Has my transmission grenaded? (1 Viewer)

[abuck99]

It’s crazy that the A343 for all its applications is no longer available from Toyota as a reman unit-

 

[cruiserdan]

Not when you consider the age of the vehicles and the UIO.

 

[Scrambled]

Sent you PM but posting here for others. My Transmission went out with no warning (2/2001 LX470, 200,054 miles). Georg recommended Salim at Legacy Transmission in Hayward CA for the rebuild.

Transmission Shop | Hayward, CA | Legacy Transmissions

Our mission at Legacy Transmissions in Hayward, CA is to provide quality and dependable transmission repairs, maintenance, rebuilds, and replacements at a reasonable price.

www.bayarealegacytransmissions.com

Salim was great to interact with. Just got it back, so far it’s driving great.

 

[Africaster]

The weakest part in the 2000 box is the needle roller bearing inside the O/D gear. IF this got replaced before it disintegrated, nothing would have happened.

I have a ‘99 LX 175k… is this something that can/should be done as pm? Does it need a specialist or could an enthusiastic DIY’er get it done? Appreciated, Brad

 

[97 AZ LC]

I have a ‘99 LX 175k… is this something that can/should be done as pm? Does it need a specialist or could an enthusiastic DIY’er get it done? Appreciated, Brad

The problem started with the 2000 model year "upgrade". You're good.

 

[trdcorolla]

Sent you PM but posting here for others. My Transmission went out with no warning (2001 LX470, 200,054 miles). Georg recommended Salim at Legacy Transmission in Hayward CA for the rebuild.

Transmission Shop | Hayward, CA | Legacy Transmissions

Our mission at Legacy Transmissions in Hayward, CA is to provide quality and dependable transmission repairs, maintenance, rebuilds, and replacements at a reasonable price.

www.bayarealegacytransmissions.com

Salim was great to interact with. Just got it back, so far it’s driving great.

What build date is your 2001 LX?

 

[rustbuckie]

This is wild - the exact same thing just happened to me in my 2001 with 240k on 4/10 driving at 70mph in cruise control.

I made a reddit thread to figure out what happened while waiting to hear from my mechanic - https://www.reddit.com/r/LandCruisers/comments/12ktedt/broke_down_on_highway_help_me_guess_what_happened/

my mechanic just confirmed it was the transmission and towed it to their recommended specialist. I'm in massachusetts. I'll let you know the options and prices they end up giving me. Good luck @shoboat90 we'll get through this together!

 

[shoboat90]

This is wild - the exact same thing just happened to me in my 2001 with 240k on 4/10 driving at 70mph in cruise control.

I made a reddit thread to figure out what happened while waiting to hear from my mechanic - https://www.reddit.com/r/LandCruisers/comments/12ktedt/broke_down_on_highway_help_me_guess_what_happened/

my mechanic just confirmed it was the transmission and towed it to their recommended specialist. I'm in massachusetts. I'll let you know the options and prices they end up giving me. Good luck @shoboat90 we'll get through this together!

Wow, pretty unbelievable...at least you got 90k more out of yours!! Anyhow, last week I was gonna pull the pan and post pictures, however with it's orientation in my sloped driveway...I just couldn't figure out a great way to do it safely. After much hemming/hawing and talking to a bunch of different folks....it literally just left my driveway on a tow truck about 10mins ago to be diagnosed by the transmission shop I ultimately went with. I'll be sure to keep you all posted, and yes, good luck to you@rustbuckie and would be curious to know what the official diagnosis is.

 

[rustbuckie]

Wow, pretty unbelievable...at least you got 90k more out of yours!! Anyhow, last week I was gonna pull the pan and post pictures, however with it's orientation in my sloped driveway...I just couldn't figure out a great way to do it safely. After much hemming/hawing and talking to a bunch of different folks....it literally just left my driveway on a tow truck about 10mins ago to be diagnosed by the transmission shop I ultimately went with. I'll be sure to keep you all posted, and yes, good luck to you@rustbuckie and would be curious to know what the official diagnosis is.

No official diagnosis yet but it's going to need a full rebuild. Just spoke with the transmission specialists and they charge $3,500 for the rebuild. I imagine a replacement would be cheaper but I'd rather drive away with a warranty than gamble on a used tranny as I plan to own this car as long as possible.

Did your shop give you a rebuild price?

 

[Bisho]

Last night I met a long time Toyota/Lexus maintenance tech that’s been with Toyota corporate for quite a while. He told me they found the factory jigs we’re getting sloppy in the 2000 trannys, and the cruise control hammering in and out of overdrive on hilly roads is what destroys them.

Sounded like the best thing to do is get out of overdrive or kick off the cruise control in those situations to protect the transmission. I normally turn off the cruise in those situations, as it is very aggressive shifting in the hills.

 

[rustbuckie]

Last night I met a long time Toyota/Lexus maintenance tech that’s been with Toyota corporate for quite a while. He told me they found the factory jigs we’re getting sloppy in the 2000 trannys, and the cruise control hammering in and out of overdrive on hilly roads is what destroys them.

Sounded like the best thing to do is get out of overdrive or kick off the cruise control in those situations to protect the transmission. I normally turn off the cruise in those situations, as it is very aggressive shifting in the hills.

that's great to know thank you! Do you think I should avoid cruise control altogether when I get my rebuilt tranny? or just try to avoid using it in hilly areas?

 

[Bisho]

that's great to know thank you! Do you think I should avoid cruise control altogether when I get my rebuilt tranny? or just try to avoid using it in hilly areas?

I’d guess when it’s rebuilt the tolerances will be proper and you don’t have to worry about it. I never liked how aggressively it shifts in cruise control on hills, so I’ve either turned off overdrive or cruise to avoid the aggressive shifts.

 

[yj668]

I’d guess when it’s rebuilt the tolerances will be proper and you don’t have to worry about it. I never liked how aggressively it shifts in cruise control on hills, so I’ve either turned off overdrive or cruise to avoid the aggressive shifts.

This seems like the most feasible option for preventing premature trans failure. Especially when it leaves O/D and re-enters O/D with a hard shift.

On steep elevation I've always preferred pulsing the gas pedal to prevent the trans from kicking in and out of O/D on an AT. You eventually end up at a certain speed that's the known edge of the rig's efficiency curve versus obvious brute forcing with harder acceleration and it still barely gains speed, which seems like a common rule for most Japanese automobile that just crawl when going against gravity. They just aren't designed to hold their speeds well compared to European automobile.

The logic on the 100 series computer is pretty much reaching the cruise control's target speed at all cost even if it means flooring the gas pedal. It doesn't factor if it is remotely realistic to reach that targeted speed unlike computers on cars that were made in the late 2000's started considering more stuffs like input from the cruise control lasers and more.

 

[nissanh]

No official diagnosis yet but it's going to need a full rebuild. Just spoke with the transmission specialists and they charge $3,500 for the rebuild. I imagine a replacement would be cheaper but I'd rather drive away with a warranty than gamble on a used tranny as I plan to own this car as long as possible.

Did your shop give you a rebuild price?

I did a full rebuilt on my 2000 in last summer and total was $3881. MAke sure to install an OEM rear main seal and also inspect the flex plate.

One more... install an inline transmission filter between the external cooler and transmission. This will insure any tiny specks of broken pieces will not be sent back to the pan. Yes, they'll flush the lines but trust me there will be tiny particles which takes time to come out. I installed an inline filter and was able to trap most of the debries left inside even after the flush. The inline filter I got had a magnet, so it will catch any metal particles during the breakin period.


The issue is a low quality needle roller bearing in the O/D planetary gear. With a rebuilt, they'll install a good quality needle bearing so shifting through all gears should not case the same issue. Trust me.. if my trans fail again.. I am going to junk my cruiser and go to a nearest Nissan dealer and drive off a new armada.


The failure seems to happen when traveling at or above 70 MPH. I was at 80-85 MPH (west TX speed limit) and no issues at all, then stopped to get gas and back to the service road no more than 10 MPH, noticed no power (felt like a flat tire), then hard shifting still below 10 MPH.

 

[rustbuckie]

I did a full rebuilt on my 2000 in last summer and total was $3881. MAke sure to install an OEM rear main seal and also inspect the flex plate.

One more... install an inline transmission filter between the external cooler and transmission. This will insure any tiny specks of broken pieces will not be sent back to the pan. Yes, they'll flush the lines but trust me there will be tiny particles which takes time to come out. I installed an inline filter and was able to trap most of the debries left inside even after the flush. The inline filter I got had a magnet, so it will catch any metal particles during the breakin period.


The issue is a low quality needle roller bearing in the O/D planetary gear. With a rebuilt, they'll install a good quality needle bearing so shifting through all gears should not case the same issue. Trust me.. if my trans fail again.. I am going to junk my cruiser and go to a nearest Nissan dealer and drive off a new armada.


The failure seems to happen when traveling at or above 70 MPH. I was at 80-85 MPH (west TX speed limit) and no issues at all, then stopped to get gas and back to the service road no more than 10 MPH, noticed no power (felt like a flat tire), then hard shifting still below 10 MPH.

Will definitely mention your notes to transmission shop. Thank you @nissanh

 

[shoboat90]

This seems like the most feasible option for preventing premature trans failure. Especially when it leaves O/D and re-enters O/D with a hard shift.

On steep elevation I've always preferred pulsing the gas pedal to prevent the trans from kicking in and out of O/D on an AT. You eventually end up at a certain speed that's the known edge of the rig's efficiency curve versus obvious brute forcing with harder acceleration.

with all this talk about cruise control / OD etc I'm starting to wonder if the many trips up the local mountains this year was a contributing problem....especially since my son

Will definitely mention your notes to transmission shop. Thank you @nissanh

likewise!

 

[nissanh]

with all this talk about cruise control / OD etc I'm starting to wonder if the many trips up the local mountains this year was a contributing problem....especially since my son

likewise!

Well this is a legandary land cruiser so not shifting into OD would make even a PT Cruiser a far better vehicle than a cruiser.

After the rebuilt with good quality needle bearings etc., (See the link I posted in this thread about auto trans and how reputed shops rebuild those), I'd say there should not be any issues and should not worry about using cruise or O/D. I will continue to use all the gears when needed.

 

[vegasguzzi]

The whole sale automatic transmissions is owned by Rocket Rod: he got tons of Youtube shows including his own and few 4wd247.

My point is these automatic transmissions are 4 speed and ancient. It is not difficulty to rebuild a 4 speed as opposed to a 10 speed trans. I know a guy in Shreveport LA who do trans rebuild in 4Runner, FJ's TAco's and LC's. I infact posted a link in this thread and he explains a lot about auto's.

I have never rebuild an automatic transmission but it is not rocket science either. For an experienced who have dealt with rebuilding auto's, a toyota trans would not make any difference. Afterall...Toyota never invented auto's, it's I believe Allison/GM so anyone dealing with GM/Ford/Allison would know how to build an auto. The shop I rebuild mine said they have access to automatic parts through an American manufacturer.

To properly build an auto, I think (due to the destruction on non-wear items such as plenatary gears etc.,) you would look near $4000. Yes, it is expensive and has nothing to do with the market value of the vehicle.

Having said all this: you still need to ensure what is exactly wrong.

Who is the shop in Shreveport? I blew out second gear in my 2000lc and am looking for a reputable shop in the southeast.

 

[shoboat90]

Who is the shop in Shreveport? I blew out second gear in my 2000lc and am looking for a reputable shop in the southeast.

Just confirming, this is the correct part number for the rear seal? Hoping to get a diagnosis tomorrow.

Toyota 90311-95012​

Seal, Engine Rear Oil

 

[shoboat90]

Just got back from the shop...this is the only photo I took but the teeth on the planetary gear amongst others were shredded!