My 94 automatic 4Runner is not upshifting when it's cold, after about a mile or 2 it shifts fine. I took it to Cottman's, they said it had too many codes and so they believed it had an electrical problem and referred me to a local garage. The mech there cleared the codes and none came back, he believes it's the transfer case that is staying in low and not the transmission. He was stumped so problem was not fixed. Has anyone experienced the same problem??

 

Thats pretty normal for an auto tranny, and since you are not asking in the newbie section ill have to say search and learn. The auto tranny will keep it in lower gear to bring the operting temp up to normal. You may notice that your rpms will go slightly higher for each gear as well.

 

Also not too sure if id bring it back to that shop...the transfer case idea doesnt seem to be right.

 

It should shift ok, but they are commonly slower when cold. when was the last fluid/filter change?

 

Check the throttle cable, or rather the cable below it, that tell teh tranny what to do. ALso, Check your TPS, it makes a huge difference in terms of what the computer tells your tranny to do.If that cable is loose, snug it up, but if it is too long, you'll need a new one, they stretch

 

Pretty vague.

It is normal for this particular auto tranny to 'lock out' overdrive until the engine gets up to normal operating temperature. Once you hit operating temp, it will shift into 4th. If this is the occurance you are describing, it is normal.

If your tranny is having problems through all of the gears, something is wrong.

 

I have only owned this 4Runner since May, it has 175k but looks and runs great. The OD has always not shifted until it reached operating temp. But this is something new, can only get up to about 30 mph @4000 rpm. After about a mile it will shift and work great the rest of the day, the next morning -same story. I will check the cable and TPS, that makes more since than the transfer case. Thanks for the replies!

 

take a look and smell the fluid on the dipstick. Its probably worth getting the fluid and filter changed

 

The problem seems to be about temperature. Correct me if I am wrong, there are 3 temp sensors in the trans system: T/F, T/M, and Engine Coolant temp sensors. Could one of these be bad?