wonder what that would look like?

Here's how to read the codes: http://web.archive.org/web/201408161...31diagnosi.pdf
In the process, you'll have to determine that your o/d-off light is working (if not, you might be in o/d-off and that would explain your problems) While you're at it, make sure the Norm/Pwr switch is in the Norm position. I have no use for the delayed shifts of the Pwr position, but others might. Having said all that, I don't think your problem is one that would throw a code.

Terminology: your A340H transmission (check that; it's printed on the driver's door pillar) is a 3-speed transmission, plus overdrive, plus lock-up. Yeah, it's really 4 speeds, but that's how Toyota calls it. When the engine is cold, the ECU doesn't let the transmission shift to o/d, or do lock up. http://www.cygnusx1.net/Media/Supra/...taTech/h16.pdf That should go away quickly, but if you have a wonky ECT (engine coolant temperature) sensor or connection it will cause problems with shifting (it should cause other engine problems too).

If you're having trouble distinguishing o/d from lockup, then you may need the Super Duper Automatic Gear Shift Indicator! https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...icator-303218/