The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: DrJordanEdelstein on December 27, 2014, 05:07:22 PM
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I have a automatic 2000 toyota 4runner with 130k miles that has been having transmission troubles. I have its leaking fluid very slowly so I have to top it off every 2-3 months with a quart. Additionally when it is cold it seems like it doesn't switch out of 1st gear when it should and gets to like 4k rpm rather than the normal 2-3k. Once I'm driving it for more than 2-3minutes I don't have any problems and it seems to change gears fine and its fine on the interstate for short trips.
The problem originally came up when I moved cities and drove it ~600 miles on very low transmission fluid, cause I didn't know it was empty.
I don't drive it very much maybe 2 times per week. I bike to work, but groceries are a ways off and various social activities involve me driving on the weekend. Occasionally I have to drive 25 miles to work (1 week twice a year.)
I was quoted 3500 for a rebuild. I looked around and can get a used trany for 500-600 and then installed for like 1k. But if it doesn't work I'm out 1.5k seems like kinda a gamble. I'm not sure if I should just keep driving it until it stops working or if I should replace it now so I don't have to deal with a break down that turns into a major problem. One thing that is pushing me to do it, is I will likely sell the car eventually and I would get a lot more if it was in full working condition.
Anyone have any experience riding on a borderline working trany? Any ideas on getting it done in a cost effective way?
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I am no mechanic, however the transmission pan maybe dent causing the fluid to leak. You may need a new gasket or a straight pan. 4 Runners are not ideal for being frugal. Try putting the vehicle on Craigslist as is and see what offers you get.
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Sometimes Lucas Transmission Fix works, it depends on if it's just your seals that are damaged or if it's physically damaged. For the price it costs it is usually worth trying out.
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Maybe I'll try the Lucus Transmission fix. Honestly it drives fine, I'll probably just wait til it starts having more problems, I just don't want to get stranded somewhere, or have to do the repair in a hurry and not being able to get a good deal.
I took it to a mechanic who told me multiple seals seemed to be leaking, and he suggested a rebuild. I know a 4Runner wouldn't be the greatest purchase but selling it and buying another car would cost a lot good amount of money. Also its fuel efficiency is not that big of a deal cause I only put 100 miles on it a month (25-30$ in gas). If I did buy a different used car I would get something more reasonable. But I think suggesting I sell it ignores the significant frictional costs of buying and selling vehicles, especially selling a partially broken one.
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Make sure the fluid is full. Years of the 4 runner 98-2001 have had transmission problems!! You can buy allot of trans fluid for $3500!! I never suggest that you put a USED trans in a 4runner. You need to do a bench rebuild. Do you have a check engine light on? If so, get is scanned and get back to me with the code. You can limp that thing along for a while if need be. When the time comes it will be worth to get it fixed. IF you decide to fix it down the road take it to a reputable mechanic to check the whole car over to make sure its worth fixing it.
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It had a P0770 error code (Shift Solenoid “E” malfunction) that came on for a bit , but stays off if I keep the fluid correct. I check it once a month or so and it needs a quart every 2 months or so. I'll be sure to keep it full. I got the Lucus transmission fix and I'm gonna try that to slow down the leak. I think I'll just keep driving it until it starts really giving me problems and then get it rebuilt, if there is nothing else wrong with the car.
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Letting it go down a full quart is bad. Fill it up every half quart.
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Keep the fluid full, don't abuse it, and see what happens.
And I definitely agree about not putting a used automatic transmission in a car. Failed automatic transmissions are a frequent reason for a perfectly good looking vehicle to be in a junkyard.