05' thru 15, 4.0 with auto trans shifting issues

Just wanted to share with you guys something I discovered a while back.

If you ever have shifting issues and take your truck to the dealership, they are gonna tell you that they dont fix transmissions they just replace them. A cost of about $4200 dollars. If you ever take it to the dealership to service the trans, they say you dont service them. I dont even think you can find in the manual where it says to service it, Which I thought was really weird but I can trust toyota...right?

I found out about the servicing part after buying it with 55,000 miles and taking it to get serviced. Then I realized, Hell it doesnt even have a dipstick !

Started having shift issues (shuddering) at 111,000 miles. THATS when they told me they just REPLACE them, not fix them !

Well guess what......... BULLSHIT.
There are aftermarket filters and gaskets for the trans. and I suggest if you havent already done so, go ahead and have it serviced at a good reputable trans shop.

If you already have issues, take it and have a "Complete Trans fluid flush" takes about 12 quarts and gets a new filter. Cost about $450.00. Thats what I did instead of a $4200 dollar trans replace. Guess what, 133,000 miles and counting without a single problem. A hell of a relief when you cant spare that much money.

I hope this helps someone in a bind. I'm gonna be servicing my trans now every 30,000 mls.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

Guess you missed the threads that tell you how to a DIY fluid check and change?

And you don't have to change out metal filters, just clean them.

You'll save a pile more $ with a DIY drain and fill. A full change is not needed if serviced on your 30k intervals.

BTW, most of us agree with you that all OEs (not just Toyota) that have eliminated dipsticks and claim 'lifetime' have really missed the mark.

#savethedipsticks #dipsticksmatter

 

Hell yeah brother

 

Welcome to The Forum!

2nd Gen Tips, Mods & More

 

Did a fluid change at 55k with WS. At about a 100k, I'm going to drop the pan, clean magnets and change the filter. At that point I'll probably go with Valoline Maxlife. Works great in all my older, high mileage Toyotas.

 

My Honda is having transmission issues. I've known the guy who runs a local transmission shop for 40 years, taught his son and his shop foreman. I trust them. They told me that they no longer recommend servicing ANY transmission. None of their personal vehicles have ever been serviced. The shop foreman drives a mid 1990's Chevy 1 ton dually with nearly 400,000 miles on the factory fluid. Years ago it helped some. But anymore they can tell no difference in how long a transmission will last based on how often it is serviced. They have guys who service them religiously and others who drive them till they quit. They all seem to die at about the same mileage.

They tell me that most cars are good for about 150,000 miles, most truck and full size SUV's at least 250,000 regardless of whether it is serviced or not. It really varies by the manufacturer, some are good, others not so good. My Honda was serviced at the mileage stated in the owner manual and is in need of a $2000 rebuild at 123,000 miles. My 07 Tacoma has 199,000 miles on the original fluid and I have no intention of changing it. Which is exactly what the owners manual says. I've seen too many go 400,000 miles on the original fluid and see no reason mine won't too.

Instead of spending $400 every 30,000 miles save your money. An independent shop can rebuild it for 1/2 the cost of a dealer installing a new one. And in 120,000 miles you'll pay more for servicing it than you'd pay to have it rebuilt. My guess is that you're transmission will now wear out sooner than it would have if you'd just left it alone.

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

I spent less than $100 to service mine and that was with 12 quarts of the expensive WS fluid. That's something I'll do only every 50k or so. And if I go with Maxlife next time, it's cheaper that WS. Also...Hondas are notorious for sketchy transmissions right out of the gate. So that doesn’t surprise me about your vehicle.

Some shops are reluctant to offer tranny service for fear of either messing it up or having a customer come back a short time later with an issue that may or may not be related to something they did. It's easier just to say..."oh, you don't need to service it" or "it's a lifetime fluid" or "it's a sealed transmission".

Personally....for less than $100 every 50k, it seems like a no-brainer to me. But to each his own

 

Welcome to TW

 

I had the dealer change my trans fluid a few weeks ago. The price was reasonable and they didn't give me any BS. I also know they did it because I watched them on my dash cam.

 

Welcome to TW!