Delayed Engagement

Hi all! I am brand new to this group and really searching for some answers. I have a new-to-me 2012 4runner that I bought 7 months ago at 79k miles. I have had no issues with her until the last week or so. There is a significant delayed engagement when shifting from park to drive, where I let my foot off the brake and it sits, until it lunges into gear and throws the car forward. After I am in gear I have no issues when driving or putting back into reverse or park. This is extremely intermittent and has become more frequent in the last few days. I just had my car in the shop for an oil change and asked them to check tranny fluid, everything was brand new (from the dealership, assuming) and clean, they also drove it but did not experience the issue. I am at a loss of what it could be!

 

Delayed Engagement? Obviously your 4Runner has commitment issues.

 

I don't think you spent enough money on that ring!
Having said that, there are many things that could be going on here. The shaft system could be jammed or not properly lubricated. If you hear weird noises like cracks or the vehicle jerks a little, then get the whole transfer case/shaft/diff systems checked carefully and see where the issues are. If you are able to take some pictures of everything underneath, post them here. I am sure someone will spot something and help you. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I saw somewhere on here that the 4wd shifter might not be engaged fully or got bumped, so I shifted from rwd to 4wd and everything went seamlessly. No cracks or thuds heard when driving at all, only when shifting out of park to drive! I use my ebrake all the time when parking as well to keep pressure off when parked.

 

Maybe low on fluid? My dad has a 01 xterra when he cold starts it he lets it warm up 5-10 mins and still from reverse to drive he has like a 10 second delay. But he’ll drop it down to 1 and it will engage instantly or 2.

he basically loves the truck and doesn’t want to get the transmission looked at or fixed, he’s retired and and has the attitude of I don’t care lol aslong as it works for him.

but I would check fluid level. Do you know the procedure for a drain and fill? Plenty of YouTube videos.

also could scan vehicle to see if there are any pending codes, like a drive solenoid getting sticky or valve body

 

When I had it in the shop less than a week ago I asked them to look at fluid for me, said it was full, clean, and looked recently serviced! I really only have issues from Park to Drive, drive to reverse and back to park is seamless, no delay or jump.

 

If the fluid was clean and new, then it’s possible the previous owner may have been experiencing the same issue. Fluid got changed, didn’t correct problem, so they sold it. Just a theory.

 

I never had this issue until last week, from November-last week it was completely fine, no delay or anything!

 

Welcome to the forum.

Give this thread a little time. It’s possible someone will have information you can use. My only suggestion is to find a local and trusted Toyota mechanic and lean on them. If you’re in the N. Houston/Woodlands/Conroe area I know a guy. Good luck.

 

Brainstorming here… is the D indicator on when you reverse and put it in D or N… could be a case of neural safety switch? It’s common isn’t it? I heard something about this possibly

Edit, or the other way around it still shows like P or R or N while you have it in D then, it jumps into D and on dash it changes to D ?

 

Welcome

 

Maybe too simple .. maybe try spray lubing the shift linkage
This is a video that I used. You have to crawl underneath and it’s on the side of the transmission pan. It’s worth a try. I’m sorry that you’re going through that

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XZkAqv9Qz6U&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD

 

Thanks again for all the suggestions! The gear indicator flips through all gears like normal, no delay in the indicators at all. I get it from park to Drive, indicator says D, I sit for a sec idling, take foot off the brake or give some gas and it launches forward into gear im assuming. The indicator never has changed or been delayed at all. There are no dash lights on either that would make me aware of any issues.

 

Welcome