I have a 1994 4Runner and I just blew my automatic transmission. It was slipping and not shifting out of first gear.

I took it to a mechanic. He informed that he drained some of the ATF and there is a considerable amount of metal in it. He said this indicates that the transmission needs to be rebuilt or I need a new one. He also said the transmission cooler is connected/apart of the radiator and since the metal contaminated the radiator, that I am going to need a new one of those also. The bill is going to be $3,200 to rebuild my transmission install it and buy me a new radiator.

I would like to fix my truck, but $3,200 seems a bit steep. Does this seem ballpark? Is the idea of buying a used Auto Trans a good idea? I have always wanted a manual transmission, maybe this is the time to try and swap one out.

Any opinions or input would be greatly appreciated.

 

time to do a manual swap & you can keep using the old radiator

 

find a new mechanic

 

Yeah, get a second opinion

 

3,200 sounds incredibly steep to me. FYI, you can get a brand new OEM auto trans from the toyota of dallas website for about 2,800. Rebuilding it should be far less than that. I seriously doubt that you need a new radiator. Just flush it.

 

Wow, you could buy a whole new truck for that. Could always try a "repuitable" junkyard and pull one for a fraction of that cost.

 

X2. Too bad you're not close, I just happen to have a good used A340H with 116,000 miles. ORS in Denver knows some good salvage yards in CO.

I tend to agree about not using the old cooler. The coolers can be hard to flush because of the small passages and you may not get it all out. Things as small as lint from a rag can problems with a solenoid. You can get a new radiator for about $130 or just bypass the radiator cooler and run a big aftermarket cooler for about $60-70.

 

The price is right on. From what I have heard the OEM unit is a rebuilt unit from mexico.

 

go to www.atsdiesel.com
ask clint what it takes to rebuild a bullet proof toyota trans

 

So i've decided to go with a used AT. What are some of the things I should look at when buying a used AT, to get the best one I can? Also, if I get an aftermarket radiator, what would you reccomend?

What kind of time investment is it to swap one of these out? I would say my mechanical knowledge is moderate.

Thanks again for all of your responses.

 

One of these will make it much easier:


The tricky part is removing the 2 top bolts, if they are frozen you need a breaker bar to get them loose but there is very little room to work. A 2 or 3" body lift would probably help. You can try some very long 1/2" drive extensions and a swivel or 2 but I ended up moving the engine forward about 4-5 inches to get one of them from inside the engine bay.

 

All Toyota autos have metal in the pan. In fact, the magnets are there to collect it. I'd check solenoids first before condeming the transmission. I suspect you have the A340H or A340F, pretty bullet proof unit!

 

As a testament to the 340H, my 89 4Runner 3.slow/340 has 309K on it, and the trans has never been apart. Good fluid, good change intervals, and normal use have helped.

PS- I did get your PM on the trans, but haven't had a chance to weigh it properly in order to get a good quote. If you'd like, my bud owns a trans shop here (the best in town I might add), and I could have it bench built for you with Tcase ready to go. I personally would rebuild it before installing anything that took that much effort (not hard, just lots of small processes).

Jeff

 

did yo try to pull the tranny codes? I'll bet you have a bad shift solenoid.

 

Download the online manual. Print it out. Read it three times.
With a Tranny jack you can do it in a weekend.

They make a flush kit for your radiator, I used one with no problems. 30,000 miles on my rebuilt tranny.

 

YOU CAN ALSO GET AN INLINE TRANNY FILTER.. PUT IT AFTER THE COOLER... you can get the from the stealership only!!!! cost $40... Dont listen to retards who might say a fuel filter will work just as well!!!! tranny fluid will eat up the filter element

 

Please, give it a rest!

 

where can i get the online manual

 

There is a stickied post at the top of this forum that shows how to get the manual.

It'll be given a rest as soon as dealerships stop screwing their customers. I know, you and your dealership are the most honest folks that ever walked the face of the planet, but unfortunately not all of them work on the same principles you do. I was reminded of this last weekend when the Ford dealership tried to sell my dad a new cabin air filter, bringing him an absolutely filthy one as evidence. We had just changed the filter last week.

 

it'd be worth replacing the radiator anyway as insurance since you don't want it to rust out/spring a leak and ruin the new transmission anyway