so heres what i got. just bought a 91 4runner, sr5 v6. its actully in really good shape, motors a bit rough, but i got swap plans.

heres my problem. when i got it, the od light blinked, but it goes into all the gears, so i figure its the lock up solenoid. maybe the vss, but it drives fine, so i wasnt in a hurry. well on the 4th we took the new rig to a fireworks show, with interstate driving, and on the way home i lost 3rd, and od. i figured it was some sort of limp mode. i read these trans over heat easy, and it was a hot day. by the time i limped it about 20 miles in 2nd at 20mph, i got all the gears back. drove home and to work the next two days no prob. till the way home this afternoon. it started shifting really hard when it did shift. the rest of the time id have to rev it to 4k rpms to go into 3rd, and wasnt about to try that for od. then i eventually lost 3rd and od again. and heres the weird part, when it acts up, the od light doesnt blink. now i checked the trans fluid, and it was over full i think. and the truck has 272k on it, but the way it looks, it was taken care of.

so heres what im gonna, do and where i ask for advice. im off tomorrow, so its getting a fluid change. and if i have time, an external cooler. have one laying around. does anyone else have a suggestion? since at the moment theres no code, cant see if its a solenoid. also, i wanna plumb the cooler in after the trans fluid goes thru the radiator. anyone know which line that is off the top of their head? thanks for any help

 

How do you know there's no code?
Did you short TE and E1 on the diagnostic connector?

btw they don't overheat easy

 

when i said no code, i meant the od light has stopped blinking. it blinks any other time except while its acting up. im sure if i jumped the connector id get something. it is on my list for tomorrow. as for over heating, that was my guess. i had been on the interstate for a bit, and its pretty hilly in nwa, and after a bit it went back to normal. it sat in a field for a year before i bought it, and there is some evidence of rats chewing. so thats something im gonna check out. basically just wanting to see if anyone had been in my spot. thanks

 

and it was way over full. id say 2" above the hot mark. after an hour cool down.

 

When you checked the fluid level was the truck running?

 

Yep. In park, on a level surface. I double checked with the owners manual to make sure I checked it right. My other 2 yotas I had were both sticks, this is my first auto vehicle in probly 5 years.

 

Did the fluid change and got the level where it needs to be. Seems to be shifting fine, but only time will tell. Havent pulled the code yet though

 

Too much tranny fluid can cause some weird behavior, but usually not to that extent.

 

yeah. the od light starts blinking the second i go into 3rd, and it likes to jumo in and out of third, and od once its warmed up. sometimes its worse than others. so i think im just gonna order a solenoid kit and be done with it. just be one less thing to buy when i rebuild it for my 1uz swap.