I just bought an '86 4Runner down in N.C. from a small car dealership (nice people). Anyway, the transmission shifts hard from 1st into...3rd or 4th gear. It misses a gear or something because it takes me forever to accelerate up to 55 mph. Also, going 35mph up a hill isn't fun either, but when I take my foot off the gas and then stomp on it the transmission will down shift for a little while, then shift up, miss a gear, and I am going 35 mph again. From reading this forum I have learned that it most likely could be the throttle linkage, which is loose, or the overdrive solenoid. Am I on the right track? Where do I find one of these solenoids? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Aaron.

 

Let's start at the beginning, how many miles? Is the fluid at the right level? Is it nice and red or more brown and smell burnt? There are solenoids inside the transmission. But the problem could be most anything. I would drop the pan and see what's laying in the bottom. If you find lots of grinding and pieces, the AT is toast and time for a rebuild. If you find a clean pan, then I think it's time for a good transmission shop. Not sure on an 86, but some of the newer ATs are electronically controled, so if your's is, it may be a bad wire or something. But with an 86, my guess is it's rebuild time.

Another thought, what happens when you shift it manually? Do you get 2nd?

 

I checked the auto fluid level, while the truck was running, and it was a deep red/brownish color so I had the tranny flushed and filled with new fluid. The engine has 20k but the tranny could be original which means 292,000. Time for a rebuild, eh? Thanks. Aaron.