fordman84

I have a 1999 4runner v6 that is giving me a "check transmission" light (orange one).


I drove about 20 miles this morning and then it came on. After 2 hours I went out in the daylight and I don't see any foaming, the ATF fluid is redish/brown and not too runny, and the radiator overflow is red but Ithink that is from the Toyota house maintenance we did 15k miles ago when they replaced the water pump. Nothing is foamed up like I would expect when the two fluids get mixed.

Anyone think it is safe/best to fire it up and see if it then gets foamy/frothy? What OBD code would I be looking for if this is the problem? It is odd to me that it isn't a check engine light, but a check transmission light.

Shawn6string

Are you talking about foamy milkshake as in you might have water in your tranny? If you have water you might want to change the fluid immediately. Hopefully the tranny isnt ruined. That might explain why the tranny light is coming on instead of the check engine light.

I had one with water in it and it looked like the milkshake you are talkin about. The tranny is in the junk pile now. If it is, dont drive it anymore untill you change it. Question is where is the water coming from?

brian2sun

If the fluid doesn't have a milkshake consistency in either the tranny, the radiator or both, then it's almost surely not the "strawberry milkshake". However, I would have it towed to a shop and have them see what is wrong with the tranny. I would have it towed (I have AAA so it would be free anyways) so you don't do any unneccesary damage.

fordman84

Ok, so yesterday afternoon I went out after the truck had set for 2.5 hours, and the light came on and stayed on the second the car started. I ran through all the checks and couldn't find anything wrong. Nothing milky/frothy, no strange smells, and I even did the taste test and nothing sweet. That is a taste I really hate though, been there before but nothing prepares you for THAT taste.

So I got the 4runner to my house and I went and got an OBD tester today. I'll get home and pull the codes, but I'm wondering if it is normal for the light not to have gone off after 2 hours of cooling down. Yesterday morning it was around 30 degrees outside, so should be plenty cool. I was able to open the radiator without feeling much heat.

The only time I have ever had any slipping were the two times my battery died. Both times, right after installing the new battery I couldn't go forward. The engine would rev and I would just sorta roll a tiny bit, like I had it in 4 low with a second t-case grannied in. Once I put it n reverse though it would go, and then forward would work. The last time that happened was about 3 years ago, nothing else has ever been an issue...no slip/grind/nothing.

Oh well, I'll get the codes and see what it says.