Year 2000 Trans Failure at 97K

[Canteen]

I was hoping I didn't have one of the bad ones, but damn if mine didn't totally fail today.

While accelerating after going through a toll plaza, it felt like I had bumped it into N but was still in D. Pulled to shoulder and checked the basics. Cycled the transfer case, etc. Nothing. Total failure.

Got it towed to Toyota and am now waiting on a call from my guy at the dealer.

How strongly can I play this?

Thanks!

 

[re_guderian]

Unfortunately, I think the strongest play you can make is to be sure you're got about thirty five hundred bucks in your account...

 

[OregonLC]

And you locked the center to make sure you didn't have a broken drive flange?

 

[FlammableFishie]

Yep, unfortunately no recall was ever made for these.

 

[2000UZJ]

I'm trying to chase down this vibration under load. Did you have any vibration under hard acceleration prior to this? I'm sitting at 180K, I think I am fine, but it's getting worse.

 

[inkpot]

It's too bad, but it is a fourteen year old car. I don't see a dealer making good on it. Your kind of out of warrantee.

 

[Slickspawn]

I shopped prices for a trans and saw Olathe Toyota's site sells them for $1,800.00. Are you able to DIY?

 

[OregonLC]

If indeed it is a trans failure, could I talk you into getting a sample of the trans fluid and sending it into Blackstone for analysis? Trying to see if we can compile any trend data that may indicate a pending failure.

Here's the link with the previous Blackstone analysis.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/501772-2000-trans-status-2011-update-3.html

 

[FlammableFishie]

I'm trying to chase down this vibration under load. Did you have any vibration under hard acceleration prior to this? I'm sitting at 180K, I think I am fine, but it's getting worse.

I don't think yours is a "bad" tranny, from what I've learned faulty trannys usually expose themselves well before 100k. Probably a result of wheeling

 

[Canteen]

And you locked the center to make sure you didn't have a broken drive flange?

I didn't, but I did try various combinations of H/L/N and D/R/2/L PWR ON/OFF, 2nd Start on/off, etc.

 

[2000UZJ]

I don't think yours is a "bad" tranny, from what I've learned faulty trannys usually expose themselves well before 100k. Probably a result of wheeling

Most reported reported failures are under 100K. There have been several high mileage (150-200K) failures. I'm just hoping it's something else bushings, tires, etc. I can deal with a $1K repair bill, but $3,500 is a bit unrealistic.

 

[re_guderian]

I don't think yours is a "bad" tranny, from what I've learned faulty trannys usually expose themselves well before 100k. Probably a result of wheeling

Not true for the 2000-ish tranny failures, unfortunately...

 

[LockedNLoaded]

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but why haven't I seen these failures reported for 2000 LX470's? The trannys are the same. Seems like every case I have heard of is on a LC. It it just a case of guys just not reporting their issues?

I would also be very interested in seeing your results if you sent your tranny fluid to blackstone. I am waiting on their test kit to send my sample.

 

[re_guderian]

They happen for LX's too. Half of the failures are >100,000 miles.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=6822293&postcount=25

 

[BullElk]

WOW!....Hard to believe ANY year LC or LX would have a tranny that gave ANY trouble before 250K miles. Isn't that what we are all here for?....because our vehicles are the best on the planet?

I sure hate it for you Canteen. It hurts MY feelings to know our vehicles could fail like that. That's what American unionized cars do....not Japanese tractors in a tux.

So Sorry dude.

 

[HWY22]

Mine gave in at about 187K. I was driving it gently 90 miles to the dealership in Idaho Falls... went through 2 serious mountain passes just fine and then the tranny finally failed 1.5 miles from the dealership. Had to get it towed the next 1.5 miles...

All in all, around $3K. That was 72K miles ago...

 

[OregonLC]

WOW!....Hard to believe ANY year LC or LX would have a tranny that gave ANY trouble before 250K miles. Isn't that what we are all here for?....because our vehicles are the best on the planet?

I sure hate it for you Canteen. It hurts MY feelings to know our vehicles could fail like that. That's what American unionized cars do....not Japanese tractors in a tux.

So Sorry dude.

Guys, keep it in perspective: as best we can tell, it's around a 5% failure rate after 11 years! It only makes news because non-2000s are around 1.5%.

 

[BullElk]

My wife's LX has 245K miles on it with not a hint of trouble. Wonder if it could be that I NEVER change the tranny fluid? It's always the same satisfactory level and always smells good. Or.... is it just simply Divine intervention because I am terribly thankful for my vehicles.

 

[OregonLC]

I didn't, but I did try various combinations of H/L/N and D/R/2/L PWR ON/OFF, 2nd Start on/off, etc.

As a last resort try locking the center. If a cv breaks or a drive flange strips you won't get any motive force either. There's been more than one guy here thinking trans failure when it was only a drive flange.

 

[re_guderian]

...XXX,XXX K miles on it with not a hint of trouble...

unfortunately, that's the same story everybody tells. Up until the second before catastrophic failure...