[miska5298]

I have a 05 Toyota Sienna, Auto, 153k miles. I've already have it at the shop I trust but they are not a specialized transmission place. They quoted me the used trans. Should I go with a 2700.00 used transmission with 60k or less on it with 6m warranty or go elsewhere to get it rebuilt in which I have no idea what it will cost till they take it apart? I've been told the torque converter is burnt up.

[feelip]

I would do some online shopping for a rebuilt transmission. Never had much luck with junkyard pieces.

And $2,700 sounds a little pricey, but I could be wrong.

This post has been edited by feelip: 12 June 2012 - 05:10 PM

[jayride]

:excl:Get another opinion that sounds way to high online they look like closer to 1,000 delivered

[FreeBird]

I have a 99 - different transmission, but I'd expect it be in the same ballpark. I got a rebuild price of $1600 from Johnboy automotive (call Steven 404-444-0289) and maybe he can give you a referral.

Got to take care of them and they will last a while - mine is at 218K and no problems.

[miska5298]

thanks for the recommendations.

[Steven Lang]

Go to car-part.com

Find a nice transmission.

Pay someone $400 to put it on.

Problem sovled. Transmissions are bolt on parts. There is nothing mysterious or four-figured cost worthy in installing them.

[Nitro]

miska5298, on 12 June 2012 - 04:32 PM, said:

I have a 05 Toyota Sienna, Auto, 153k miles. I've already have it at the shop I trust but they are not a specialized transmission place. They quoted me the used trans. Should I go with a 2700.00 used transmission with 60k or less on it with 6m warranty or go elsewhere to get it rebuilt in which I have no idea what it will cost till they take it apart? I've been told the torque converter is burnt up.

**IF** the torque converter is bad, that doesn't necessarily warrant a new transmission.

A factory torque converter will run about $600.
The trans has to come out to replace it.

I would strongly suggest getting a second opinion.

2nd. There are VERY few people who know how to properly rebuild a transmission, ESPECIALLY a Japanese transmission.
That is most likely an Asian-Warner transmission. Most transmission places will rebuild one and it will be shot again inside a year.

$2700 seems a little high for that transmission. You could buy a brand new one for $3500.

I would suggest NOT getting it rebuilt. I would suggest getting a second opinion, as if the problem is just a torque converter
it may not require the transmission to be replaced.

What symptoms is it exhibiting?

This post has been edited by Nitro: 12 June 2012 - 10:21 PM

[miska5298]

I can start up and drive fine but a few minutes later it acts like it's in neutral. I'll turn the car off and restart it and it will drive for a minute and then act up again. Seems like somethings clogging the pump. I had to restart 10 times just to make it 1 mile. This all started about 3k miles after I got it flushed / serviced and along with my 120k tune up.

[tranquility]

Give Ron at The Grease Monkey a call - 770-896-4289.
He has a mobile service also where he can come to your home
and run diagnostics to confirm the problem.
His shop is out of his home near Rose's store and he can have the car towed there for you, if needed.
Very reasonable pricing when we needed a t.mission back in January.
His price was much more reasonable than anything we found calling around to different places.

[Nitro]

miska5298, on 13 June 2012 - 06:54 AM, said:

I can start up and drive fine but a few minutes later it acts like it's in neutral. I'll turn the car off and restart it and it will drive for a minute and then act up again. Seems like somethings clogging the pump. I had to restart 10 times just to make it 1 mile. This all started about 3k miles after I got it flushed / serviced and along with my 120k tune up.

Chances are, it's not the torque converter, based on your description.

My next question is... Is this the first time you've had the trans serviced?

If so, that is likely what caused the problem.

A transmission should be serviced every 30,000 miles.
Here's the kicker... If you don't service it regularly, you should NEVER service it.
Transmission fluid is VERY high in detergent and the problem that a LOT of people make
is they go 100,000 miles, etc... and then have their transmission serviced (flushed).
This is the WORST thing you can do to an automatic.
Varnish builds up in the transmission and when the flush happens, that new high detergent
fluid washes all that varnish off the internals of the transmission.
Sounds good, right? Nope, it's VERY bad. The oil passages in a transmission are very small.
These oil passages have solenoids that control oil flow through them.
When that varnish gets broke loose, it clogs up these passages and it prevents shifting and proper
power transfer from the input shaft through the gears.
If the fluid can't flow, it can't transmit power through the fluid coupler (torque converter) and it
can't shift properly because there isn't enough pressure to lock up the clutches inside.

Now, what causes the problem is that since there isn't fluid in there that is able to lock up the clutches
inside, those clutches slip and they end up burning up and it burns the trans fluid as well.

If this is the case, then yes, you are going to need some serious work.
If this is the case, then don't let someone rebuild it.
Like I said, there are very few people who can properly rebuild a modern automatic transmission.
They almost always fail...they don't use parts of the quality of the factory parts and they don't hold up.

It would definitely be a good idea to get a second opinion and make sure before you spend the money,
but if you end up having to replace it, check some junk yards. You could probably find a low mileage
transmission from a wrecked vehicle fairly inexpensive. I would steer clear of $2700 for a used one though.
Like I said, you can buy a brand new one with updated electronics and such for about $3500.

No matter what route you take, good luck with it. Hopefully, it won't set back your pocketbook too much!

... and when you get it replaced, if it's got over 50,000 miles on it, don't have
the fluid flushed and serviced.
If you get a new one, service it every 30,000 miles.
As long as you keep it serviced it's fine. If you neglect it or don't know if
a used one has ever been serviced and it's about 50,000... it's best to leave it alone.

This post has been edited by Nitro: 13 June 2012 - 08:29 AM

[GeorgiaTornado]

Call Guy at Hi-Tech transmissions. He is the best around.....HANDS down. My bf just had his rebuilt there..and his truck is a 4x4.

I think it was only $1700. don't quote me on that.

[FreeBird]

I checked ebay and there are many used transmissions in the $1000 range so I think the $2700 figure is too high.

I agree with the other poster on service and no service. The serivce interval I do on my toyotas is change 87.5% of fluid every 30,000 miles and then same with pan drop and filter change at 60,000. I can only say that this has given me 218,000 miles of trouble free service so far.

[stczts]

I just picked up my truck today, Had the transmission rebuilt for $1400 at speedy transmission in Marietta, they gave me a 12 month warranty with it.

[Marteen-J]

miska5298, on 13 June 2012 - 06:54 AM, said:

I can start up and drive fine but a few minutes later it acts like it's in neutral. I'll turn the car off and restart it and it will drive for a minute and then act up again. Seems like somethings clogging the pump. I had to restart 10 times just to make it 1 mile. This all started about 3k miles after I got it flushed / serviced and along with my 120k tune up.

Most likely the torque converter. $300 to $400 to replace it with local mechanics, more from the dealer. But since the trans has got to be split off the engine anyway to get to the torque converter, have the trans rebuilt "if" A. you can afford an extra $1000 and B. you plan on keeping the car a few more years.