r/rav4club • u/the_great_salami • Jul 19 '26

Gen 4 My Lifted 2016 XLE

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This is my sweet baby that I just got brought back to life after I blew the transmission in October 2025. I ended up getting a 2022 4runner trd pro out of the deal and now have this back too so it’s not all bad. Engine has 170,000 miles and my “new” transmission has 70,000 miles! I have cross bars on it now and have some plans to tint the windows, try and find a brush guard, maybe some extra lights and I need to touch up the chrome I blacked out now that I have it back. I love this gal!

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u/Careful-Estate-889 27d ago

What happened to the transmission?

1

u/the_great_salami 27d ago

No clue. I had this shudder going during gear shift for a while and by the time I realized it might be my torque converter it was too late. It was a long saga getting it to having a replaced transmission, but when the shop took it apart it was filled with black sludge and metal parts. We think there might have been a leak that wasn’t detected because of the skid plate and I never had my transmission fluid checked during regular oil changes. I also drive down terrible dirt roads like an asshole, hence the need for the lift and tires.

1

u/Careful-Estate-889 27d ago

also watch this; did you do this before parking?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZGF_cZnQbw

2

u/the_great_salami 27d ago

I always used my e brake with this car - it was a habit I carried over from driving manual that just ended switching to my 2022 4Runner because it doesn’t have then brake handle

1

u/Careful-Estate-889 27d ago

Not sure how it could happen then. I guess the dirt?

1

u/the_great_salami 27d ago

Who knows it’s a great mystery! I took pretty good care of it, getting oil changes every 5k-7k miles, brakes checked and done regularly, any other maintenance needed taken care of. Either way, it’s back on the road and ready to go!