Camry 2002 major tranny problem: advise needed

[wlee]

I bought my second hand Camry 2002 XLE 4 cylinder two years ago from a Toyota dealer, mileage was 85K, it's been great for 2 years but last week, I had tranny slip on 404 (add gas, rpm jumps from 2k to 3k, engine loud, but car doesn't speedup at all), next day at dealership, computer didn't find anything, they suspected tranny issue, replace would be $6.5K+tax, nicely my powertrain warranty was just expired in Sept., they referred me to a major tranny shop, I was quoted under $2k for a overhaul for the soft parts. they had never seen a Camry had tranny issue at mileage of 120K, didn't foresee any issue with hard parts.

Today I received a call, told "very bad", went over, lots of hard parts were damaged, they suspect it's caused by overheat, problem could be the radiator (my thermostat reading is normal, so engine should be fine), but to add a cooler for tranny and replace the hard parts would cost me $5K >:(

I wanted to have tranny replaced by a used one, the shop said they can't do it, they only do overhaul and give life time warranty (i guess they don't trust a used one from other supplier); and they have to put the opened up tranny back to my car (partial rebuild) even I wanted to throw away the damaged one and get another bodyshop to install a used one, and they will charge me $1.5K for that, this is according to "Consumer Protection Act" :confused:

any advise? please :)

[nolimtzel]

in the 2 years u had it did u ever change the filter or oil for the tranny?
if not u had this coming. sorry to say but this not common thus why its so expensive to repair, used parts hardly exist because the failure is so uncommon. i suggest talking to people at mister transmission for a rebuild.

[pfbmgd]

Find another shop that will install a used gear box .

[wlee]

in the 2 years u had it did u ever change the filter or oil for the tranny?
if not u had this coming. sorry to say but this not common thus why its so expensive to repair, used parts hardly exist because the failure is so uncommon. i suggest talking to people at mister transmission for a rebuild.

i always go to dealer for oil change and maintenance, i don't remember the tranny fluid was ever changed, there was a leak, and tranny pan gasket was replaced in april, not sure the filter.

i'm stuck with aamco for the rebuild, i assume it's similar to mister transmission.

[wlee]

Find another shop that will install a used gear box .

I asked, but there is a fine print to the work order (soft parts rebuild), their rebuild has to be performed in full, they need to put the opened-up tranny back to a piece using some of soft parts in the overhaul kit, it's $1500, doesn't make any sense as it's going to be replaced with a used one, but it's contractual i guess, and possibly something to do with "Consumer Protection Act".

[ygtgxi]

my fren had a civic and his engine broke so he bought a use one for a couple of grand i recall

[mau108]

trannies are readily available. Ask him to leave it as is, pay him for his labour and tow the car to another shop and have the tranny swapped.

Usually used trannys don't cost much and most come from japan so they are in decent condition.

Now you know to keep up on tranny fluid and filter changes. I don't know if it was a issue with toyota or what but my uncles 01 corolla also has a tranny problem, most times it won't go into reverse. Mister Transmission wants 600 bucks to repair and this car was purchased a year before the problem occured at a toyota dealership.

I think toyota stealerships are shady, your cars fluid should have been changed at lease 50k so there should have been 2 flushes already.

[AzNCrAzYcOoLeR]

Wow , pretty bad luck.

My dad's 03 Camry has 210K on it, no problems at all. Of course he knows how to maintain it well.

[AutoExpert]

wlee

If you authorized the teardown you will be responsible for that, not $1500.00.

The front end of your car has been disassembled to remove the transmission this will make it difficult to tow away.

When you add the price of tow, tear down, lower price from someone else and hassle, you will arrive at the price they have quoted you.

Points to remember.

Transmission failure can be avoided with proper service, most vehicles should be done every 50,000kms.

There has never been a transmission repaired for the soft parts quote.

Get a worst case quote before you authorize teardown. If you are happy with it continue.

Good Luck

[Shockey]

Same thing happened to me w/ my 2002 Camry LE this summer. Was going north on the DVP when the tach broke loose - engine jumped up to 4-5K RPM and the car was going nowhere. Turning off overdrive and dropping it to L didn't get me anywhere either.

Coasted off the Eglington exit and had to get it towed. Car wouldn't move. Tranny was shot. Clutch packs were burnt out. Tranny fluid was dark and smelled like crayons.

Mister Transmission wanted $1900 + tax for a rebuild w/ a 1 yr 20k warranty iirc. I called around to a few places and found the prices for a rebuild was around $1800-$2500, but none had a lifetime warranty like yours. This was just for a rebuild of the "soft parts" though, as the tranny housing and gears were ok.

I called a bunch of places and found a used tranny from Superior Japanese Auto Parts (McCowan and Eglington), by far the cheapest at $700. The guys there were really decent and dead honest, but the tranny only had a 90 day warranty on it. They said it came out of a former rental car, and all they knew is that the tranny must have been working b/c the car was moving when it was in an accident.

Edge Transmissions at McCowan and 7 installed it for $400, bringing the total to $1100. This was great, but the day i picked up the car the EXACT SAME THING happened to me after a few hours of driving on the 401. Bad luck i guess. Must be negative karma from being a Leaf fan for so long.

Superior gave me another tranny under warranty, but i had to pay another $400 to get it installed. No problems with that, Edge explained it to me before they put in the first one that this would be the case if the tranny failed.

If i had to do it all over again, i would've paid a bit more for a rebuild. You're really rolling the dice w/ used trannies, and a rebuild at least comes w/ a 1 or more year warranty.

Not sure what to do in your predicament right now though. Aamco seems like they're playing hardball to keep your car and your money in their shop. Paying $1500 just to get your car back seems ludicrous. If they're giving you a 100% truly lifetime warranty on the tranny (i'd read the contract details VERY carefully), maybe it's best to give them the other $3500 and never pay for another transmission repair ever again.

Hope things work out for you. Good luck!

Keep us posted on what happens.

FYI, this happened to me at ~240k KM.

[wlee]

Thanks AutoExpert for the tip!

The $2K or $1.5K is estimate fee which I agreed on and I misunderstood it'll be the total cost (none foresee any hard parts issue for a Camry with 120K mileage), according to Consumer Protection Act PART VI 57 (2) at http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_02c30_e.htm#BK70, they will take the estimate fee $1500 if I want to switch to another shop.

Can you add details on proper tranny service? I've driven 40K since I owned it, alway go to dealership for maintenance, they replaced pan gasket due to tranny fluid leak back in April, that's the only thing I can recall.

[AutoExpert]

Hi wlee

If you agreed to a "estimate fee" of $1500.00 then you are stuck.

A proper service varies by car model.

Your vechicle should have the pan removed to access filter and clean debris, install new filter, gasket, then flush remainining fluid. The cost is approx. $300.00 but of course you know the alternative.

Dealer service is usually a drain of 3-4 liters and refill (that is all you can remove with out flush) your transmission holds approx 8 liters.

AE

[PrinceMS]

I am sorry for thread jacking, but can someone please confirm there is a "filter" for tranny? and how much should it cost to replace on a newer (less than 5 year old) japenese car?

[hamant]

I am sorry for thread jacking, but can someone please confirm there is a "filter" for tranny? and how much should it cost to replace on a newer (less than 5 year old) japenese car?

yes... there is a filter.... what car are you asking for?

OP--> sorry to hear what happened... without seeing what you signed its hard for anyone here to tell you what to do.

from what I read, I guess you bought the car used with 80K on the clock? talk to toyota, because tranny failure at 120K is not normal EVEN if you never serviced your tranny (im an ex-mechanic). It does sound like heat could have been your problem, but that may be a design flaw.

where did you buy the car from?
what engine is in the car... I can see if anyone I know has a tranny for it lying around.

next time buy a civic

[Stock R]

I've never heard of some terms here.

Can someone clarify for me what the following mean?

Hard part
Soft part
Estimate Fee

[thelefteyeguy]

Must be negative karma from being a Leaf fan for so long.


you made me spit out my diet coke :|

[sunnybono]

I bought my second hand Camry 2002 XLE 4 cylinder two years ago from a Toyota dealer, mileage was 85K, it's been great for 2 years but last week, I had tranny slip on 404 (add gas, rpm jumps from 2k to 3k, engine loud, but car doesn't speedup at all), next day at dealership, computer didn't find anything, they suspected tranny issue, replace would be $6.5K+tax, nicely my powertrain warranty was just expired in Sept., they referred me to a major tranny shop, I was quoted under $2k for a overhaul for the soft parts. they had never seen a Camry had tranny issue at mileage of 120K, didn't foresee any issue with hard parts.

Today I received a call, told "very bad", went over, lots of hard parts were damaged, they suspect it's caused by overheat, problem could be the radiator (my thermostat reading is normal, so engine should be fine), but to add a cooler for tranny and replace the hard parts would cost me $5K >:(

I wanted to have tranny replaced by a used one, the shop said they can't do it, they only do overhaul and give life time warranty (i guess they don't trust a used one from other supplier); and they have to put the opened up tranny back to my car (partial rebuild) even I wanted to throw away the damaged one and get another bodyshop to install a used one, and they will charge me $1.5K for that, this is according to "Consumer Protection Act" :confused:

any advise? please :)

I would get a second opinion if you can. Take the vehicle down to Ace Transmission and only talk to Wayne!!!!! He'll be straight up with you and do whatever it takes to get things done right!!!! He knows his stuff. But for a tranny to blow that early, is very strange!!!!!

sk

[Billa-786]

Thanks AutoExpert for the tip!

The $2K or $1.5K is estimate fee which I agreed on and I misunderstood it'll be the total cost (none foresee any hard parts issue for a Camry with 120K mileage), according to Consumer Protection Act PART VI 57 (2) at http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_02c30_e.htm#BK70, they will take the estimate fee $1500 if I want to switch to another shop.

Can you add details on proper tranny service? I've driven 40K since I owned it, alway go to dealership for maintenance, they replaced pan gasket due to tranny fluid leak back in April, that's the only thing I can recall.


Just out of curiosity how bad was this leak? Did you notice transmission fluid leaks on your driveway? Or did they notice it when you took it in for regular servicing?

[AutoExpert]

To bring everyone up to speed.

Some cars have filters some don't, need make and model.

Hard part = Gear sets, drums, etc....the stuff that breaks

Soft part = Seals, Clutches, gaskets.... stuff that you replace when the above parts fail.

Estimate fee = a charge to prepare an estimate. It must be stated before and agreed upon before it can be charged.

Don't bother with Ace it is under new ownership and Wayne is gone Dec. 31.>:(

[nolimtzel]

Just out of curiosity how bad was this leak? Did you notice transmission fluid leaks on your driveway? Or did they notice it when you took it in for regular servicing?

tranny leaks should be easily noticible as the fluid should be bright red.
also to the other guys who have trannies approaching 200k plz dont flush ur tranny. never flush a tranny that has more than 150k always just drain with little of the old fluid still left in the btm and add new fluid and change the filter.

[hamant]

To bring everyone up to speed.

Some cars have filters some don't, need make and model.

Hard part = Gear sets, drums, etc....the stuff that breaks

Soft part = Seals, Clutches, gaskets.... stuff that you replace when the above parts fail.

Estimate fee = a charge to prepare an estimate. It must be stated before and agreed upon before it can be charged.

Don't bother with Ace it is under new ownership and Wayne is gone Dec. 31.>:(

isn't $1500 too much for an estimate? I mean what is that, 20 hours of labour? I could rebuild an entire tranny/ engine in 20 hours of labour

[AutoExpert]

tranny leaks should be easily noticible as the fluid should be bright red.
also to the other guys who have trannies approaching 200k plz dont flush ur tranny. never flush a tranny that has more than 150k always just drain with little of the old fluid still left in the btm and add new fluid and change the filter.

Wrong....you will have no problem if you remove pan and replace filter first, inspect for excessive debris in the pan, then you flush. If it does not have a pan, drain first then flush.

The most important part is have someone that knows what they are doing perform the service.:)

[AutoExpert]

isn't $1500 too much for an estimate? I mean what is that, 20 hours of labour? I could rebuild an entire tranny/ engine in 20 hours of labour

That is how they get you, be careful what you authorize and sign.

I,m sure he thought he was authorizing a tear down, or a $1500.00 transmission job, not an $1500.00 estimate.

Like I said before, when it comes to transmissions "always get a worst case quote"

Fortunately very few shops operate like that.

[IoannI]

Go to Daniel Transmission they will do a rebuild for like 1200

40 Hanlan Road, Woodbridge, ON L4L 3P6
Telephone : 905-856-3333

[nolimtzel]

Wrong....you will have no problem if you remove pan and replace filter first, inspect for excessive debris in the pan, then you flush. If it does not have a pan, drain first then flush.

The most important part is have someone that knows what they are doing perform the service.:)
wow i hope u never service any imports.dont break them. flushing old trannies and putting new fluids will fck over ur seals because the new fluid has way too harsh chemicals. if anything filter the old fluid and put it back it in. keep servicing ur domestics like that though.

[wlee]

Just out of curiosity how bad was this leak? Did you notice transmission fluid leaks on your driveway? Or did they notice it when you took it in for regular servicing?

I did not notice any red drops/spots in my garage, and the dealer noticed it during the major maintenance around 110K back in April.

[wlee]

That is how they get you, be careful what you authorize and sign.

I,m sure he thought he was authorizing a tear down, or a $1500.00 transmission job, not an $1500.00 estimate.

Like I said before, when it comes to transmissions "always get a worst case quote"

Fortunately very few shops operate like that.

yup, this is exactly the mistake i made, hope no more RFDer will make the same mistake.