4 runner transmission

[michaelharrisco]

I've searched a bit and haven't found much so figured I'd post up to see if anyone has any ideas.
Here is what is going on:
2000 4 Runner with 190k miles auto trans seems to be slipping a bit in 4th gear if going up a hill or
if accelerating. I feel 1-3 thuds / slips then it will be fine. Recently put new tranny filter and fluid in so I thought this would help, but seems the same / worse.

Shifting is smooth and all gears are good. It does not happen all the time.

Is this signs of the tranny going out? Anything else I should check / try or should I get ready for a tranny replacement?

 

[coloradobound]

Almost wonder if it could get torque convertor slipping/going out under load.

 

[michaelharrisco]

Interesting... Any ideas on how to test that or determine if that is cause?

I'm no expert, but I find it weird that all gears are good and shifting seems great.

 

[ken_79-fj40]

Sounds like it could just be the torque converter unlocking once the load gets to a certain point. Our old 00 4runner and my 96 Tacoma (same tranny) do that but there's no clunking. I have a friend who's GF had a 98 4Runner that was clunking occasionally and then it left her stranded with a broken flexplate a few months later. $50 used part fixed it but it was a lot of labor.

 

[3rdgen]

Interesting... Any ideas on how to test that or determine if that is cause?

I'm no expert, but I find it weird that all gears are good and shifting seems great.

I have a 99 4runner and my TC locks up at 46 mph and rpms drop to about 1600rpm. While driving keep steady pressure on the gas and start to apply gentle pressure to the brake this will unlock your TC and might reproduce the issue you are having.

Also, for whatever reason, the 2001 and 2002 transmissions were notorious for having issue with 4th gear and would need to get rebuilt. Im not knowledgeable with transmission components but I think it was something with a planetary gear....

Depending on the manufacture date for your 2000 there is a possibility that it could have an trans associated with the 01s and 02s.

 

[TallCanDan]

I have a 99 4runner and my TC locks up at 46 mph and rpms drop to about 1600rpm. While driving keep steady pressure on the gas and start to apply gentle pressure to the brake this will unlock your TC and might reproduce the issue you are having.

Depending on gearing and/ or tire size the OP's might be at a different mph.

OP: Do you have an Overdrive button? This could be used as well to replicate the issue for diagnosis. In case you are unfamiliar, the torque converter unlocking will seem like the vehicle is downshifting, but the rpm's won't be as high as if it downshifted to third. If this is the extent of what you're experiencing, maybe the clunk is u joints. Have you checked them out?

Danny

 

[Bawlzdeep]

Add another qt of fluid and test. You can't hurt a trans by overfilling it. It's just gonna puke out what it doesn't need. What fluid are you using?

 

[3rdgen]

Add another qt of fluid and test. You can't hurt a trans by overfilling it. It's just gonna puke out what it doesn't need. What fluid are you using?

You can overheat the teams by over filling. Last I checked, overheating a trans is bad.