Darwin

I have a '97 4Runner V6 4wd. 211,xxx miles. Had the water pump/timing belt replaced about 6 months ago. New tires about the same time. Runs great. Has had a slow oil leak (not sure where from) for a couple years now. I lose less than a quart between oil changes.

Anyway, my transmission is failing so I took it to a transmission shop yesterday. They confirmed the tranny is about dead and estimated around $2,500 to rebuild.

I was really hoping to get a couple more years out of this 4runner. It runs great and is in excellent condition. My delimma is do I have the tranny rebuilt and hope that I'll get a couple more years out of the vehicle or do I go for the Cash for Clunkers money and cut my losses on the 4runner?

I don't want a car payment right now so I'm inclined to have the tranny rebuilt. But I've heard lots of horror stories about rebuilt transmissions only lasting a year or so. I'm also concerned that this is just the beginning of a long and expensive journey of trying to maintain a 200,000+ vehicle.

One additional important factor is that I've been towing a 21ft. ski boat for the last 2 summers with no tranny cooler (I'm sure that contributed if not caused the transmission failure). I only tow about 2 miles from storage to boat ramp (twice a week, April to October). But will occassionally (once a month or so) tow the boat 15 miles to my home.

If I do rebuild, I will definitely have a tranny cooler installed. However, I was interested in your opinions if I should even be towing that boat with this rig at all. Assuming I do rebuild with tranny cooler, would I just be destroying the new transmission by continuing to tow the boat as I have been the last two years?

You all know so much about these trucks, I'd really appreciate any comments you have...

FogRunner

Towing the boat isn't a problem but NEVER do it in overdrive, keep it in third gear. Instead of throwing out the 2.5K for a rebuild go look around and see if you can find a recent arrivel due to a crash in your local junkyard.

I've known several of guys that got less than 100K miles transmissions for about $1000 or less from a junkyard for their 3rd gen.

If you decide to go for the rebuild on yours, shop around for the name brand shop that offers the best warranty that covers both parts/labor and installation and removal.

I've seen plenty of shops that will fully warranty their transmission rebuilds but want to charge labor when it had to be pulled and installed under warranty.

But defianlty go with the trans cooler and also put in a trans temp gauge. Its really easy to do when your installing the cooler.

Darwin

Thanks for the reply!

So if I find a used transmission for $1000, what are we talking in terms of labor to pull my current tranny and install the new one? $500? $800? I'm wondering if the savings would be worth the risk of having no warranty (assuming a good warranty-- as you pointed out).

Having said that, I'm definitely skeptical of rebuilt transmissions. Are they unreliable? I had an engine rebuilt many years ago in a different vehicle and it didn't last very long. I've heard the same kind of stories about rebuilt transmissions. Can I expect a long life from a rebuilt transmission?

brian2sun

Since you could probably buy 2 used trannys for the price of rebuilding yours, why take the chances on a rebuild? A lot of salvage yards test and guarantee their used parts and offer return policies, some even offer warranties. I don't think the labor would even be $500, call a few shops around your area and ask.

scuba

x2 on a low mileage replacement !!

Darwin

Ok, thanks! You guys are swaying me towards going used. I'm going to start making calls...

Darwin

Anybody have any experience with Transmission Planet?

They are quoting me $1,350 on a re-manufactured tranny including a re-manufactured torque converter. That price includes shipping.

I've got a couple leads on used transmissions. Hopefully something will pan out. I really appreciate your help.

brian2sun

Never done biz w/ them, but does that include the core for your old one? Do you have to pay shipping on the core, or is that the price and you get to keep your old?