What's going to happen to my car? Rick?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I have a 1990 Toytoa 4Runner with 290K miles on it. I have had it for maybe 7 or 8 years and it has been a champ. When I first got it, it would sometimes pop out of first gear. Maybe once every 3 months. This has gradually progressed to popping out of first gear about 3 or 4 times each time I drive it. When it pops out of gear, I just put it back in first and it won’t pop out twice in a row. Most of the time, it likes to pop out of first after I have been on the freeway for a while and then come to a stop. It doesn’t do it so much when I am driving around town and shifting a lot between first, second and third.

So my questions are:

1.) What is going to happen eventually? Will my transmission totally clunk out some day and leave me stranded somewhere? Or will I always be able to just put it in second and make my way home?

2.) My power steering fluid is leaking out and I have to top it off regularly - should I pay to have the pump replaced or is my car currently not worth putting even $500 into?

3.) Why is it doing this? Why does it do it more when coming off the freeway? Is there some way that I can drive it more nicely so that it can last longer?

Edited to add question 3.5.) I don’t understand why it never pops out of first gear after the first time it pops out and I put it back in? Why does it do that? I have tried keeping my clutch in and putting it in and out of first gear while I’m sitting at the light but that doesn’t work - I always have to give it gas so that it can jarringly jam out of first gear and then when I put it back in, it’s fine.

4.) There was metal grit in my transmission fluid last time I went to Oil Can Henry’s - how bad is this? Would it help to flush and refill my transmission fluid more regularly?

5.) What’s your best guess on how much longer my transmission will work (if you can call it working now)? I do love my car and also I am very cheap and don’t want to replace it until I absolutely have to.

Thank you!

2

1.) What is going to happen eventually? Will my transmission totally clunk out some day and leave me stranded somewhere? Or will I always be able to just put it in second and make my way home?

It may get to where it won’t stay in 1st, but the symptom described does not portend total tranny failure.

2.) My power steering fluid is leaking out and I have to top it off regularly - should I pay to have the pump replaced or is my car currently not worth putting even $500 into?

Are you sure it’s the pump that’s leaking? And if so, is it just from the shaft seal? It’s possible the leak can be repaired for less than the cost of a pump replacement. As to whether it’s worth a $500 repair, that depends on how much you like it, its overall condition, what it’s worth on the market, and what its replacement would cost. And be aware that the tranny repair will cost more than that.

3.) Why is it doing this?

The engagement (“dog”) teeth on 1st gear and/or its synchro hub are worn.

Why does it do it more when coming off the freeway?

I don’t know, but I’ve seen it before. Possibly related to expansion from heat buildup.

Is there some way that I can drive it more nicely so that it can last longer?

No.

3.5.) I don’t understand why it never pops out of first gear after the first time it pops out and I put it back in? Why does it do that?

I’m not sure. Perhaps it engages more fully when you put it back in, or perhaps some of the engagement teeth are more worn than others, and it lines up differently when re-engaged.

4.) There was metal grit in my transmission fluid last time I went to Oil Can Henry’s - how bad is this?

Potentially pretty bad. That grit aggravates wear on internal tranny parts, particularly the bearings.

Would it help to flush and refill my transmission fluid more regularly?

It may buy some time. Drain and refill is the standard procedure. Actually flushing might not be a good idea, as it could compromise lubrication.

5.) What’s your best guess on how much longer my transmission will work (if you can call it working now)?

No way to know - way too many variables.

I do love my car and also I am very cheap and don’t want to replace it until I absolutely have to.

Bear in mind that the longer it goes, the more expensive a tranny overhaul might be (due to more parts being worn enough to require replacement).

Thank you!

You’re welcome.

3

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Gary T rocks.

4

Yes he does! Thanks Gary T!

5

[AmyPoehler]
Rick? Rick? RickRickRickRickRick! What’s going to happen to my car Rick??? RICK RICK RICK RICK RICK RICK!!!
[/AmyPoehler]

6

If the body and chassis are not badly rusted, if the engine isn’t smoking or knocking ,get the transmission rebuilt.

If the rest of the vehicle is a heap, just drive it until it fails, then call the junk yard.

7

You could consider a salvage transmission. Car-part.com should give you some ideas as to how much a replacement would cost (plus shipping and installation of course).