Since I'm doing a rebuild on my 3vze, I thought I might address the autopathetic transmission behind it. Generally, this has been a good gearbox and has only one little problem, though it can be very annoying.

Whenever the outside temperature is below about 55 degrees, it has trouble getting into and staying in overdrive. Around town, it's no big deal, but when I make that yearly drive from CA to UT for Christmas, it is frustrating beyond words. I've tried to fix it with additives, and if that works, it only works briefly. I did an oil-filter change and that did not seem to change its behavior much at all.

This thing works flawlessly during the hot part of the year, which is most of the year, so it doesn't sit in my mind much.

So has anyone else experienced this problem or one similar to it? I have a clear picture in my mind of a weak valve spring or a determined deposit of crud and I could fix it maybe with a shift kit (if they make such a thing for this gearbox) or by just removing it and cleaning it up.

I've also not ruled out putting in a manual transmission, though I might prefer to just replace the vehicle with one set up that way already.

This truck is absolutely stock with the exception of the Pioneer speakers I put in it two years ago.

 

Model, year and mileage?

Fink

 

Make sure you have the correct thermostat.

 

1990 4Runner SR5 V6 208,000