I have been battling with a commuter car to make it useful for replacing my FJ60 for daily driver use. It's a 1989 Camry, 4 cylinder with an automatic transmission. I thought the car was a good deal because it only cost $100. Even though it needed a new engine I figured I could easily be into it for only ~$1,200 when I was finished with an engine from salvage, new T-belt, cap, rotor.....
Man was I wrong. For the last ~3 months, I have been battling with a leaking transmission that I simply cannot seem to stop. Here's a summary:
Put good salvage motor with new parts in the car, start it up and shift in an out of gear. ATF starts dribbling out from inside the bell-housing. "Son-of-a-bi!@#"
Several weeks later, I get time to take the transmission out. I replaced the input shaft seal which is what seals the tube that's welded to the torque converter (ane surrounds the drive splines) and goes into the transmission. I started it, shifted it and no leaks. I took it down the road and discover it started leaking again. But was less than before.
Now I'm really pissed. I debate putting it up for sale and just telling the future owner it has a transmission leak that needs to be repaired.
I decide not to give up that easily. A few more weeks later, I finally admit defeat. I took the transmission out and took it to a recommended transmission shop. The shop owner tells me the shaft on the original torque converter has enough wear from the seal (after 130K miles) that it should be replaced. So, the torque converter, shaft seal, pump cover gasket and the seal for a plug inside the bell housing (don't know what it's for) are all replaced. The invoice states R&R on the bushings as well. I even put in a new kickdown cable because the sheath on the old one was busted. Now I'm into this transmission for $600. There's no turning back.
So, a week ago, I get it all back together. Fire it up, no leaks - for about 5 minutes. Then it starts dripping again, about a drop every two seconds. I drove it on Saturday to get the emissions tested and it leaks worse ( a stripe on the road) when I drive it.
Motherfu....! I am now into this car for pretty much market value, ~$1,800. I can't figure out why the hell the friggin' transmission won't stop leaking. The engine runs great, the AC is cold, the interior is in great shape. There are a few little cosmetic issues but it's basically the perfect commuter vehicle if it gets the expected 30+ mpg.
Does anyone out there have any idea what to do next?
My plan is to take the entire car back to the transmission shop but who knows how much more money I'm going to have to spend. I'm catching a lot of grief from the wifey for how much money and time I've apparently wasted on the POS. She's even suggested I sell it and the 60 so I can have enough money for a late model, reliable car like a Civic or Corrolla (one that's not more than 10 years old). I told her she's blasphemous for even considering that I should sell my 60 if I'm not replacing it with another Toyota 4X4. If I had plenty of extra money, I would have bought the Civic or Corolla already and been saving $100/month in gas. If I'd done it a year ago, I could have spent $3,000 on a car and I would be even with the current project expenses and lack of fuel savings (don't lecture me on the time-value of money). Plus, I wouldn't have wasted at least a week's worth of days off over the past several months. I'm not even sure how to put a value on the days off I've lost to this little car. At least it gave me an excuse to hang out with my father and do some wrenching together. I don't think I'd see him much if I didn't have a bunch of old cars that seem to always need maintenance.
- Marc
Man was I wrong. For the last ~3 months, I have been battling with a leaking transmission that I simply cannot seem to stop. Here's a summary:
Put good salvage motor with new parts in the car, start it up and shift in an out of gear. ATF starts dribbling out from inside the bell-housing. "Son-of-a-bi!@#"
Several weeks later, I get time to take the transmission out. I replaced the input shaft seal which is what seals the tube that's welded to the torque converter (ane surrounds the drive splines) and goes into the transmission. I started it, shifted it and no leaks. I took it down the road and discover it started leaking again. But was less than before.
Now I'm really pissed. I debate putting it up for sale and just telling the future owner it has a transmission leak that needs to be repaired.
I decide not to give up that easily. A few more weeks later, I finally admit defeat. I took the transmission out and took it to a recommended transmission shop. The shop owner tells me the shaft on the original torque converter has enough wear from the seal (after 130K miles) that it should be replaced. So, the torque converter, shaft seal, pump cover gasket and the seal for a plug inside the bell housing (don't know what it's for) are all replaced. The invoice states R&R on the bushings as well. I even put in a new kickdown cable because the sheath on the old one was busted. Now I'm into this transmission for $600. There's no turning back.
So, a week ago, I get it all back together. Fire it up, no leaks - for about 5 minutes. Then it starts dripping again, about a drop every two seconds. I drove it on Saturday to get the emissions tested and it leaks worse ( a stripe on the road) when I drive it.
Motherfu....! I am now into this car for pretty much market value, ~$1,800. I can't figure out why the hell the friggin' transmission won't stop leaking. The engine runs great, the AC is cold, the interior is in great shape. There are a few little cosmetic issues but it's basically the perfect commuter vehicle if it gets the expected 30+ mpg.
Does anyone out there have any idea what to do next?
My plan is to take the entire car back to the transmission shop but who knows how much more money I'm going to have to spend. I'm catching a lot of grief from the wifey for how much money and time I've apparently wasted on the POS. She's even suggested I sell it and the 60 so I can have enough money for a late model, reliable car like a Civic or Corrolla (one that's not more than 10 years old). I told her she's blasphemous for even considering that I should sell my 60 if I'm not replacing it with another Toyota 4X4. If I had plenty of extra money, I would have bought the Civic or Corolla already and been saving $100/month in gas. If I'd done it a year ago, I could have spent $3,000 on a car and I would be even with the current project expenses and lack of fuel savings (don't lecture me on the time-value of money). Plus, I wouldn't have wasted at least a week's worth of days off over the past several months. I'm not even sure how to put a value on the days off I've lost to this little car. At least it gave me an excuse to hang out with my father and do some wrenching together. I don't think I'd see him much if I didn't have a bunch of old cars that seem to always need maintenance.
- Marc
