Hello Scotty,
Your my morning coffee, thanks for all the great advice. I have a 1999 toyota 4runner, 240,000, auto trans, 2WD. The thing runs like a top. However, I am having a small issue with the transmission only during the winter cold months. Until it warms up is will not shift out of 2nd gear until the rpms are at 2000+ for a bit and then it will shift. Once the car is warm it has no issue. In the summer hot months, no issue. I keep the trans. fluid changed every 50,000 (not flushed) and of course regular maintenance. I do have a great mechanic which only works on toyota and lexus and really haven't asked him yet. I wanted your take on it first. Could it be something as simple as a shift solenoid? I have always gotten lots of miles out of my vehicles , which I take great care of. This toyota was bought after my explorer with 494,000 finally gave up the ghost. However, now I own this 4runner which I paid 3000.00 3 yrs ago and a lexus GX for the wife. So I don't normally have any car issues.
thanks for the advise and keep up the great work...
Ron
Did it start doing that recently, or are you only just now noticing it? Some cars delay upshifts when they're cold so the engine warms up quicker to reduce emissions. My Ranger is the same age as your 4-Runner and it will wait to shift from 3rd into Overdrive 4th when I'm getting on the highway on a cold night. It will wait until I'm doing 60-65 to do anything, after about a minute, it does it. My old '94 540i would do the same thing and hang out in 2rd gear a little longer before upshifting. That car had a remanufactured tranny put a year before I got it.
How is the ATF level? What type of fluid did you use?
The ATF level is normal.
I have my mechanic use toyota brand which he used regularly since he only works on toyota-lexus.
This started to happen last winter. When it was cold I really press on the gas and get it over 2200 RPM it will shift. But again once it warms up or even in the summer, it doesn't do it. This did not happen previously, that's why I suspected maybe a shift solenoid. Really its not that big of a deal. I just thought if I could get it simply fixed I would as this car will outlast me and I love to drive it.
Any other suggestions would be helpful....I also thought of just having the pan dropped and new fluid and filter changed again, maybe they would see something them.
thoughts??
Take the car to a transmission shop and have them test it.
I am going to my toyota mechanic for regular service here in the next week or so....They can test it there....thanks for all your suggestions...fingers crossed