justin_4runner

so i have a 91 4runner v6 with a304 trans.

i go out and start my 4runner and let it warm up and then ill head out for work. when i get going it wont shift out of first tell it red lines and i let off the gas and then re hit it and then it will shift. the next couple shifts are a little hard, but not as high in the rpm range. then as it heats up it shifts fine and does have a little slip at times. i have replaced filter and fluid and did check it and it is full. i adjusted the kick down cable and i think i did it too tight so i put it back where it was but still doing it, does anyone know how much slack should be in the cable? or is the trans just shot and should i just look for a new one? i would do the swap but i don't want to try and figure out all the things for doing the swap.


thanks everybody.....

toyotaPmanager

there is a collar on the throttle cable. that collar should stick out of the rubber boot 1mm when the accel pedal is depressed fully.

Team420

Mines been doin that for over 2 years.... just let it warm up before u drive, and should be fine.

annoyingrob

The "kickdown" cable as it were only controls the line pressure inside the transmission (how "hard" it shifts). Everything is electronically controlled. It's more likely that your TPS is mis-adjusted on the throttle body.

Get a multi-meter, and learn how to read the transmission computers throttle position. I believe you simply plug the multimeter into the transmission's test conenctor, put the key in ACC position, and watch the voltage as you slowly press the pedal. It jumps in 8 steps I believe from 0-4.5v, but double check the manual on that.

If the readings aren't right, the transmission won't shift properly.

justin_4runner

guess i have some reading to do... after i adjusted the cable and drove it home from work it shirted ok. but i will have to look over the manual and then test mine.

toyotaPmanager

The Throttle cable is the correct name for it. You will not find "kickdown" cable in any toyota manuals or parts catalogs.

The MAN

agreed what was said above... readjust the throttle valve cable and inspect TPS for correct setting

also just want to make sure in case you didn't know... check the ATF with the tranny warmed up, WHILE the engine is running... you will not get a correct level with the engine off as the oil pump isn't running and isn't circulating the ATF

1988TOYOTA4X4

I'm having the same issue with my 90 it won't shift out of first when i just start it up and go but if i let it warm up it seem to shift better

paintthetown

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Turd Furgeson

I have a 89 jeep cherokee that from what I understand uses the same transmission (jeep calls it a AW4) and it started doing something similar. Usually in the morning it would take forever to shift 1-2 and 2-3. Usually after 20 minutes of driving it would start acting fine,no slipping though. I took it to a auto repair shop that we deal with through our shop that I trust instead of a tranny shop. Just heard from him today and he is pretty confident it is what he thought it was to begin with. I guess valves in the valvebody get worn and/or sticky and cause it to do all this wacky stuff. He gets a valvebody re-calibration kit with new valvebody parts and installs it after taking the valvebody out and cleaning everything. I guess it's pretty common on these when they start acting like this. Hopefully he's right and it fixes it. Something you might look into with someone you know that's good with transmissions.