Destroyed tranny at 175k...scrap, sell, or fix?

[TLC100camper]

I sure could use some advice here! My 2001 LC has 175K and the tranny broke while driving on highway. Still trying to gather info and advice on what I should do.

Some points to consider:
1. I still owe the bank about as much as the kelly blue book value (ok, a little more actually)
2. engine and other parts in good working order. Probably needs axles replaced soon.
3. Interior is pretty rough. It was a camper vehicle, lived in while traveling the past two winters.
4. BUT the seats (Except driver and front passenger) where removed so they are brand new
5. There is a platform in the back for hauling camping stuff or putting down a sleeping pad
6. There is a dent in the rear, driver side door. Still closes fine and electronics/lock/window functions
7. I have become disabled in last year, struggling to keep up with payments and besides, am too tired to do offroad camping! Even if I didn't break even it may be worth it to get out of payments and get something more practical. Sucks to admit but with my nerve pain I wont be doing much 4x4ing any time soon...

Sorry for getting personal but I think those are important factors, not just the mechanical side of it.

Thanks so much for any help, I am really out of my league here and all advice is gratefully appreciated!

P.S. make me an offer if interested...

 

[MTKID]

Was it already looked at by a mechanic? Maybe if you share as much information about the tranny (symptoms, sounds, what is shot inside if it’s been opened) someone that’s able to tackle it themselves might take it off your hands. Sorry about your health. Try to find something different, hobby, etc, that you can enjoy and look forward to. Or I hope you can recover!

 

[lt1fire]

time for a manual swap

 

[abuck99]

Fix it- cause you’ll get more for if its drivable. Clean it up, put the seats back in, cover the front seats and sell it.

 

[TLC100camper]

Was it already looked at by a mechanic? Maybe if you share as much information about the tranny (symptoms, sounds, what is shot inside if it’s been opened) someone that’s able to tackle it themselves might take it off your hands. Sorry about your health. Try to find something different, hobby, etc, that you can enjoy and look forward to. Or I hope you can recover!

I just spoke with mechanic and they said they havn't opened it up, and it costs 800$ to take it out and find out. They said something is broken inside tranny, maybe chipped teeth? It was leaking a lot of fluid when put on tow truck bed! They recommended a rebuild or replace. Thanks! Yeah that's true, luckily I can still ride a bike and go swimming, both godsends.

 

[Rolocado]

car-part.com shows there are many to be had to be able to replace with functioning units

 

[od4x4]

Blue Book is most likely lower than what you can get because these do better than straight depreciation ... of course this all depends on the condition. Check other sites and Craigslist for better examples.

@abuck99 is right. Fix it and clean it. You may still take a loss but probably not as much as a non-functioning (and most critically) non-diagnosed vehicle. Your description makes it sound really rough, but I suspect you are a little depressed about the broken transmission so you might be trying to justify having it towed off.

At the end of the day, get it to a shop you trust and get a worst case estimate. Then you can look at what they are selling for in your area and decide how much you are willing to loose... and if you decide to let it go in it’s current state you will also be able to pass the diagnosis along which should help you to get more money since it takes that unknown out of the question.

Good luck.

 

[TLC100camper]

It1fire: Yeah you are right, the quote for a rebuild was $500 less than swap! not worth it...

abuck99: Good advice, then maybe it will get more into the "good" territory and not so deep into "Fair" condition. Will clean up inside as much as possible.

Rolocado:
Thanks! That changes things, cheapest one from dealer was $2500. I am just nervous because they are somewhat high mileage, and mine broke at 175,000. I assume that most LC transmissions last longer than mine did, even though mechanic said it was "within range". I am guessing they meant at lower end of the scale?

od4x4: I looked on local Cragislist and other classifieds and every LC I found was way over the bluebook value...maybe they don't count demand or rareness in their numbers? Anyway that is encouraging... Well there are some interior pieces that are pretty badly chewed up, in one case, literally chewed up from a dog haha. Plenty of velcro and duct tape and a few magnets screwed into places for storage. Front seat has a tear which is steadily transforming into a black hole. Would probably be better for a project/overland/camper type application. My opinion is that its still a Land Cruiser, the car could be driving around well after the apocalypse if the tranny was replaced! I always hoped to keep it around after next car and make it into a lifted 4x4 monster - its been my daily driver and weekend warrior!

 

[TLC100camper]

Thanks everyone, starting to get a plan formulated. Thinking I should fix it up, bite the bullet ($3k ish), and get it running again, regardless of what I do afterwards. I think with the better than blue book value I can get, plus selling the Baja Rack or selling it with Baja Rack, I stand a pretty good chance of breaking even. Seems worth it to keep it after all?

 

[Asanka]

This is not mine! I believe seller is a mud member,

1998 to 2002 land cruiser transfer case

 

[abuck99]

If youre going to sell it, search for a trans out of a wrecked 100 you have many years 98-03 to choose from. Compare that to a rebuilt Toyota trans installed, and also rebuilding your current trans. Do the cheapest one, get a transferrable warranty on the work so you can reassure new owner theyre covered.

And 175k miles is low mileage on a cruiser A343 transmission. Unless it was towing a 30ft camper all its life and the fluid was never changed- its uncommon to have failed at this mileage. Get a 2nd opinion to be sure of what youre dealing with.

 

[2000UZJ]

I sold mine do to a few mechanical issues. I didn’t own anything on it, but I wish I had fixed it and kept it. You’ll regret selling it

 

[Spike555]

If you don't fix it you can't sell it for what you owe.

 

[highonpottery]

I say fix it.
My Cruiser once had a bad trans, kinda how I got it for so cheap ($14k back in '99). Original owner got stranded on highway at only 117k, dealer wanted like $3500 for a brand new trans (no rebuilds at dealer) and so he decided to just trade it in toward a 200-series (must be nice to be able to do that). Anyways, they stuck a new trans in it and all has been good, we're at over 225k now.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I say fix it.
My Cruiser once had a bad trans, kinda how I got it for so cheap ($14k back in '99). Original owner got stranded on highway at only 117k, dealer wanted like $3500 for a brand new trans (no rebuilds at dealer) and so he decided to just trade it in toward a 200-series (must be nice to be able to do that). Anyways, they stuck a new trans in it and all has been good, we're at over 225k now.

I wonder what killed them. I thought these transmissions were pretty bulletproof

OP: I'd get it fixed and clean it up really good before selling. These don't have much value without a good drivetrain. Even paying shop rates for all labor and a detail shop to do the cleaning I think you'd come out ahead. You've got some unique circumstances though, so it's hard to say what will work best for your exact situation.

 

[highonpottery]

No idea what killed the trans as I never interacted with the original owner to be able to ask and Toyota dealer only swaps the part out, no going inside to investigate the cause.

 

[TLC100camper]

abuck99: Only towed a 12ft cargo trailer around 2000 miles or so. It was starting to slip before that, I just didn't know enough to realize it!

2000uzj: I know I would regret it! I will fix it and most likely keep it.

Spike555: True, fixing it seems like the best way to go.

suprarx7nut: I will be curious to see what did in my tranny at so low miles, maybe trailer contributed but it has been slipping for a while now.

highonpottery: maybe there are some "lemon" transmissions out there and its simple bad luck? I will probably just swap with a rebuilt or new tranny so I guess I will never know... rebuild is extremely pricy

 

[Eicca]

Wasn’t there a study on this forum a while back about 2000-2002 tranny failures? Someone may have done some forensics and suspected a bad batch of thrust washers was to blame.

I can’t remember for sure.

But I will say the shift action in my uncle’s 2000 is mushier than my mom’s 1999. And his has literally half the miles at like 120k. Could be a different issue.