1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Transmission acting up with TRAC OFF and CEL light on

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by mikeinmass, Sep 18, 2021.

  1. Sep 18, 2021 at 1:16 PM
    #1
    mikeinmass

    mikeinmass [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2020
    Member:
    #18279
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2012 4Runner
    My TRAC off light and CEL came on and I drove just fine for a few days, I reset the code (removing neg cable to battery) and lights were off and no problems for a few days. Then both lights came back on and shortly after my transmission was going in/out no power to the wheels at times.

    Bad enough that I could not drive it to the dealer, thought they would probably be the best suited to diagnose this. Towed to the dealer, and it's going to take a few days till they can even look at it. 2012 4Runner 135k miles, anyone experience this before? Kind of sounds like some sort of electronic sensor issue (I hope) any thoughts appreciated.
     
  2. Sep 18, 2021 at 6:32 PM
    #2
    j cat

    j cat New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2016
    Member:
    #2223
    Messages:
    854
    massachusetts
    spacer lift front 1inch
    the toyota 4runners have to replace all the transmission fluid and filter ...................@100K miles..............
    typically many members have transmission issues when they do not change the total tranny fluid at 125K - 150K miles ..
    dealership will flush out all the bad fluid in the system using a flush device...cost maybe around $400............
     
  3. Sep 19, 2021 at 4:37 AM
    #3
    mikeinmass

    mikeinmass [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2020
    Member:
    #18279
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2012 4Runner
    Thanks for your response. I actually had the dealer do that service at 110k, 25K miles ago.
     
  4. Sep 19, 2021 at 5:41 AM
    #4
    LKN4Runner

    LKN4Runner New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2019
    Member:
    #10954
    Messages:
    37
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Robert
    Lake Norman, NC
    2016 Magnetic Grey Metallic XP 4X4 with 20" Gunner rims and 275/55 R20 Nitto Grappler G2 Tires.
    Check your gas cap. I actually purchaesed a locking gas cap (advertised as a perfect fit for my vehicle) for my 2016 4Runner SR5 Premium. After running a few weeks, my CEL and Trac light both lit up......did the same with the batter disconnect and the lights went away.....a few days later they were back on......finally took to my dealer and after some troubleshooting, determined is was the locking gas cap, which was not providing a good seal. Replaced it wiht the OEM gas cap (which I still had) and now there are no issues. Hope this helps.
     
    Moon Landing likes this.
  5. Sep 19, 2021 at 5:43 AM
    #5
    Moon Landing

    Moon Landing AFFTC 1967/68 Eddies Air Patch

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2021
    Member:
    #19563
    Messages:
    2,171
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jer
    La Quinta, Ca. AKA "The Skillet"
    Vehicle:
    Moon Rock 4Runner
    Nam 68/69
  6. Sep 19, 2021 at 8:11 AM
    #6
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2019
    Member:
    #8982
    Messages:
    2,044
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Christian
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner TRD Offroad Premium
    What code was setting off the CEL?
     
  7. Sep 19, 2021 at 8:45 AM
    #7
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Man I love watching this guy. If my transmission failed today, I would refuse to believe my reality and just insist how bullet proof it is :p

    Even though I kinda joke about refusing to believe a broken transmission, I am half serious. If it is indeed something with the transmission, it seems like it is designed to be very very serviceable. In other words, if the dealer says you need a whole new transmission, it will probably be worth it to get a second opinion from a transmission shop.

    I’d be curious if your lack of power to the wheels is somehow related to that neutral switch he was talking about.

    Good luck and keep us informed of what they find.
     
    Moon Landing[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Sep 19, 2021 at 8:56 AM
    #8
    trlhiker

    trlhiker Lazy Bum

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2019
    Member:
    #11913
    Messages:
    2,267
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    1992 4Runner SR5 V6 4X4
    I 2nd the gas cap. My corolla did this and ended up being a worn our gas cap. Replaced it and no more lights.
     
    Moon Landing likes this.
  9. Sep 19, 2021 at 3:16 PM
    #9
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    It seems like the OP has bigger problems than just a CEL though. His transmission actually stopped transmitting.

    The more I think of it, the more Im betting it’s the neutral safety switch.
     
  10. Sep 20, 2021 at 4:50 AM
    #10
    mikeinmass

    mikeinmass [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2020
    Member:
    #18279
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2012 4Runner
    Thanks for all the responses.. for those with TRAC and CEL on, it seems you did not also experience the transmission issue at the same time, correct?
     
  11. Sep 20, 2021 at 5:35 AM
    #11
    Too Stroked

    Too Stroked New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2021
    Member:
    #23370
    Messages:
    424
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    South shore of Lake Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2021 SR5 Premium
    The reason most dealerships would say that is that they no longer rebuild transmissions themselves. Generally speaking, they're too complex and not enough technicians truly have the ability to do the work - and warranty it. It's far easier to pull the old transmission, slip in a Toyota remanufactured (not rebuilt) unit and warranty the whole thing. And if you saw the way some transmission shops "rebuild" transmissions, you'd be appalled. A remanufactured unit is a far better way to go - if indeed the OP needs a transmission - which I'm not convinced of yet.
     
  12. Sep 20, 2021 at 6:19 AM
    #12
    mikeinmass

    mikeinmass [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2020
    Member:
    #18279
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2012 4Runner
    Well, a very pleasant surprise - dealer just called and said it was my gear selector. They cleaned it and lubricated and now I'm good to go. We'll see.

    Picked it up and seems to be good. Code was P0705 they lubricated the switch and gear swapping linkage. $160.00 .
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2021
    JerryC, glwood54 and Moon Landing like this.
  13. Sep 20, 2021 at 10:31 AM
    #13
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2019
    Member:
    #8982
    Messages:
    2,044
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Christian
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner TRD Offroad Premium
    So it wasn't the gas cap? :rofl:
     
  14. Sep 20, 2021 at 10:54 AM
    #14
    mikeinmass

    mikeinmass [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2020
    Member:
    #18279
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2012 4Runner
    it was not the gas cap.
     
    whippersnapper02 likes this.
  15. Sep 20, 2021 at 6:51 PM
    #15
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    which switch did they lubricate?
     
    Moon Landing likes this.
  16. Sep 20, 2021 at 8:22 PM
    #16
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2019
    Member:
    #10964
    Messages:
    5,536
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gary
    Albuquerque, NM
    Vehicle:
    2019 OR, KDSS, RSG sliders, Eibach shocks, 265/70 Falken Wildpeaks
    Given the symptoms you were describing, I can't believe anyone was seriously offering that as a solution.
     
  17. Sep 20, 2021 at 8:40 PM
    #17
    j cat

    j cat New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2016
    Member:
    #2223
    Messages:
    854
    massachusetts
    spacer lift front 1inch
    probably the gear switching could be cleaned up...and the linkage shifting components....

    switch.jpg
     
    Too Stroked likes this.
  18. Sep 21, 2021 at 3:50 AM
    #18
    Too Stroked

    Too Stroked New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2021
    Member:
    #23370
    Messages:
    424
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    South shore of Lake Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2021 SR5 Premium
    Up here in the rust belt, I keep mine well coated with Fluid Film to prevent corrosion. Another common symptom that this bad boy is going bad is the shifter getting hard to move.
     
  19. Sep 21, 2021 at 8:25 AM
    #19
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2021
    Member:
    #20442
    Messages:
    2,838
    Gender:
    Male
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5
    265-70-17 Ridge Grapplers, TRD Pro rims, 3M precut bra, N-Fab nerf/steps
    I believe that switch is a common failure point.
     
  20. Sep 22, 2021 at 8:51 AM
    #20
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    is that picture the infamous neutral safety switch?
     
  21. Sep 24, 2021 at 12:29 PM
    #21
    mikeinmass

    mikeinmass [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2020
    Member:
    #18279
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2012 4Runner
    This is the part Yes -
    Switch Assembly, Neutral Start - Toyota (84540-35061)
     
    j cat likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top