2001 lx470 with intermittent hard shifting? Local Toyota dealer is recommending new transmission. (1 Viewer)

[Preston3]

Today I was the first time I noticed this issue. For whatever reason the shifter had a fair amount of resistance when I tried to move it from reverse to the drive position. I returned home and sat in the drive way and moved the shifter through the different positions to see if the symptom was still occurring between reverse and drive but I noticed it happening more when moving the shifter from the drive to park position. I also noticed that moving through the different positions sometimes produced a clunk but definitely not every time. I haven't noticed any other failing transmission symptoms while driving the vehicle, no weird or hard shifting, jerking, or power lagging while on the move.
I decided to take it to the local toyota dealership and I get a call 4 hours later and they are saying/ recommending a new transmission. They said they had a" master tech" drive the vehicle and relayed that he said that the only thing that could cause these shifting symptoms is an internal failure in the transmission. They quoted me $4,200 for a new trans. I am going to pick up the vehicle in the morning as Id like to get a second opinion.

Some info that may be helpful

2001 year model
211,000 mi
trans fluid is nice bright red color
trans fluid was changed @ 185,000 mi at toyota dealership
according to service records
Note: we've only owned the truck for 3 months, bought it for the wife from from a guy in town who had a ton of service records all from Toyota and they are mostly preventative/ scheduled maintenance records with a few repairs here and there over the years.

Thanks in advance for any and all info or advice or opinions on the issue.

 

[DirtDawg]

I’d get a second opinion.

 

[geanes]

Do you have a LandCruiser Specialist nearby? I wouldn't trust ANYTHING a dealer says....even a "master tech". Recently had my steering rack replaced at Charles Maund Toyota in Austin. TX and it was serviced by a "master tech" who forgot to refill my coolant after the service and then said that my coolant was there, but trapped somewhere in the system because my 5 month old OEM Toyota thermostat had failed. He couldn't produce the thermostat he removed and replaced (magically disappeared....like the coolant). Overheated my rig and thankfully avoided blowing up a perfectly good 2UZ.

 

[ramangain]

I always thought "internal failure" was code for "lazy tech who can't be bothered"

 

[geanes]

I always thought "internal failure" was code for "lazy tech who can't be bothered"

Yup! And the "needs a new transmission" is a tech who gets commissions and spiffs on sales

 

[Preston3]

Thanks so much for the quick replies. Yeah I'm wary of the dealership. I'm near Chattanooga TN if anyone has any recommendations as far as cruiser specialist shops go.

 

[sammybones]

Blackwell Automotive and then there’s a dude that left Blackwell to start his own Cruiser shop. Search Blackwell Automotive and you can find him.

 

[Preston3]

Blackwell Automotive and then there’s a dude that left Blackwell to start his own Cruiser shop. Search Blackwell Automotive and you can find him.

Nice, thanks so much. Will check out Blackwell

 

[CloudCity]

Could be as simple as a failing linkage. A Toyota "Master Tech" destroyed my brake assembly two years ago while screwing up a simple brake fluid exchange. They ended up paying for it but not until after I spent a year having an attorney rough them up.

 

[Mike NXP]

second opinion is needed.
>> Can you tell us more details? Based on your original post it sounds like you just have a rough/clunk shift going on. Once in gear, does it drive normally? Do you have to apply alot of force to get the shifter to move, or is the main issue the clunk?

While shifitng from P-R-N-D on my 100 series I clunk and bang into gear., unless gently rolling back while shifting. This is more a symptom of bushing wear ( front diff perhaps ) or drive shaft issues as commonly noted in other threads.