93 4Runner Trans. problems...HELP!

I am a new user to this site as of last night. I was hoping I could get advice regarding my transmition problem. First of all I purchased a 93 4Runner 4x4 in oct. of last year with the money I received from my grandpas death, since that time I have driven the vehicle for about three days. The rest of the time it has been with AAMCO. When I purchased this vehicle from a private seller he neglected to tell me that it had a rebuilt trans. put in by AAMCO and that it had been back to them about 5 times since then for the same reason (trans. problems). It seems that the O/T Temp light comes on after about 50miles of driving. When I called him back to tell him that the light was coming on he explained to me that he had been told that it was a computer malfunction and to ignore it. I took his word on it and after a drive along the ocean the vehicle over heated and began to smoke. This was the start my situation with AAMCO. I took it to my local AAMCO, they took about a month and a half to replace it. When I got it back the light went on by the end of a days drive of Christmas shopping. Took it back to them again and they were guessing it was the radiator. When I told them I would pick it up from them to take it to Toyota dealership for another opinion they basically told me my warranty would be void if I took it off the lot. So I paid them to replace the radiator. Again when I got it back the light came on. At that point I called them back and was told not to bring it back to them and to take it to the dealership. I took it to Toyota and they listened to my situation and had their chief mechanic look at it free of charge. When I picked it up from Toyota they explained to me that it needed a new trans. so off to AAMCO I went. They tried to get the original AAMCO (the one holding the warranty) to replace it completely but that AAMCO said they needed to see it for themselves. So off the 4runner went to the original AAMCO. Now they have had it for about three weeks and have replaced everything around the trans. such as the temp. sensor and so forth. and still the light comes on. Well they just called me and told me they put on a trans. cooler. I have been told by a lot of people that this is only needed if you are towing or using the 4x4 feature. I have a feeling that they are just working around the problem. I have also been told that they have maybe put in the wrong converter. They will not listen here of it and have told me to just come and pick up my vehicle and that the problem has been taken care of. What is your opinion on this? I have found many websites with disgruntled customers and it seems as though their customer service does not help.

I will show your post to one of the Master tech's at my shop, who also knows quite a bit about toyotas. Is this a V6, or 4 cylinder? It also looks like it is a automatic?

Kris, thank you so much. Yes it is an automatic and it's a V6.

Okay, he said it sounds like the tolerances in the clutches are too loose. The Toyota transmissions are notorious for that problem, on rebuilt trannies. Unless the people who rebuilt it spent the time to go through and check ALL of the tolerances, it will overheat. So whats happening, is when the clutches are not tight enough, it is causing slippage, which in turn causes friction, which then causes overheating issues.

He also said to junk that tranny, and get a new transmission from Toyota. Plus you get the dealer warranty from it as well.

Is the transmission still under warranty from AAMCO? If so, they should do it right.

Thank you for your advise and help kris.

Yes it is Brian and after some smooth talking on both sides today, they are willing to take it back next week and repair it without the added help of a trans cooler. Of course I'm going to have the extra trans cooler added on later after the problem is solved properly. I can always use the extra cooler when towing or using the 4x4, we go camping and fishing a lot, whole reason for the purchase of 4runner in the first place.

Just curious. Is it the black 93 4Runner at AAMCO in C'ville VA thats been there a month or so? I was about to take mine in there but after hearing you story I may hold back.