Transmission Question

I have a 2001 Toyota tacoma V6 auto 4x4.
I was told my Transmission and tork converter are broken.
They want to charge $4800 for a factory rebuilt with a 3 year warranty.
Is this too much? They said depending on how much flushing and fluid it may be a little less...
Also they said I had a bad rear brake job and that my back rear brake was put on to tight.
Could this cause my transmission to blow? Giving that my truck may have had to work a little harder due to the poor brake adjustment?

 

what is the story behind this? how and what happened to it?

was this diagnosis from a dealer or small repair shop somewhere? my first instinct is this sounds like a money grab.

try to get a second opinion from a well trusted place before you accept this first diagnosis

as for repairing the tranny, I wouldn't spend any where near that kind of money on it, just get a salvage yard tranny for $500 and have it installed

 

Youre being taken for a long ride. Back brakes on too tight.

 

If the back brakes were on too tight or locked up you would have noticed because of the horrendous smell that would come from them. Def taking you for a ride

 

Yes it is too much. A good rebuilt tranny is about $2000 ( http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=4761441&cc=1375343&jnid=520&jpid=0 ). Figure another $500 for installation and $150 for fluid.

Only thing that could be put on too tight is the parking brake. But that would just burn up the parking brake shoe; it wouldn't kill the tranny. You can check this yourself: chock the front wheels, release the parking brake, jack up the rear axle, take off the rear wheels and give each brake drum a spin. If you can spin the brake drum by hand without too much resistance, then it's good.

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

KEAKER:
I was driving down the highway when I heard a loud propeller sound then I could no longer hit the gas pedal to make the truck go.
After I pulled it over I turned it off. I could turn it back on but when I hit the gas it wouldn't really go and a grinding propeller sound started again. So I had it towed. They charge $125/ hour at this shop. Not sure why so much. I believe the average per hour from mechanics is around $75/$85 per hour? They only charged me $980 this sumer to do the timing belt when my other estimates were way above that ($1400 and $1600). So I thought they were pretty honest. I'm going to get a estimate from Toyota just to see what the difference is cause I know dealerships usually charge the most. This sucks. I wish there was a universal price list for all this crap so people wouldn't get so screwed. I also know the markup on parts can be pretty ridiculous.

 

yep, that sounds like something serious let go in the tranny

well look here and see what a replacement salvage tranny would cost you in your area plus shipping and then see what the shop would charge to install it for you. http://www.car-part.com/index.htm

I am seeing prices averaging $500-$1000 for v6 4x4 auto trannys with an average of 150k miles and prices vary depending on mileages and of course some places just ask higher prices of course, but most all of these places will guarantee they work or you get replacement of money back

 

@Trucksrule5252: Given the labor cost, it may not be a good idea to get a high-milage salvage yard tranny that could fail any minute. Depending on how long you plan to keep the truck, it may be better to get a rebuilt tranny that's had all the seals and wear parts replaced and tested.

Go to a place that specializes in transmissions, like Aamco, and see what they have to say.

 

Make certain its your tranny, and not your differential. Look to see whether or not the drive-shaft is spinning when you attempt to move, with the tranny in gear.

 

I think many of you are missing the point. The OP's mechanical knowledge is limited to none, and is not going to be climbing under the truck to inspect the differential or anything else.

Additionally he/she is being taken for a loooooooong ride by being quoted half the value of the truck for a rebuilt transmission. The OP needs to just find a honest, experienced mechanic that is not going to take advantage of the situation by charging up the ass.

 

what in the world makes you think anyone suggested getting a high mileage tranny from the salvage yard, no one in this thread said anything like that.

a low mileage salvage yard tranny is a better option then a costly rebuild or buying a sketchy reconditioned tranny fixed as cheap as possible to just make it work and it will not "fail any minute"? that's pure silliness and has no basis in reality to say that, these trucks go 500k miles with these trannys and the odds are 98% in favor of a low mileage salvage yard tranny (100k miles) going another 400k miles before failing.

as for labor, a salvage yard tranny with warranty will cost around $500 on average and around another $300 to have it installed for him meaning $800-$1000 to have his truck fixed.

I have never seen a tranny rebuilt at any shop for less then $2500-$3000

 

You said it in post #7. It comes down to what you and I consider to be high milage.

Tacoma transmissions will go the distance with proper maintenance, yes. But most likely that 150k salvage yard tranny had never gotten a fluid replacement. It may have been abused in other ways: neutral drops, radiator leaking coolant into the tranny cooler section (proverbial strawberry milkshake) etc. Trucksrule5252's original tranny failed didn't it?