Blew my transmission yesterday

First off, it's a high mileage Tacoma... 256,000 miles. 1997, 2.7 5spd.

We got hit with a sizeable snowstorm this past weekend up here on the Canadian west coast. I always love an opportunity to drive in 4x4 mode, but I noticed that when I shifted it back into 2 wheel drive, there was a vibration I'd never experienced, as well as a noise I'd never heard.

Things deteriorated VERY quickly and suddenly something gave way, and it sounded like there were rocks grinding away somewhere underneath inside my drivetrain, and ultimately not I can't even move... there's just spinning. When I'm sitting in idle in neutral the grinding sound is there, but when I push in the clutch it's quiet.

Unfortunately the snow is so bad here even the tow trucks aren't operating. So I can't get it into the shop to have it looked at.

Anyone want to venture any guesses of the severity of the issue?

 

Did the manuals have the planitary problem as well? I've only toasted one and it was an auto.

 

I had a similar failure in a 5 speed 2wd 1978 toyota. Bearing on the transmission countershaft failed. It still worked in 4th gear. Get another transmission was my solution.

 

I wonder if it's a job that can be done for under $1000.

 

This may be unrelated, but I recently had everything switched to synthetic.

Not long after I noticed that when I downshifted, especially down to 1st it ground the gears. I had me suspecting the slave cylinder was leaking.

 

No planetaries

Get another trans

 

I had the same experience, I think it was Amsoil Synthetic Gear Oil. After the conversion, trans has not shifted smooth since. Master/slave very low mileage. (W59 2WD)

 

Small world. Same deal, 78 Corolla, but the main input shaft bearing went also. Split it myself and fixed it. Rollin again for about $125 bucks work of gaskets,bearings and oil. Failed right after a clutch replace,,just couldn't take the added pressure on it with new parts I think. Couldn't have been me sidestepping the little whizbang 1600 hemi once in a bit.

Sucks when they go rock crusher all of a sudden.

Yup, new/used tranny, flywheel face, pilot bearing, throwout, disk and plate. Might as well Dave.

 

Yes, that was my initial instinct. It's a high mileage vehicle, though.
Even a good used one would suffice.

 

High mileage or HARD mileage,,you still have 300K yet to go,,maybe more.

I bought that car with 275k on it and put on 170k and it was still ticking when it parted from me.

 

It's very possible there was some hard mileage on it.
The guy I bought it from is an acquaintance and he used it as a
Personal and farm vehicle. He might have had heavy loads, and a
Fair bit of 4X4'ing.

 

Well, back on the road again, after an expensive repair. Replacement gearbox, and also a clutch kit.

The truck was repaired by a different mechanic than the one who serviced it last time with the complete fluid change.

A mechanic friend of mine who lives in a different province suggested the wrong fluid might have been used for the gearbox. I just looked at the invoice... hard to make out the writing but it's possible gear oil was used in the gearbox. It was a full switchover... everything to synthetic... engine, gearbox, transfer case, rear diff...

Also, this same friend of mine learned that my shifting practices while driving might have contributed. I have a habit of downshifting into 1st while driving, holding the clutch in for most of the stopping effect, and shifting into 1st at the end. He advised me this was a terrible practice.


The next mechanic (who did the repair) noted bits of metal in the fluid, and 1st gear was the issue.

He used 75-90 in the gearbox and transfer case. I'm HOPING this is the right type!!!

 

Knew that one was going to be expensive, yikes.

A competent man behind the wrenches is always a good thing. Repair jobs has made a surge in the us,,imagine that.

Personally, I would go about 500-1000K,,or maybe a bit further and swap the fluids again on your trans, transfer case,and your rear diff. Since it is a unknown transmission??, you really don't know what they ran for fluids in there or how they treated it, drove it.

Yup, riding first gear syncros hard and all that built up rotating mass/building very quick RPM's right at the end trying to pull the lever in is never a good thing. Think Friction welding and Youtube that. Try to break that habit, you will save a ducket or two.

Panning for mixed metal is what I call the grey residue. Have dried that stuff out before, and put it under a 60x stereo scope,,lotsa rainbow colored metal flakes. The full synthetic was a smart answer for the wrench turner. Go about 500-1000k and swap in fresh syn, then run it out there 40-50k and then take a oil sample. Should be crystal clear or close,,if you did your homework,,

75-90,,yup,,he was right. Give it a few/5 minutes to warm up and warm the fresh fluid in the trans. It might feel a little "hesitant to shift" when cold,,until some miles and heat are on it. You are breaking in a new clutch and throwout bearing as well.

 

GOTTA be a typo there! Haha. 500-1000K? That is some SERIOUS mileage. lol. But yes, when breaking in a replacement transmission I would recommend in the 500-1000 mile range to replace the fluid, and send in a sample of the old fluid in to be tested. See if things look good there.

 

Sunsabitchin Bumfasus!

yeah typo.

500-1000 miles US. lol.

 

Thanks guys,

Well if all that wasn't enough, now after some searching on this forum and on google, my latest paranoia has to do with the TYPE of 75 - 90 was put into the replacement gearbox... GL4 or GL5... not sure. It seems that GL4 is the one recommended as the other is hard on the brass parts? I don't know anything about that, could someone on here weigh in?