Truck won’t move!!!! Transmission??

[Seattle100]

My wife was driving today, reported some noise during deceleration, thought brake related. Later on, completely lost all power. Engine runs, but won’t move in any direction. Sounds really bad trying, but it doesn’t move when I lock the diff. I don’t think this is front hubs. I put the truck into drive and looked under it, neither drive shaft was rotating. I checked the transmission fluid cold, and it looked like the correct level.

What happens when a transmission completely fails?

Any other ideas? I’m worried this is gonna total my truck!!!!

2000 lc w 215k miles.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

T-case lever get bumped to neutral somehow?

 

[Seattle100]

Nope, happened while driving too. Managed to coast on to shoulder.

I can shift H, N, and L. No change in symptoms. Same w center diff, R, D, 2, 1. It rolls fine in N.

How would you diagnose a blown torque converter? Or?

 

[LJE]

Do you have Techstream? I don't know if there's a sensor for the input shaft for the transmission or not.
There's probably several different things that it could be. I know one member had issues with a sheared flex plate.

 

[awesomeissquid]

Your next step is likely to drop the transmission pan to see if there is anything there. I believe some have noted issues with the overdrive gear that can fail and take out the transmission. If it is confirmed to be the transmission it can either be rebuilt or you can swap in a used unit. I would personally probably swap in a used one and go from there.

@LJE brings up a good point regarding the flex plate. Before dropping the transmission pan you could open the inspection window and see how it looks.

 

[SteveH]

Dropping the pan and checking for metal filings will tell you something. This is about how the trans on my 2000 4Runner failed - a few poor shifts and then dead in the water like yours. The trans digested itself at 240K with little warning and the pan had a ton of shavings. I installed a used trans. and moved on.

 

[Seattle100]

Good call on the input. I'll try to find the inspection plate and have a look.

What's the going rate for a reman or used trans? How painful is the swap? I've done just about everything on my cars but never had to do a transmission. It really doesn't look that difficult on this truck, but I've been very wrong with that thought before....

 

[Seattle100]

Doesn’t look like it’s the flex plate….

Anything else this could be before I tow it to a transmission shop?

 

[GerLC100]

Perhaps you can start the engine and check whether or not the plate/ converter is turning…?

My first bet would also be the converter as you can‘t move forward or backwards.
And if the trans pan doesn‘t show heavy shavings…

 

[SteveH]

Check for a Youtube video on trans replacement. You will find most trans shops have little/no Toyota experience and will give you wild quotes that won't make sense. I found a used trans on Craigslist and had a Toyota-specific shop install it. Transmissions are anywhere from $350-$1000 used, in my experience. Labor can easily be $1500. Consider what else you might do, like replacing the rear main seal and any transfer case inspection/service.

 

[Seattle100]

Yeah, this is plan I think.

Try to sell as is, when that inevitably fails, buy used transmission and swap it in (along with rear main while I'm there). I was really hoping not to have to wrench on this car any more.

How do you inspect a used transmission? Drop the pan and check the fluid? Anything else that can be done?

Man, I just did the timing belt too.....

 

[GerLC100]

I can't imagine how you would really check it without opening it...

Assuming it's really the transmission and NOT the TC I'd personally likely get a used one and rebuild myself. Only question would then be: take yours out and rebuild while using the used one temporarily or let the car sit until the used one got rebuild.

 

[Seattle100]

Yeah, I don’t have time to rebuild it right now. I may just take the loss and sell the truck as is. I’m gonna be bummed not have a LC anymore…

 

[GerLC100]

Bi‘d first try to find out what it is… tranny out, TC swap and runs… could be an easy and not too expensive solution

 

[Seattle100]

She's on Craigslist for $6k. I figure someone with more time than me could have her back up and running for under 1k in parts, plus labor. Up here, these trucks still seem to get 12 to 18k regularly.

If no one bites in the next month or so, I might get time to dig into it. Swapping a transmission on the street sounds miserable though. We used to have a 'rent a lift' place nearby, but I think Amazon rented all the lifts for the foreseeable future to service the fleet of rivian delivery trucks...

 

[LJE]

She's on Craigslist for $6k. I figure someone with more time than me could have her back up and running for under 1k in parts, plus labor. Up here, these trucks still seem to get 12 to 18k regularly.

If no one bites in the next month or so, I might get time to dig into it. Swapping a transmission on the street sounds miserable though. We used to have a 'rent a lift' place nearby, but I think Amazon rented all the lifts for the foreseeable future to service the fleet of rivian delivery trucks...

Oh man, if I weren't across the country from you!

 

[Seattle100]

I dropped an ad in classifieds here too. Breaks my heart, but it's the right call for me at the moment.

If I still have her in a few weeks, I may change my tune and post a Transmission swap thread!!! (is it weird that I almost hope that happens?)