trans issues
 

ok, im having an issue with the auto trans in my 99 4Runner. Its got 221k miles on it, newer fluid but the issue is when driving at a faster speed (40 mph at least) and you come to a complete stop quickly it seems like the trans goes into neutral instead of first. it just revs up and doesnt move, i have to either put it in park and back into gear or i have to put it in L, but when i do that it slams into gear. when starting normally it drives fine. the fluid smelled a little burnt so i replaced it with new fluid and lucas trans stuff, hoping it would fix it but it didnt do anything... im thinking maybe its a shift solenoid or something but im wondering if anyone else has had this problem? any help would be greatly appreciated.

bueller......... bueller.........

Do you have a check engine light? Sounds like a solenoid issue. It's not going into neutral, it's sticking in 4th and not shifting back down to first. Did you flush all the fluid or just a drain and fill? At this point if a solenoid has gone out it probably won't make a difference anyway. I've never dealt with this issue on my truck but from what I've read it seems to be 50/50 changing solenoid will fix it.

When you changed the fluid it didn't look milky pink did it??

nope, the radiator did go bad but thats been replaced so no more coolant in the trans fluid. just did a drain and fill.

A drain and fill is not going to get all the coolant/water out of the trans. You need to go to a shop and have them run the trans flush pump to remove the fluid completely and replace it. You may need to have them keep doing this until they do not see any more coolant mixed with the fluid coming out.

Oh, so you already had the milkshake. You didn't mention that. How long/many miles ago?

I think after the milkshake, once the solenoids start acting up your trans may be done. I think the water from the initial shake and leftovers you can't ever totally get out cause rust or other issues in the solenoids and possibly valve body. I don't think it's worth spending hundreds on new parts when you can get a junk yard trans for that much or spend around 12-1500 for a reman from a dealer.

i work at a shop.. im not gonna put the trans under pressure of a flush machine with that many miles.. i drained and filled it at least twenty times when i replaced the radiator, also replaced the filter. i made sure the old fluid was out.

it was probably 5k miles ago or so... it was fine for a while and it just started doing it.