ok im not trying to be a "reposter" but i honestly searched and searched and could not find the answer to my simple, probably too ignorant, question. I searched and found out what the strawberry milkshake is. however, i couldnt find...how is it diagnosed? is there certain places to check? how do you know if it's about to happen? are you gonna get your first hint at the A/T Temp light? or is there something i can look for now, and address it if it looks like its about to happen? thank you

 

Not really, just need to check your AT fluid periodically.

If your AT TEMP light EVER comes on, even just for a short period, you need to take action to get the temp down, change the fluid ASAP, and install an aux tranny cooler.

 

ok thank you very much

 

do you know of any good aux trans cooler for the 3rd gen 4Runner?

 

They aren't vehicle specific, just another little radiator, you come out of the factory tranny cooler (in the main radiator), into the aux cooler, then out of that back into the tranny where the normal cooler attached. Really simple install.

 

sweet know of any write ups... i am about to search for one but just asking.

 

whats the strawberry milkshake problem?

 

i figured it out... found a write up on installing the trans cooler

 

the strawberry milkshake is when the auto tranny fluid mixes with the engine coolant. screws up your tranny

 

what causes this to happen... arent the engine coolant and tranny fluid separate? what can be done to prevent this if it has not already happened?

 

yeah see thats what i was wonderin. it has to do with the fact that your tranny cooler and engine cooler are in the radiator just in seperate parts and somehow it can get old and those parts can mix. im not really sure but its somethin like that. and you can prevent it by getting a seperate tranny cooler, therefore seperating the 2 completely

 

i see... makes some sense i guess... well i am hoping to tackle this hopefully within the next two weeks.

not likely thoug...just got done with shoulder surgery, and baby girl due in less than 3 weeks.

 

congratulations! yeah dont rush it, your probably fine. im still in the dark on most details but would like to get it done soon. check a wrecking yard, i read that some rigs came stock with aux tranny coolers. it'll just be a small radiator, on the regular radiator

 

okay thanks... i found that they are not too expensive brand new and i found some good write ups for installing them. junk yards around here are stingy with parts. always wanting to just sell the entire car and not part it out.