2000 5 spd transmission question

Hello all,

Love the forum and have been reading through a bunch of the threads. Very impressed with the amount of knowledge and helpful members offering suggestions and repair options. I'm hoping for some insight from the vast knowledge base from all the long time 4runner gurus.

I have a 2000 V6 SR5 4Runner with the 5 spd manual transmission. I love this truck!! I bought it off original owner (a fellow dog rescue friend of mine) approx 3.5 years ago. At the time, truck had 211K on it. The truck currently has 306k. It has been extremely reliable and fun to drive. It developed a bad valve cover leak over the summer, so I had that fixed as well as having the timing belt/water pump replaced, and a general tune up at 297 K. Work was done by an acquaintance who is a certified Toyota mechanic, and gave me a really nice deal. he pointed out that the differential was leaking. We changed the fluid, but he said there was metallic debris present, and that the diff was failing. He cannot work on that from home, so when it finally started whirling and howling, I had it rebuilt about 3 weeks ago at a local tranny shop.

I have put about 800 miles on it since then, and I think there is something else going on now. I was driving back from a rescue event 120 miles away, and I started to hear a roar from under the truck. The best way to describe it is the sound that you get is when you drive over "rumble strips" when you are going along a rural Hwy, and the rumble strips let you know you are approaching a stop light. (It is very different from the "differential howl" I would hear when I let off the gas. This noise was constant)

The truck continued to shift properly, but there was considerable noise and vibration. It was a very steady drone type sound, similar to the rumble strips. The gear shift had vibration, and I could also feel a vibration from the gas pedal.

I was fortunate enough to make it home with my 3 foster german shepherds, but I do not want to drive it any long distance at this point. I plan on taking it to a tranny shop on friday to be looked at.

Any suggestions or indications of what may be wrong would be greatly appreciated. I know that most times, the gearheads and mechanics that participate and lend their expertise on these forums are a lot more knowledgeable than mechanics that deal with a multitude of different mfg/model vehicles. Any insight will be greatly appreciated. If anyone has any suggestions, I can pass it along. The tranny shop says they will try to repair rather than replace if possible

However, at 306, is it more realistic to get a used or reman tranny? i have not even thought about trying to find a cost for a new tranny from toyota dealer

Thank you in advance!

Veronica

 

Hi Veronica,
I read your post and had to sign up and respond to your question. I have a 99' 4Runner (5-speed also) with 203K miles, owned it for almost 10 years now. I had the EXACT same problem last summer, I would bet $100 it's the center U-joint going bad. Mine would make the exact same noise you described at around 60mph and get worse the faster I drove it. I bought a U-joint for like $25, took off the drive shaft myself and had my mechanic install the U-joint for like $40 labor. There are grease fittings on all 3 U-joints, most people don't even know to grease them. (I didn't) With the miles on yours, I'd say you are due for a new one. Also, there's no need to replace all three, 99% chance it's only one making noise. Don't let a mechanic rip you off! (I'd stay away from dealerships too). Good luck!

Jason