Scarbéli

couple months ago my '90 4runner 4wd auto trans suddenly stopped pulling in any gear. All vac/fluid ok. I saved $ for repair so this sunday i pushed it out of the drvwy to get it towed but started the motor just to hear it run. My buddy put it into gear just for firsthand witness of the problem and damned thing suddenly had all gears! WIERD! So i drive it for three days n then dejavu. Exactly as before, i start to notice OD not working n shifts getting a lil hard and then complete fail. Seems to me the trans proper is probly ok but something is failing then "resetting" by long rest. SOMEBODY THROW ME A BONE HERE CUZ IM STUMPED..?!

scope103

You can check for codes http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...17diagnosi.pdf, which will tell you if you have an electrical problem (I think you have the A340E; check the door pillar).

But I'm guessing you've got a dead possum or something in the transmission; if it sits for a while it ends up on the bottom of the pan, but after jostling it for a few days it clogs a passage. You might be able to fix it by draining/replacing the fluid and filter, but don't expect miracles. Without a special gadget (to drain the torque converter) you can only get less than 1/2 of the fluid out. And who knows where that possum is sitting?

Scarbéli

Hey thank you for reponding. I found some info that leads me to suspect the pump may b bad. I will certainly look at the code link but what do u think about the pump as possible problem?

Scarbéli

By the way, changed fluid already and pan/filter in great condition. Nearly void of any deposits.

scope103

Replacing the internal pump is way beyond my skill level. But if you were going to go that far, I think you need some way to diagnose it. I don't see that you have any where near enough information to say "just replace the pump" versus "find that dead possum that's floating around in there somewhere."

Good luck!

Scarbéli

Hey thank u. Noone else bothered to comment. I guess ill just put it in the shop n deal w the cost.

Scarbéli

Gotta be a way to DIY fluid drain from torque converter during trans flush procedure..?

AKHeathen

i ran into something similar and similarly odd. i went ridding at the pass, which is like 80? miles, and 900ft pull for the last few miles and i'm estimating like 1800# for the 2 sleds on a trailer with scrubbing tire. needless to say that really worked the tranny, and after ridding, it simply wouldn't go any where. while we were jostling everything to another rig, my buddy started just fiddling running through the shifter in all tcase modes for a bout 5-10min. just when i was about to tell him to stop it, it lunged foreward in 4low....... so that is the only way i could get it to move. so i headed back to see how far it will make it, and going downhill i made a few attempts and got it to take in high range. when i got back to town, it was still shifting hard, but kept working for a few days. i took it in and had the trans flushed, and after that, i haven't had an issue. that was like $90 and probably 9 years ago. i later did a filter change as well. keep in mind this is done via a flushing machine, not filter service. just some food for thought.