I just bought a 95 4Runner yesterday for 2 grand. It has 180K on the engine. pretty decent condition for its age, except for the guy I bought it off of told me it needs a new transmission control module. whenever I put it in Drive, it will only start rolling in 3rd gear. so in order to get it in 1st I have to manually shift it from L-2-D. it seems to shift pretty smoothly with no issues when I do that. can someone more mechanically inclined shed some light on this? does it sound like it could be the TCM? and another issue is that I can not find a Transmission control module for a 95 4runner whenever I try to google it. Its as if they don't exist. is it possible that the TCM is in the same unit as the ECU? every time I search for it anywhere, the only thing that pops up is the Engine control module. its driving me crazy. I can't find anything on a 1995 4runner TCM.

 

Welcome to YotaTech.

No "Transmission Control Module." Before you start swapping ECMs, DO check for transmission codes. http://web.archive.org/web/201408161...31diagnosi.pdf

And I must say that I am shocked, shocked, that someone would sell a 25-yr old truck and provide inaccurate service information.

 

Hopefully, it's not the case with your trans but I had the exact same symptoms with my '95 auto-trans 4Runner and the situation kept getting worse over time until it simply would not go into gear at all. It cost me $4000 to have the trans rebuilt. I'll dig up the work order to see if there are notes about the cause but it has something to do with one plate not engaging with another but I don't recall the exact details.

 

Another thing. The check engine light is on and over drive light keeps blinking. Could this be a clue into what’s happening?

 

If it is I don't what it would mean.

 

Hmmm. I'll bet the link with which you were provided might explain that.

Note that a blinking O/D light, if the jumper is not in place, is a sign of a faulty control system. Could be why the seller was talking about a non-existent "TCM." What should you do first? Check for the jumper!

If the CEL is on, well, you should probably "Check the Engine." Here's how: http://web.archive.org/web/201211190...85diagnosi.pdf

In the majority of well-populated areas of the US, you need a recent smog certificate in order to register a vehicle. You can't get a smog certificate with a CEL. So I assume you're in some place with no smog checks. Otherwise ...

 

“In the majority of well-populated areas of the US, you need a recent smog certificate in order to register a vehicle. You can't get a smog certificate with a CEL. So I assume you're in some place with no smog checks. Otherwise ...”

not here in Washington. They got rid of emissions this year actually. I just registered it today

and 95 4runners don’t have OBDs. I have to do some ignition procedure and the CEL blinks to read the codes.

 

I'm not sure what you're referring to here. Of course your 4runner has OnBoard Diagnostics, as have most vehicles since the '80s. What you don't have is post-1994 OBDII, which requires a "reader." The second link I provided told you how to read the "CEL blinks."

 

Check this out, i think this is your problem, not the TCM. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f120...enoids-301274/