1999 4 Runner Transmission

[jdmidwest]

I recently purchased a used 99 4 Runner with 190000 miles for my daily driver. Everything is tight and it runs great. No fluid leaks. Transmission shifts smooth. When I pulled the dipstick on the tranny yesterday, the oil looks like used motor oil. Should I leave it alone as everything is shifting smooth or should I change it and risk the fresh fluid causing damage and resulting in a transmission repair. Nice feature on the Toyota is that they have a transmission drain plug, it is a shame no former owner took advantage of it.

[crappiefisherman]

Being it has a drain plug it probably has a screen instead of a filter.I would science this out. If it has a screen Id just drain the pan and refill.Remember you arent getting out near all the fluid doing this , as the torque convertor holds a lot of fluid .Remember also a screen doest always look like a window screen either, sometimes its wrapped in a metal contraption.By screen I also mean not a felt filter.I hope im clearer on this then your fluid.If this vehicle hasnt been maintained in 190000 miles this will probably be just the beginings of problems anyway.Im sure the price was right or you would have checked simple maint items ahead of time.If the price was cheap enough id drive it till the wheels fell off, no since being concerned after this many miles.....................

[brownieman]

Drain plugs are sweet...don't know why all models don't have them, on second thought, yeah I do, lol.

Having worked in a garage for several years my advise...if the fluid smells and appears to be burnt but still shifting good just change the fluid only. Sometimes I have seen changing the filter lead to other problems...loosens up debris or something, don't really know. Be sure they put the proper fluid in it.

The old saying 'If it aint broke don't fix it' holds alot of merit.

[mhall02]

Believe it or not the automatic transmission in the 4Runner is the same automatic in the Jeep Cherokee (not the Grand) with the straight 6, the AW-4. I know cause I have one. It is just a screen, which I have never changed, but do drain and refill every 30,000 miles. You will get about 2.5 quarts out, use Dexcon Mercon fluid only. Maybe do it once, wait a week, and do it again if the fuid is pretty dirty.

[strangercreek]

JD, I agree that just draining and refilling does not change all of the fluid but it might help "refresh" things a bit. A full transmission flush will change all of it but I am not sure at 190,000, something might decide to stop working afterwards. I would confirm that it is actual transmission fluid before doing a drain/refill (make sure someone hasn't actually put motor oil in it).

Other than that the only answer I have is that even if you have to make transmission repairs you have a great vehicle. I have seen so many Toyotas run forever. I've had several domestics that all needed major repairs at 50-60k. My current 05 Tacoma has 140k and I haven't done anything but maintain it and replace a door lock assembly (I am in and out of the truck alot) and a glitch with the A/C (it has a GM/Delco AC system so go figure). It runs like it did when I bought it.

[jdmidwest]

Its transmission fluid, there is a red tinge to it. No burnt smell, just dirty.

I bought a 94 Blazer a few years back and started going thru it, replacing all the fluids, filters, etc. I changed out the differential and transfer case fluids along with the brake and power steering. It had 130000 on it. 2 weeks later the tranny started slipping and I ended up with a transmission rebuild. Some have told me that the detergents in the fresh fluid loosened up parts that made it shoot craps. I bought a 96 Blazer 4 years ago with 114000 on it and the transmission went out on it at 130000 also without fresh fluid.

I think maint. schedules are drawn up for a reason. Other fluids break down over time and need to be replaced just like the motor oil. Funny thing is, most stop at changing the oil and forget about the rest. This guy was the third owner of this vehicle and he supplied me with the maint. records on it for the last 2 years he owned it. Oil changes every 3000 like clockwork, nothing else except for a brake job and no other maint. But the rig is clean and tight, drives like it just came off the showroom floor. Everything works and the body is straight. Interior in good shape. I have been getting 20+ mpg and it has not had a tune up in 30k for sure. I pulled out the air filter and choked on the dust that fell out of it. Replacing it gained 2 mpg so far.

[strangercreek]

sounds like you will get some good use out of it. I consistently get 20+mpg in my truck (average between city and highway) and have seen 21on highway trips several times

[jdmidwest]

Toyota gets knocked around about being "Foreign Made" but mine was made in the same country as most GM Trucks, Canada. At least Toyota is not standing at Congress's doorstep looking for some free cheese to make it thru tough times.

I bought it used and contacted Toyota for an Owners Manual, they shipped me one for free. When you call for a part, the dealer needs your VIN number to get the correct part and to track what you needed. They have excellent customer service, if you need it.

I have owned Mazda's in the past without problems, both were purchased new. I have owned a Chevy truck new, it was bought back by GM and replaced by my current one within the first 3 months because of all the problems I had with it. The one I own now had several factory throw out bearings replaced under warranty till they replaced the last one and they thought I was paying for it. I reminded the dealer that it had been only 6 months since the last one was replaced and they warrantied it instead with slightly over 36k. That one lasted another 200000+ miles. Other than the early problems, it was a good truck and performed well. The 2 Blazers were disasters, once they passed 100000 miles everything fell apart. Transmissions, ball joints, digital dashes, injection units, radiators, and fuel pumps all failed with major repair bills. They were purchased used.

[strangercreek]

I think the majority of the Toyota trucks are built (and mostly designed) in the states now. Mine was built in Sacramento, so an American got paid to build it, spent their paycheck in the U.S., and paid taxes in the U.S. That is how I look at it.

When Toyota came to Nascar, Darrell Waltrip made a good point at Daytona last year. They were the only ones representing a car that was built in the U.S. (the Camry) I know all the race cars are similar and built in the U.S. but they are still representing a brand/nameplate. The Chevy, Ford, and Dodge models were all made in Canada and Mexico at that time (even though that might have changed by now).