2017 DCLB - Possible AT Failure 103K miles

Anyone else have a spontaneous transmission failure? Like overnight?

2017 DCLB w/ 103K worry free miles.
All maintenance performed at Toyota.
5.29s with OVT.

Woke up. Jumped in the truck. Backed out of the driveway. Put it in Drive…..

didn’t want to shift out of 1st. Finally shifted very abruptly and rough then proceeded to “slip” out of gear under any type of acceleration.

Shifted to sport mode, engaged ECT and tried to go through each each gear. 1-3 engaged, but would feel like neutral if I tried to accelerate. No luck at all for 4-6.

Took it to Toyota. They said either fluid change or new transmission.
Welp, fluid change did not fix the problem. Is it really this binary - fluid or full tranny?

No ECU or TCU codes

Would love some opinions.

 

Do you have access to tunning app?
Try reset tranny control unit learning values

 

Take it to a transmission shop. Dealers just want to replace items they don’t want to repair anything.

 

Did you check the fluid levels yourself? My transmission came one quart low from the factory. People thought I was crazy checking fluids and Zerks on a new truck but I am glad I did. BTW, my Zerks needed 5 pumps to purge so they came dry from the factory too.

 

sounds like the torque converter is slipping but could also be a clutch inside the transmission. toyota doesn't fix transmissions. they only replace them. take it to a good transmission shop. they can fix whatever's going on if it's worth it and they can put in heavier duty clutches and replace known weak parts while they're in there.

 

I did not check it myself. Dealer just completed a fluid change. Said it actually made it worse, although I’m not sure how that’s possible.

I’ve owned the truck since new. It literally happened over night.

 

do you monitor transmission temps since you changed out the gears? maybe the ECU still thinks it's got stock gears and is slipping the torque converter all the time when it shouldn't be. Now, your torque converter could be worn out.

 

this

 

You can't really check it yourself.
Take it back to the dealer that just completed the fluid change.
Who said it made it worse?

 

Nope. Possible tc issue. Gears we’re installed 60k miles ago. TCU updated to reflect 5.29s.

A transmission specialist is a good recommendation, but a $5,000 transmission installed by Toyota seems pretty cheap and easier than trying to find a shop around here. Likely saves me headaches down the road.

It still at the dealer. Their master tech said the fluid change made it worse.

 

Well. New transmission is the answer. Seems so wasteful that they won’t even try to fix it. $5000 installed and a short 12month warranty. :smh

at least it is some what affordable.

 

Did they say specifically say what failed and why?
Is there a core credit going towards the final bill?
I am slightly skeptical,,, the easy and most profitable answer for the dealer service writer is F it, replace it.
1. you leave having paid for a fluid change and what they call "diagnoses" WIN for them
2. you trade it in for pennies on the dollar WIN for them
3. you trust their "diagnoses" and they get a large swap job WIN for them

 

They have no idea and don’t want to spend the time fixing it. They’d rather swap it out.

Don’t know about core credit, but they are pretty good to me. Service manager is a stand up guy. Toyota’s policy is pretty cut and dry - flush or swap. Makes me question “master technician” statuses for sure.

Not charging me for the fluid change. Small win.

Don’t plan on selling the truck. I keep things. Which is also a curse, but I hate wasting money.

 

Again find a transmission shop. They will have the damn thing disassembled and diagnosed in no time. And a hell of a lot cheaper than a new transmission

 

I kind of agree especially if you're planning to keep the vehicle for a long time

 

What if it was $200 solenoid?

 

This!
Does anyone really think that service writer or one of the techs would just say “oh well, I guess I’ll just order a new transmission” if this was their truck?
I’m not saying the transmission isn’t completely crapped out, I’m saying we don’t know, and I’m questioning how much investigation was done to determine this.
I know they’re following dealer and/or Toyota protocol, that’s why I’d take it elsewhere. They have zero incentive to find the issue and reduce their profits.

 

The lift, wheel & tire mods strains the tranny. Should have started replacing the fluid at 30,000 miles: https://youtu.be/rNqYpEpmUng

 

the most sensible approach. it probably just needs a new clutch pack, converter, or solenoid/sensor. not a big deal for a transmission guy that knows what he's doing.

 

Some people have money to burn. Toyota would be the last place I would take my out of warranty truck for anything.