1998 4Runner auto trans did something weird.

Got in my 1998 4Runner today and was driving down the road in overdrive. And all of a sudden the trans downshifted twice and wouldn’t shift back up. Drove about a half mile Stopped turned around and trans shifted fine after that so went ahead and went to the store and it didn’t do it again. Just wondering what would’ve caused that to happen. The 4Runner has 354,000 miles I bought it from the original owner and he has maintained it very well since he bought it new with all service receipts since day one of purchase.

 

Check the fluid level. That causes lots of shifting issues. Remember hot and cold are different levels.

Other than that...I would just baby it. These things don't last forever. If you really want to get into it a little more, you could drop the transmission pan to see if there is any noticeable debris or anything attached to the magnets. I'll bet the internal filter has never been changed, so you could do that.

There are servos that go bad...but they can be pricey for good ones and they will throw a code I think when they don't work right.

 

Doesn’t the 3rd. Gen just have a screen?

 

It’s got a couple magnets, I replaced my screen, and resealed the pan with Toyota goop.....About twenty years ago...

 

Thanks for the info. I’ve already drained and replaced the fluid to the correct levels. and the guy had the trans serviced at Toyota about 3 weeks before I got it I haven’t put but maybe 500 miles on it since I’ve owned it. It didn’t really seem like a trans problem as it is shifting perfectly no slipping no hard shifts nothing like that. It was almost like an electrical component had a malfunction. It was definitely weird. But I will pull the pan and check everything out tho for sure.

 

Yeah. It's called a filter by Toyota, I believe. But it's a metal screen in a metal housing.

The thing is not cleanable. Timmy has a great vid showing them trying to clean one and then cutting it open and it was still full of debris.