transmission shop

[REKCUT]

I am looking for a transmission shop that has experience with Toyota tranny's. I have a friend here in SPringfield with a 97 fj80 and he needs some help. The truck will free spin when you pull up to a stop but you dont completely stop. example is when you go through a yeild sign and slow then hit the gas to merge. It will just rev. If you wait it will finally kick in and drive normal. It works fine if you come to a complete stop. The toyota store here dropped the pan and found metal shavings and want to do a complete exchange for about $3500. They dont even have a way to change all the fuild other than to drop the pan and replace 4 of the 12 quarts. No one here that I can find has any experience with working on these and not just sending if off for a rebuild. I am hopping there is a shop in the KC area that might have experience working on these. The truck is a spotless 97 with only 125k on it.

 

[IBCRUSN]

I'd start with the fluid exchange. One of the Wichita locals had good luck finding a shop which sells BG Products and the machine they recommend to exchange the fluid. For $100 - $150 it is a cheap first step before going down the path of an overhaul. If you'd like to keep it even cheaper try one of the home brew fluid exchanges.

BG Findashop Springfield, MO

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/19299-transmission-fluid-exchange-writeup.html
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/254181-atf-exchange-project.html

Unless there was serious abuse by a PO even without ever having a fluid exchange the tranny should be okay. The metal shaving are definitely of interest (i.e. size of the particles). If it more like fuzz that would be normal. If you have a scan tool check it for codes on the tranny there may be a bad sensor.

The '95+ tranny isn't as stout as the pre '95 unit but for the average LC owner driving to and fro the malls it will put up with a lot of abuse.

 

[trainrech]

The fluid exchange is really simple - just need a 5 gallon bucket and plenty of fluid. Takes less than an hour to do.

 

[REKCUT]

Have been to a shop with a BG machine and they dont want do it once they learned of the metal shavings. Everyone here just wants to take it out and ship it off for exchange. The truck was a one owner and it very clean. Hard to imagine it was abused.

 

[IBCRUSN]

I bet $1 the local Toyota dealer has a history on it. That won't change their motivation to sell you parts and labor. Try another shop and don't mention the metal. Most shops just want to sell you parts and labor because it's easier to R&R parts than systematically fix a problem.

 

[mwalls54]

if there is alot of metal shavings I would say cluches are gone or the converter is shot. Changing fluid wont do much other than it might not slip as bad its just putting a band aid on it. if a transmission shop has a good reputation i would say it would be fine to take it there. if they have worked on a land cruiser tranny or not. once you start to dig into one they are made similar. I would imagine they also will have a warranty with their rebuild. Its probably not going to be that much cheaper than the toyota dealership if labor is included. I am assuming $3500 from the dealership has the labor included.

 

[REKCUT]

History is fine. $3500 is everything. I just hate parts exchange shops. They have no interest in fixing something. Just replacing it. I have also read and heard of many bad results on transmission rebuild on toyota transmission and very few good stories. Most of the ones I have researched have problems again within a year. My do the flush anyway.