Tundra transmission help.

[Paul Lemire]

I have a 2000 SR5 4x4 V-8 W/ factory tow packageW/ 80,000 miles.
I was pulling a 4000# camper about 500 miles into a 3000 mile trip.Overdrive is locked out the whole time. First thing that happens is I get a check engine light. All gauges are normal so I decide to pull over at first place I can . About 5 miles later I slow down at an off ramp and tranny goes into neutral or slips, I'm not sure which. I coast to a stop and get trans temp light. Open the hood and fluid all over the place.

Get towed to nearest dealer. They tell me that the tranny cooler inside the radiator burst mixing all the fluids. New radiator is installed and everything is flushed 4 times. This dealer has one of those machines for flushing the transmission. They tell me this happens to Chevy's all the time and it will be a miracle if my tranny is not cooked. We take it for a test ride and its shifting OK, pressure is about 25#, and temps at about 170. They tell me to flush it again as soon as I get home.

Two days and 500 miles later. Trans starts having trouble going from 4th gear back into first after coming to a stop light. Does not do it all the time, only maybe one time in ten. No check engine light. Fluid level is OK. If I sit at the stop long enough I can feel it go back into first. I go to nearest dealer. He plugs in his computer and we go for a ride. Pressure and temp is good. He thinks the trans is ok (no check light), but moisture may have gotten to a solinoid. He said drive it and it should clear itself out.

I get back home and I notice the same problem. Now I can make it happen every time by coming to an abrupt stop. Coming to a normal stop it's OK. But at a sharp stop it has trouble getting back into first gear. I had the local dealer do a flush. The fluid was a quart low and milky, But it's shifting Ok right now.

Would like to know if anyone has had this happen. Dealer tells me if I have anymore problems I need a new transmission but I'm inclined to keep flushing it at least two or three more times and see what happens.

Thanks for the help.

[jaimie raskin]

I have a 2000 same thing happened 1st gear planitary gear gone, new transmission 83,000 mile.

[Paul Lemire]

That sucks. Did you get any help from Toyota?

[Haoleb]

i thought the transmission cooler and radiator were seperate. At least im quite sure thats how it is on mine. Tranny cooler INSIDE the radiator?

[Paul Lemire]

Thats what I thought, but not so. It's got both.

[RockyMtnRay]

Originally Posted by Haoleb

i thought the transmission cooler and radiator were seperate. At least im quite sure thats how it is on mine. Tranny cooler INSIDE the radiator?

You actually have two transmission coolers on your truck...one is inside the the bottom of the radiator and uses engine coolant for cooling; the other is the one in front of the radiator (this is the one you can see) that uses air for cooling. Most of the transmission fluid cooling is done by the cooler in the bottom of the radiator; the one that uses air is an auxiliary cooler.

Beginning with the '03 models, only the trucks with factory towing package got the auxiliary air cooler...for all others the only transmission cooling is done by the cooler inside the radiator.

[Transdude]

If antifreeze actually got into the trans, it is all over. I'm very surprised that the dealer didn't inform you of this.

You will need to overhaul the transmission and replace all of the clutches and also anything that is made out of plastic in the trans- solenoids, plastic washers, etc.

Flushing it out doesn't help.

Antifreeze or water in the transmission immediately starts to dissolve the glue that holds the paper lining to the steel backing of the clutch plates- much like you can dissolve the glue on an envelope with steam or hot water.

-John

[Paul Lemire]

Would I be better off to get the dealer to put in a re-built or get a local shop to rebuild the one I have? What should should I expect to pay? Thanks.

[KLS]

A factory re-man transmission will have a nationwide warranty, a warranty I'd trust more than one from a chain of franchised shops.

If the ATF is milky, there is still water/antifreeze in it.


Ken

[sequoiasoon]

Make some calls around the area also. When My tranny blew on my Exploder it did so right in front of AAMCO so that's where I went. $2,000 and 2 weeks later I had my truck back with AAMCO "national warranty" which is only good for 12 months / 12,000 miles. Just my luck 13,000 miles and 12 months 2 weeks later, tranny started making noise and slipping. For repeat customers they will waive the labor charges and only charge parts of which they "automatically" get a rebuilt torque converter for about $350. 7 more trips in the course of 2 months FINALLY had it quiet and shifting decent when I was able to sell it. As I had all the problems I called Ford and my local repair shop. They both had the same price (my shop would have gotten a factory rebuilt from dealer) total cost $1750 would have been installed in 2 days AND had a Ford Factory backed 3 yr/36k warranty . NEVER would I have thought that the dealer was going to be cheaper.

Most tranny shops (unless Transdude can confirm different) only replace the worn/busted items plus whatever seals. What you have is 1% new and 99% with 100K miles on it. The factory rebuilds at least change more of the parts I believe.

Live and learn I guess.

A good warranty is a hard thing to pass up. Now if you know a good tranny shop (or can drive to Jersey to Transdude's shop) it might be something to consider. I had a Chevy tranny rebuilt by one of my Dad's friends who owned a tranny shop. He did it in his spare time and gave me an EXCELLENT deal. Kinda like the members say about Transdude, he used all the best parts he could get, heavy duty clutch packs, put a mild shift kit in it etc. and filled with Mobil 1. That tranny worked AWESOME. It spent the next 13 years and 250k pulling a boat and RV occasionally, full throttle starts, mountain roads, REAL cold winters and never missed a beat. All I did was change tranny fluid (drain and fill) once a year also with M1.