Looking at buying a Taco with Transmission issues, what am i dealing with here?

I'm currently looking at picking up a taco that has transmission issues, just wanting to hear your thoughts. Here is what the current owner is saying.

"Truck pops out of 3rd gear."
"Just installed the new shifter seat bushing and its not the solution. Ill be bringing it to a transmission shop tomorrow."
He brought it to a shop the following day
"hard to say until they crack it open. But gave some insight saying it might be just old bearings, worse case 3gear is rounded. Any where from 500-1500 [Canadian $, or USD 391-1,173] is what the owner told me."

I've heard that these issues can be much more than just this, and that the transmission might need a full rebuild, but that price seems to cheap, and i'm thinking that he is giving me a lower number.

What is your experience with tranny rebuilds? Howmuch do they typically cost?

Other info that may or may not be relavant,
-Double Cab 6spd short bed
-196xxxKM or 121xxx Miles

 

I’d get @gearcruncher opinion on this

 

See if you can find a good low mileage used one. It would likely be cheaper than rebuilding.

 

I wouldnt look at it for at least $2500 -$3000 but thats my shop . Some shops fix the bare minumum to get you in and out the door as quick as possible .
I am not just fixing the problem but I am going to the Toyota website and installing every possible internal upgrade you can perform to the transmission .
I will charge you once for my work and after that , I dont want to see you again for another 10 years lol .

 

I'd be concerned 'why' the trans had an issue. Worn out from high high high miles, (you give the miles, but not a year) improper care or abuse? What other components are in line behind it?

At the very least I'd be discounting the price by the full cost of the R&R of a good used transmission.

But since it's Canadian, I'll assume salt country? I'd be just as concerned, or maybe even more, about frame condition.

 

You keep calling me out lol

 

Yeah, that’s because you are much smarter than me in this field.
And I don’t like giving advice on things I don’t know much about.
Plus, he mentioned Canada. And you are in Canada, aren’t you?

 

Im on the west coast, and the truck lived most of its live on Vancouver Island, where there is very little salt on the roads. He sent me pictures of the frame and it looks OK.

The truck is priced at 13K CAD right now, and Toyota tax is pretty steep around here, so even with a 3k tranny rebuild its still a good price.

He sent me his shops inspection report, and its a 200xxxKM truck for sure, will probably need around 1-2k to completely fix everything to dealership standards (Brakes worn, AC recharge, possible pully/PS pump, sway bar links, bearings, allignment, and a couple other minor "Wearable" items/costs).

One more question for the experts, i've seen this issue pop up a few times on ad's ive seen. What is this transmission issue a result of? Someone not properly driving a manual? Or could normal wear and tear cause this?

 

Talking about a manual transmission here?
What is it about 3rd gear?
We have a 6spd MT and had the shifter rod break, while shifting into 3rd gear actually!
(I could be wrong calling it that, basically it was the next part below the shifter you grab, the rod that connects to that and goes down into the actual trans. to move the gears/forks around. (sorry I am still learning proper terminology))

When we got it back from the shop, the guy told me I was lucky it was only that, as rebuilding the 6spd trans was really expensive, I asked how much and he said 5K + (it was closer to 6k)



In the end, for us, since we already had the trans out, I had them check everything and make sure it was all up to spec's.
Cost 1200 in the end just to get it all fixed and the inspection, which didn't include dropping and reinstalling the trans.
The 6spds are nice and I would not trade mine, but a bitch if you need service it seems.

just my $0.05

 

A good thing of course.

Not the way to tell. Personal inspection required. Ball peen, screwdriver, camera mounted to your phone to look inside where the problems really start.

 

Just walk away from this. It’s got a major tranny problem and who knows what other problems. Your second post indicates there’s a lot of other shit wrong with it. Repeat, walk away from this. Even if the price seems cheap remember cheap often ends up costing a lot and being expensive. Be patient and keep looking.

 

Personally, i don't view wearable things as things that are "wrong" with the vehicle. But i see your point. Thanks for the advice.

 

I agree , there are some serious factory flaws with the manual 6 speed . A chirping bearing being one of the issues , even with new upgraded factory parts that chirping clutch release bearing is not going away anytime soon .

 

Funny you mention that. I bit the bullet and got a new aftermarket clutch during the time we had the tranny issues. Only adding to the cost.
Probably good in the end though, lot of the reason to spend the extra was because of the issues with the stock clutch.
The throwout bearings are garbage it seems.
that we never have to do that again!
*knocks on wood*
*throws salt over shoulder*

 

OP, heed this advice. Don't be fixated on the price because this truck has been abused and neglected maintenance for it to have all of these issues with only 121k miles. I'll be shocked if the oil was even changed at the proper interval. "Wearable" things you mentioned are expected but not fixing them gives me an idea of the type owner the PO is.