02 4-runner with auto transmission problems?

[meatloaf]

My wife's 02 4-runner seems to be having, mainly overdrive, tranny problems... Sometimes when she starts it up in the mornings, it takes it a few seconds for gears (forward/reverse) to engage. I also noticed yesterday that rpms (around 3.5K) were high while cruising at 40-50 mph... I would let off the accelerator and rpm's would go back down to around 2K. Seems to be shifting fine though. We bought this car with 89,000 miles so I do not know the history on it, it has 109,000 miles on it now. I have not changed out the fluids or done any type of tranny maintenance yet; thought I'd post here before doing anything.

Any thoughts???

Thansk,
Luis

 

[raydouble]

First thing I would do is check the fluid level and condition of....

 

[meatloaf]

First thing I would do is check the fluid level and condition of....

Thanks RayD

Fluid level is fine... How would I know what kind of condition the fluid is in other than it still looks red-ish? I will go ahead and change it sometime this weekend.

ML

 

[raydouble]

If it smells burnt, no matter the color......it's ready to go...

If yours is like mine at around 100,000 miles it will be about halfway between red and black.....orangish brownish and burnt smelling.

 

[meatloaf]

Would it matter if I use an Autozone filter or should I buy oem?

 

[raydouble]

Would it matter if I use an Autozone filter or should I buy oem?

I prefer OEM, but I say that for everything

I know for me, the trans isn't where I'm interested in saving 10-15 dollars.....

The OEM filter is a mesh screen and is cleanable....AFAIK the Toyota techs at my buddies dealership don't replace it unless it is too far deteriorated. (someone was mentioning little gaskets where it seals against the valve body that can go bad)

 

[meatloaf]

I prefer OEM, but I say that for everything

I know for me, the trans isn't where I'm interested in saving 10-15 dollars.....

The OEM filter is a mesh screen and is cleanable....AFAIK the Toyota techs at my buddies dealership don't replace it unless it is too far deteriorated. (someone was mentioning little gaskets where it seals against the valve body that can go bad)

Thanks Ray,

I talked to CDan at American Toyota and he said the same thing. so I just cleaned out the filter. Changed tranny fluid - the old one was probably the original, looked/smelled somewhat burnt, no metal shavings on the magnets, etc. It seems to be shifting good now, no more slipping when the powertrain is still cool.

One thing on the magnets though, I forgot to put them back in. I am thinking of just sticking them on on the outside of the pan so I won't have to pull everything back out. I know they are just there to collect metal shavings so putting them on the outside should be ok, correct?

TIA,
Luis

 

[raydouble]

One thing on the magnets though, I forgot to put them back in. I am thinking of just sticking them on on the outside of the pan so I won't have to pull everything back out. I know they are just there to collect metal shavings so putting them on the outside should be ok, correct?

TIA,
Luis

Mmmmm......that is a tough one....I don't think they will collect much of anything on the outside of the pan.

I think I would just plan on doing a short interval since you don't really get all the fluid out of tranny/torque converter/lines when you just drain it.

Maybe like 15,000-20,000 miles and do it again?

Hard call.

 

[Duane]

Thanks Ray,

It seems to be shifting good now, no more slipping when the powertrain is still cool.

TIA,
Luis

Is your transmission still working well for ya?

 

[meatloaf]

Is your transmission still working well for ya?

Hey Duane,

Yes, so far, the tranny has been working good... I may have been that the tranny fluid had never been changed before.

Peace,
ML