97 4Runner transmission problem

Every so often when I start my 1997 4Runner in the morning, the engine will sound really wierd, making crackling sounds like its hitting something. My parking brake light is on, even though it wasn't on brake at all.

When I put my car into "drive" it won't go faster then 40 miles per hour, but after about 5 minutes of driving, the sound goes away, a big THUD popping sounds comes from the hood, then the parking brake light dissappears.

Is there some sort of problem with the transmission and old parking brakes?! This happens like, once every several days so I feel like I am going to damage my car.

Anybody ever run into this?

Thanks

Reply to
BigHeadAche
Loading thread data ...

Could your e-brake not be releasing all the way (or possibly slack in the cable)? Does it speed up after you get the thud? Seems like maybe something is seizing up and eventually releasing (the thud could be when it finally un-grabs.) Is the crackling sound when the engine is in idle or when the vehicle is in motion? If it is when it is in idle can you go put the hood up and listen to where it might be coming from? Any way to describe it other than 'crackling'? Just trying to help you clarify a bit here. Good luck!

Reply to
Pookerz

I think you have multiple problems..

The crackling sound...... I had this and it turned out to be the fan belt pulley on the engine crankshaft. This pulley has a rubber liner between the belt mount section and the crankshaft section. The rubber had seperated and the two sections were slipping on the remaining rubber and would make weird crackling in the morning as you describe. I tried every fantastic glue on the market to re-seal the rubber but it only lasted a week or so. I finally just welded the two pieces of metal together, with a 4 point weld bridge across the rubber. A new pulley was about $300 if I recall.. The noise goes away after a while as the slipping rubber gets hot and finally grab each other. While the belt is slipping, you might have poor anti-polution.. and maybe low voltage if you have a guage.

The parking brake light is also the low fluid light, a 'brake problem' light. Check the fluid.

Not faster than 40 mph? might be the rear brakes are dragging, and lock up tighter during the night. Get out and feel the rear hubs, if hot hot, then your parking brake cable or the bell-crank mechanism inside the rear drum is seized and no releasing properly. This will leave the emergency brake cable dangling loose and the slack could be enough to keep the dash light on. Push the emergency handle to full off, if the light goes out, then the cable is slack. Check the whole release process, the return springs inside the rear drums keep the cable tight as well as the springs on the bell-cranks on the inside of the rear hubs. My 85 4runner has bell-cranks with springs on them but the rubber boots on the bell-cranks deteriorate and soon rust from water getting in, leaving the cable in the 'brake-pulled on' position as the springs are not srong enough to overcome the rust seizing. In the end, you'll need to replace the bell-crank mounts as corrosion will keep seizing them, made of aluminium with steel liners.

Reply to
Guylaine J. Parisien

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.