Is one of these a kickdown cable? I heard that 4Runners usually didn't have a "kickdown" cable. Instead it would just make it hold the current gear longer. Mine doesn't really like to downshift especially at speeds 20-40 mph.

 

Im pretty sure one is the cruise control...

 

yeah that would be the third one that is mounted the opposite way going to the cruise control servo on the passenger side fender well

 

On my '96 Tacoma with the 2RZ-FE, the kick down cable is the lower one, you can follow it down to the transmission. My cable is broken somewhere between the throttle body an the transmission inside of the sleeve. I bought this truck for my twin boys that turned 16 in August, and didn't know that the cable was broken until later. I bought a cable from the dealership for about $95. I also bought a new trans filter and and filter gasket, plus pan gasket, in all it was around $150. Now I just have to get up the nerve to remove the pan and the valve body to attach that end of the cable.
After that, I will be looking at swapping a broken exhaust manifold for the '01-'04 mini-header upgrade.

 

Yeah the one that goes down to the tranny is the kick down cable. The other one on the drivers side is the throttle cable (it goes through the firewall)

 

Wow, you are maxed out for both your cables; The one closest to the firewall is the kickdown.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/s...y-saver-14538/

 

Thanks for the info. So maybe thats why it lunges into gear when i shift to Drive. Also has a really firm 1-2 shift. Guess I should try backing it off a bit and see what happens. As for the throttle cable maybe I should get another one. I may not be acheiving WOT. Not sure how I would adjust the new cable. I guess just keep tightening it untill when it is floored it's at WOT?

 

Adjust the kick down cable (rear) so there are a few more threads (about 1/8-1/4") sticking out towards the passenger side. Your throttle cable (front) looks like it's adjusted to it's max tightest position. If there is still slack in it at that position, your cable is probably stretched out and needs replacement (or maybe an adjustment at the pedal side of the cable - if that's possible). If the cable is in fact tight (it's hard to see on a photo), try doing the same thing that you did to the kick down cable.

 

no the throttle cable has slack in it. seems like a PITA to run it throught the fire wall. Maybe it won't be so bad. Looks like it is about $70 from the dealer

 

My throttle cable would be tight and starting to pull the mechanism in that position. A new OEM cable should already be the correct length and the adjustment that you're dealing with now should be enough. Definitely give the kick down some slack, that will make it shift much smoother. If you're not sure whether or not you are achieving WOT, put a brick on the pedal and adjust it until you do.

 

i adjusted the cable and it does affect downshifting. It shifts smoother and kicks down like it should now.

 

before if you were going anywhere under 40mph and floored it it would not downshift. Pretty dangerous when you are trying to merge into speeding traffic. I drove it like that for 3 years because a mechanic told me that the 4Runner's were just like that. If I floored it going above 40mph it would only do a 4-3 shift. Now it jumps in 2nd if RPMs permit like it should.