BigBallsMcFalls

I goofed, I was describing an integrated one, wrong version

finally got home and I have the pdf's open.

these are a340e or 343 and the transfer case bolts to the back and
has it's own fluid. side mount 340h is integrated with tranny and uses atf fluid

yup I messed up

could be the transfer neutral detection switch or circuit

Swimmerboy2112

iTrader: (2)

Okay no worries!

We all mess up! Rock on my man!

Lets4RunIt

Proof this forum is great -
1) Someone admitting they are wrong and taking it in stride.
2) Yet another answer leading me to believe it isn't the tranny.

Love it.

She's at Toyota now this morning. Place your bets on the diagnosis and come back later for the update. Here's hoping it's a solenoid/neutral circuit problem!

SPARKS89

iTrader: (1)

Not saying anybody is wrong and I'm certainly not the one to say I know more than anybody else about transmissions, but if the transfer case is stuck in neutral, why did he have to put the transmission in gear to get any movement out of the truck? If the transfer case was in neutral the truck would move regardless of what gear the transmission was in, right? Maybe I'm just confused and someone can clarify that for me.

BigBallsMcFalls

anyhow I still think it is the tranny

I have not heard of a 4runner transfer case problem other than
the actuator dies and it won't go into or out of 2wd/4wd. but no movement at all ?

this is exactly what post-milkshake trannies do eventually. they croak and the
first few symptoms are rough shifts to reverse (a slam) and/or when coming
to a stop it goes to neutral and won't come out unless you shift to 1

have it diagnosed and let us know what it really was please

Lets4RunIt

Survey says : Transmission is shot. Awaiting to hear specifics, but Toyota is saying "You need a new trans." Great. Any leads/advice/suggestions?

BigBallsMcFalls

I had mine gutted, sandblasted, powdercoated, rebuilt by a person who
builds race car transmissions...on the extreme cheap, $1700.00 bucks
and the thing is as good as the day it came off the floor
(got a deal on labor for sure)


new torque converter, brakes, clutches, bands, seals, solenoids, filter,
pan and tube, [kept transfer case of course] 3 long test drives and
2 subsequent drops to fine tune it, then released back to me. I approve

a) find a used one, they do exist but it is a crap shoot
b) have a 100% rebuild, but seek a known tranny expert and don't
randomly pick a place
c) weigh your options, it's gonna cost $2500 bucks or so...is it worth it to ya ?

Swimmerboy2112

iTrader: (2)

Bummer. Sounds like the milkshake got ya!

There are often guys on here and other forums that part out 3rd gen 4Runners. If you have another vehicle to drive i'd try and see what comes up on here. Post in the wanted section too see if that gets you any results. The auto trans aren't hard to remove and replace. You can do it yourself, it may take a bit of time if you haven't done it before, but no, it's not impossible.

MLiebal

It is a big job to replace the tranny. You do need a very complete set of tools, including swivels and extra extensions. Some big bolts so 1/2 drive required. You do have to take the shifter console apart in the vehicle. Disconnect a lot of connectors. Use a tranny jack. With 4wd the transfer case hangs off of the tranny, so that makes removing the tranny interesting. I'm still holding out for you that it is the flexplate. Toyota techs told me it was my tranny too. I bought a used tranny, but when I removed mine, I saw the flex plate broken.

BigBallsMcFalls

flexplate does not interfere with drive

it is designed to absorb vibrations (it is a flywheel)
it has teeth that the starter can engage
if it breaks it make ticking sounds and can shatter the housing, but
not cause the symptoms OP describes

flexplates do crack when tolerances are off and it does so much
work in it's lifetime 'flexing' and smoothing out, that it eventually does
crack, but it will never prevent forward movement unless it 'grenades'
and then you'd really know it

MLiebal

Gee thanks BBMcfalls for clarification!
I did not know that my cracked flexplate that broke would allow the truck to still drive!!
The other 20 people who have had similar issues, they did not know their trucks would still drive. Not!
Seriously, they do break (not grenade). And it separate the engine crankshaft from the tranny (inner bolt circle engine, outer tranny toque converter, on the flexplate). Been there, done that on multiple vehicles. Breaks into a interesting looking star pattern around the inner bolts to the cutout holes.
So in my case, driving around a curve, let off the gas, when I came back on the gas, no more powered movement, like in neutral, as OP.
OP has not mentioned whether vehicle still starts normally. That could be the deciding factor. If starter spins but engine does not turn, then most likely the flexplate is broken.

Lets4RunIt

Vehicle starts as it should -- movement in any directions, seems to be the problem.

MLiebal

Sorry for you Lets. Was hoping you could get away a little easier with it being a broken flexplate.
Best of luck.