Tacoma break down...details below...lots of questions...ideas??

That's a clean cut if you ask me. What exactly is the $550 covering?

 

Yea but how did it get that clean cut?! It's below the hood, behind the grill. No kind of road debris cause that. The $550 is to replace the line, fill trans fluid, clean it up and test it out. Plus it's about double what any other mechanic would charge, because it's the dealership. Not concerned with the price here, otherwise I'd tow it home and figure it out. More concerned with how the fuck it got cut and is my transmission cooked? The tech said no way to know until he fills it up and drives it. Could cause premature failure in the future as well.

 

Thanks for reading that I'M NOT MECHANICAL and I have no idea what's what here. Sorry my dad was into carpentry and not cars. I don't know the difference between transmission coolers and transmission fluid. Appreciate the knowledge. Now I do know, and knowing is half the battle!

 

When was the new frame put on?

 

Definitely a clean cut...have any enemies? Live in a bad area? Still a weird place for someone to cut on purpose.

 

...^^^... Keep that photo and take more and keep hose piece too.

Important for you later to show if damage was done by others.

 

I'd think about having it towed and done indie.

Good news is with a little luck no lasting damage. My old shitbox cars did this a couple of times and knock on wood I never had any damage..just fixed the leak and topped the trans fluid

 

Dude I'm racking my brain, I do live in a semi-urban area but people around here steal shit out of your car and don't sabotage you. I'm the most laid-back nice dude you'll ever meet. Don't have an enemy in the world. Seems like a stupid thing to do for vandalism? Why not cut my brake lines or something?

 

Thank you!

 

Yes good thinking.

 

March 2016

 

I would seriously doubt your neighbors or unknown person went to that much trouble to cut your line. Ask your girlfriend if she remembers road debris or something random because it could literally just be shitty luck. The frame swap eh... maybe but that seems like a long enough time ago that they won't own that wound. Good luck OP!

 

Totally. Thanks.

 

There's no way this was malicious. There are far easier ways to harm someone's vehicle...cut a brake line for instance.

This looks like it happened during the frame swap. Prob got pinched and they just went with it. A few months later and it's ripped itself and exploded.
When they do the frame swaps they just drop the full frame from the cab and swap another in. It's bid as an 18 hour job (per my neighbor who is a Toyota tech that does them). They rush through at great incentive because the dealer bills Toyota for the job but not the time.

I really think this is Toyota's fault but you have no way to prove it. Also, this is in no way a $550 job. $80+labor, at the most.

I had a subaru years ago that would lose auto trans fluid mysteriously. I ran it dry on several occasions. Never skipped a beat. I'd say you're fine. The fact it was still slightly moving for you means there was a little fluid still left in there. Think you're fine, man.

 

Much appreciated. Thanks, brother.

 

Grabbing a straw are we? He said that was a few months ago. If it was damaged then it would have more than likely blown before now.

Probably hit something in the road.

 

I agree with Jimmh. It was probably some debris from the road that got tossed up.

I'm still thinking it should be an easy fix.

New hose at auto parts store, $8. Then go to walmart lawn and garden section. Buy a new chemical sprayer for $8.57. Then to go auto section and buy a gallon or two of Valvoline Max Life ATF fluid abou $18 each. Get some 3/8" clear vinyl tubing. $8? Size 4 hose clamp $2

Clean container well with soap and water. Dry thoroughly. Cut end of chemical sprayer wand attachment, attach vinyl tubing with worm clamp to end of wand, attach other end of tubing to ATF cooler hard line with hose clamp. Pump 3-5 qt fluid into the return line and do fluid check procedure. Add more fluid if necessary. Etc.

I did this a few years ago and it worked great and my cost was under $70 as i recall. Took me about 2 hours.

All of this is documented here on TW.

Alternative is to have dealer do it, or indy shop.

Sometimes paying the shop is the best way to go.

 

That looks like a very clean cut for it to be some type of debris. Unless the hose was cleaned before the picture was taken

 

Not being rude (seriously) it is in his case. He disavows all mechanical knowledge, and I believe him.

When one doesn't know the difference between transmission fluid and coolant, it might not be a good idea to wander off on their own for such a repair.

However, if there are some folks around willing to teach him, and he wants to learn, it would be worth renting a vehicle for a couple of days to make it to the weekend for repairs. And I seriously doubt the dealer offered any K-Y, candy or flowers.

 

Yep. I agree very much. If I were him I'd pay the dealer to fix it and be happy about it. I love paying my neighborhood shop mechanic at their local shop to work on my wife's car. They do great work and I never have to get dirty.