Transmission problem

[BfreemanNH]

97 4Runner, 225,000K, Automatic.

last year, my radiator failed with a breach in the core between the cooling system and the transmission oil. I had it towed to Toyota, replaced the radiator and had them flush the transmission system twice. they claimed to have pumped 26 quarts of fluid to clean it out.

After about 4-5k miles, I am starting to experience a weird problem. The trans seems to work fine around town. Always shifts fine and smooth, but three times now after hitting above 50 MPH, the truck will act like it is in neutral when I try to take off from a stop. If I shift through the gears and put it back into drive, it will go just fine and continue to operate normally.

I took the truck to VIP and had them exchange 10 more quarts. I still experienced this issue one more time after that. I don't leave town that often and this has only happened about three times in the last couple of months.

Any clue what might be going on? Torque converter possibly?

[kball]

I've read about this problem before a few times. I believe it is caused by a failed transmission solenoid. There are three of them. You have to remove the pan to change them. They should throw a code though and give you a check engine light. Do you have a CEL?

[jetwhine]

BfreemanNH,

I agree with kball. You might have one of the shifting solenoids going bad. It sounds like it is not shifting down from your high gear into low at a stop light/sign. And therefore appearing like it is in neutral, and therefore shifting it yourself you get it back in sync.

[BfreemanNH]

Originally Posted by kball

I've read about this problem before a few times. I believe it is caused by a failed transmission solenoid. There are three of them. You have to remove the pan to change them. They should throw a code though and give you a check engine light. Do you have a CEL?

Thanks for the reply guys.
Thats great news, your certainly saying what I want to hear. When I spoke to AAmco about this I was told some crap about the contamination of the coolant was degrading some clutch plates and that the transmission was on it's way out and needed to be replaced. CEL? not sure what that is. I do not yet have a check engine light. I'm sure I can handle changing the solenoids, are they expensive? Can the dealer test them without a check engine light? Should I just replace them all? Would it be best to wait and see how this problem progresses and if a light presents itself?

[kball]

CEL = check engine light, sorry bout that

That crap they told you isn't exactly crap. That's what happens when ethelyene glycol gets into a transmission. That stuff attacks the clutches and seals and can ruin the trans quickly. This trans cooler problem is getting more frequent as all the 4runners get older. I read about this happening all the time now. Do a search for Pink milkshake, Strawberry milkshake or pepto bismal trans failures and see what comes up.

I would check the trans fluid and make sure everything looks good. Especially that it looks clean with no contamination left overs. Maybe go to Autozone or somewhere to have the codes read. Even though there's no light on there may still be a code. It may have not been thrown enough times to set off the light yet.