Engine locked up!

Could be jammed by the starter / flywheel. Remove that and try to turn the motor. Could be a bad torque converter. Sounds to me like they screwed something up during the trans swap...

It takes a significant and readily noticeable 'event' for your engine to lock up. Did it overheat?

 

X2

 

When you say the engine "locked up"...do you mean the engine itself seized or the engine simply won't start? Locked up to me means seized, like the oil pump failed or something. If it's a transmission issue then that's something different entirely

 

how much after is 'shortly after?' 6 months? 20,000 miles ? Or on your way home from dealer?
I would take it to a private shop. And if needed replace the motor since it's got a brand new tranny

 

Since @tgtech570 is not giving us an update, I am going to go ahead and vote "Part it out".

 

They might have forgot (or didn't know) about the black bolt first and the torque up process for the flex plate and the TC.

 

Sorry it took me so long to get back with everyone. I had it towed to another shop for a second opinion. That mechanic called me back to say he dropped a new starter in it and it fired right up! He said the starter gear (or something) was jammed up against the fly wheel which is why the engine couldn't turn which makes complete sense to me. When I pick it up on Monday I want to drive it to the Toyota dealership and ask them bozos how it's still running with a bad motor, Because they were seriously pricing me out replacement engines. I'm really thinking this weekend just how I wanna play this out without being too terribly cocky and I really need to start reconsidering where I take my vehicles to when they need fixed. Now I have a perfectly good running 1st generation 2002 Taco that I can either sell or play around with and because of you guys and this forum I didn't part it for scrap! I cannot thank you enough! Although I did spend 30K on a newer 3rd gen because of all of this, I really like it! Now I got 2 good Tacos. Thanks guys!

 

Glad to see the this wasn't an engine after all. There were a couple of dealers in my area that would tell customers with older vehicles they needed a new engine when the problems just needed some basic diagnostic skills. It eventually catches up with them. Sometimes going on social media (FB) and posting a story helps.

 

Here's the winner!

 

It would have been cheaper to replace the engine!

Also, the best way get back at the Dealership that wronged you is to stop giving them any business. Going down there and telling them they misdiagnosed the problem isn't going to feel as good as you think. It took me 14 years of owning this truck before I realized if I wanted something done right I have to do it myself.

 

What do I get? I think OP should pay me half of what it costs to rebuild / replace an engine.

 

yes! those engines do not magically lockup unless something major was done to it that caused it, sounds like the trans installer f'd something that caused it

 

It’s really important that if you use the dealership that you have a specific old school mechanic to work
on your truck.
That’s what I have done for things I can’t or don’t have time to deal with. same mechanic for the last 10 years and he’s been around since the Tacoma 1st
hit the market.
There are so many new kid mechanics that know very little except for plugging the computer into
the truck and the computer tells them what’s wrong

 

something stinks in Denmark slim, those 3.4l engines do not just bite the dust like that, something happened during the trans. replacement that caused it. the mileage you stated is nothing those engines will clock 300k miles plus with minimal routine maintainence and timing belts every 100k or so

 

The shop that did the trans install f-ed something up. I want to say replacing your starter will fix it all but I have a feeling you're going to run into another jammed starter. The flywheel may not be bolted down all the way or at all... Or its just broke / bad.

 

Yup, or you could spend 20 bucks on a magnetic sign for your tailgate explaining what you went through with them.

 

Before I bought my first tacoma. The OG owner had a lot of work done before the sale. Of the very many things a clutch & new fly wheel. I have no idea why a new FW went in @ 45k miles & they didn't just turn it.

Anyway. After purchasing the truck, one in about four starts the starter would make a horrible sound. Near exact to the sound of engaging a starter on a running vehicle. I purchased a rebuild Denso starter but although more rarer the sound continued.

Fast forward: Rolled the truck, bought it back from insurance & stored it as a parts truck. When I had the ability to pull the transmission & engine apart I found a Chinese stamped flywheel will tolerances completely unacceptable when I compared it to my LCE flywheel. The starter ring gear of the flywheel were making weak contact with the starter drive gear and the poor engagement combined with the Chinese metallurgy was deforming the ring gear. And it wouldn't of taken much longer before the mesh between those two gears would be causing, at the very least, a no- start issue due to binding or breakage.

I'm with @StAndrew. I too think they boogered something up on the install. You can pull the transmission bell housing inspection plate and use a boroscope to give you a better idea if there's an issue. Might want to do it sooner than later, to take advantage of the Dealer's workmanship warranty.