Let's play 'What would you do?'

If the torque converter is bad, wouldn't you notice weird shifting or slipping as well?

With that many miles on the truck, and if it is still drivable, I'd just drive it until whatever it is actually fails.

Definitely do a trans fluid change to see of it clears things up first.

 

For fun pop an ignition coil out and see if the tip is dry or covered in oil

 

At this point, you have nothing to lose, so give it a try.

 

Highly doubt your visit to the dealer will have any impact on a trade in value with any dealer in general. It was an estimate not a repair. Won’t show up on a car fax. Hell you could probably take it back to that same dealer and sales will not be gathering info from service. They’re not the FBI doing a security clearance background check.

 

Sorry, just called back and I misunderstood... they said it's the OD clutch that's burnt out and that the shudder is happening between 4th and 5th. I brought up the fluid change and they said at 291k 'its better to just let sleeping dogs lie.'

 

Does that mean that you can put the transmission into fourth gear, and the vibrations stop?

Regarding the fluid change, if it hasn’t ever been done, the consensus from the many AT threads here on TW would mostly agree to leave it alone. The used transmission + TC route sounds like a better way to go.

 

Glad I'm not the only one who saw this haha

 

RE: Transmission fluid change

When I get an oldie (most of what I buy) that the fluid hasn't been changed in ??? I do what I call a soft change. I will suction out 2 or 3 quarts and add that much fresh. Maybe at the next (engine) oil change interval I will repeat the process or every other change.

The logic being that a complete fluid change puts nice fresh full strength additives (cleaners) in the transmission and can act like putting a very dirty pan in the dishwater. You really don't want to cut loose years of accumulation all at once. The soft change gets some new fluid in there without a huge system shock.

I do the same thing with power steering fluid, suction the reservoir dry and refill.

In the OP situation I don't know if it would help or hinder.

 

Yep... at this point it's still driving well enough so I'd rather just ride it out than risk possibly accelerating its demise. Thanks for the tip, though. It's a good thought, but like you said, who knows.

 

Yes. All transmissions have a clutch system. In manual transmissions, you have the pedal to shift between gears. In automatic transmissions, it's... you guessed it... automatic.

 

What would this tell me in regards to the shudder? Or just a routine check that I probably should've done 100k ago?

 

Do this.
http://www.ranchotoyotatruckparts.com/

 

The other variable is what condition is the frame in? Might not be worth putting a dime in if it is really rusty and if Toyota won't replace it. And that vibe might be your lift or related to some other mod. Who knows? If it was me I'd trade it. Being broken shouldn't hurt trade value all that much because dealers can fix them at cost and make $ back on the sale in this hot market. Just don't let them talk you too much down due to the trans or vibe issue. Also, it was me in your situation needing cheap reliable transport for now I'd trade it for a decent Corolla or Civic. Tough times call for some sacrifices.

 

That it would need spark plug tube gaskets causing a misfire. Look at the valve cover where it meets the head.. if it looks a little wet.. the spark plug tube gaskets are probably way worse

 

L

Did you look up the price for a used engine?

 

yeah, figured it was something like that. I didn't take the semantics seriously

Best call is to just plug a used transmission in there bud. You can buy them pretty cheap, definitely alot cheaper than $4500. Shop around, use your google-fu

 

OP, I don't believe in car payments either. Personally, I would keep the truck on the side until you find a used trans to perform a DIY swap. In the meantime, buy a beater car to get around and eventually have 2 cars to alternate to extend the life of the Tacoma. I've always had 2 cars not including my wife's and can never live without a truck bed. Buying a new or fairly new vehicle in the current market is ludicrous and selling a truck in it's current condition would only fetch lowballers.