3rd gen transmission Failure

i'd replace the pressure sensors first, then solenoids. honestly, i'd just remove them, clean them with electrical cleaner, and reinstall. also, you said the truck was sitting? usually that's when electrical issues spring up.

 

The dealership will want to replace the trans for $$.

 

Remanufactured from Toyota. That is labor included. But still that’s a crazy price for a transmission.

 

Thank you. I am hopeful that the trans shop has better news then the dealer.

 

My Honda was doing similar, shifting weird and throwing codes indicating internal parts were bad. Was quoted $2000 to rebuild the transmission at an independent shop. An hour after I dropped the Honda off the shop called me to tell me it was fixed and I could come and get it.

Before they pulled the transmission they looked things over carefully and found where mice had chewed the insulation off a wire causing it to short. They repaired the damaged wire with shrink wrap and charged me 1/2 hour labor, $50. It drives like new.

Moral of the story, find out what is wrong before you start throwing parts at it.

 

That's an awesome shop.

 

I had something similar happen to a ford explorer years ago. Serpentine belt failed around 80k, I replaced that and immediately had major trans issues. It would act like it had a 2500 rpm stall, shift really hard. I opened the hood and noticed that a clip of wires (attached to the air intake area IIRC) was partially disconnected. I am guessing from the belt failure causing the belt to smack the wires. I plugged that back in and poof transmission was perfect again. I highly doubt this is a trans failure, these seem pretty well figured out and reliable for extended mileage. I would guess some type of electrical issue, which could be a bear to chase down.

 

I agree 100%. I do Industiral Maintence and have for all my adult life. We call that the shotgun method. It’s either new techs or lazy ones that don’t know how to trouble shoot or just to lazy and don’t care what parts they gotta replace tell it fixes the problem.

 

You should be able to do better diagnostic than you've done if that's the case.

http://www.ttguide.net/ac60e_automatic_transmission_transaxle-927.html

 

Very true. But I haven’t had the truck. After the the check engine light came on I took it to the dealer. They had it all day until this morning. Now it’s at a trans shop. The biggest problem is not having time and the computer and software to read the ecu. There are Professional professionals in every Field for a reason. Just because one does Maintence in a certain field does not make them Professionals in every field. Just my opinion. The dealer Tech did a piss poor effort at diagnosing the root cause of the problem.

 

depends on the shops structure, there are multiple levels of techs, and shop tech reps. they will go different routes depending on timing, cost.. and to be honest they dont make any money on diagnostics, unless they are REALLY good, and have access to database software such as Identifix, or other other diagnstics tools at their disposal. being a dealer shop I would hope they would do better.. but some shops are better than others.. this guy was just a parts swapper.....

 

I used to work on those, could bang out a clutch real quick!!

Tell your wife to treat it like a manual transmission (which it is) and to try to minimize it “creeping” like an automatic - that’s where some of the glazing comes from. That and the traction control continually engages and disengages the clutch when slipping for some reason

 

Update: Transmission shop just called and said he could feel the truck drop out of 1st when at a stop. He couldn’t feel anything else wrong. He pulled it into the shop and checked oil level and sure enough it was low. “ even after the dealership told me the level was fine”. He will get oil in it tomorrow morning and hopefully that takes care of the problem.

 

Maybe go ahead and do a fluid & filter change while you’re at it

 

Hopefully its low fluid. The auto 3rd gen has no pan etc on the transmission that I can find it seems to be a sealed unit with 2 plugs top and bottom probably for a flush machine. There are directions on here about how to check the fluid level and it sounds like a pita.

 

You drove it to the parts store, dealer and transmission shop?

 

Yep hell it happed Saturday when my wife was running around school shopping and drove it over 150 miles.

 

If it takes care of the problem. I will definitely have him do the filter and new oil for sure just to make sure. And hell it’s already there might as well get it done.

 

It was a nice shop. I totally understand the level of techs but I called them back after they told me it was a bad tranny and I said try again. The service manager told me it was going to just be cheeper to replace the transmission. They didn’t want to order in parts to try and get it right. They just wanted to charge me to replace the thing. If I was a auto mechanic I would never want to work for a dealership if that’s how they do things.

 

Stop in that shop at your first opportunity with a dozen donuts to show your appreciation. I'm sure they will remember you for that.