1989 4Runner with 3.0 and A304H Transmission.

This weekend I put in a new/used transmission into my 4Runner. It seemed to work great for about 30-40 miles. Now it is having some intermittent issues. It is not going into O/D and it feels like it comes out of gear while in 3rd gear sometimes. Reverse, 1st and 2nd are working great and 3rd is working right most of the time.

The temperature is running right in the normal range and everything else is working well. There are no warning lights on either. I checked the kick down cable and it seems to be working well. I'm wondering if there is a sensor that could be causing the issue. I have heard that the Pattern Select Switch can cause some problems too? Also I was wondering if the Throttle Position Sensor could cause this issue?

 

Just in front of your shifter, under the plastic bezel cover is a electrical box that controls some functions of the automatic transmission. I am not sure what all is controlled by it. Maybe some of the automatic guys can assist you with that.

Have you changed the fluid and filter in the transmission? I think I have read that there are two sensors that can act up on the automatics but am not sure about that as I have only seen one automatic transmission and don't know much about them.

 

#1 fluid levels
#2 download FSM
#3 check Solenoid ohms at the ECT module.
#4 test OD switch
#5 Disconnect the ECT module and do the "manual" test.
#6 TPS adjustment

 

#6 is very important on auto. trans. http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/TPS/index.shtml

 

Thanks for the help guys! I put a new TPS in today and that solved the 'hunting' issue and it seems to be fixed. I need to replace the thermostat and temperature sending unit soon as well. Occasionally the temperature goes down below normal on the gauge. That is causing it to come out of OD. I believe it has to be warmed up before it goes into OD.

But overall the majority of the problems are cleared up by replacing the TPS. It runs much better now too.

 

This link was very helpful. Where it talks about symptoms of a bad TPS it described the problems I was having. Thanks again.