Its the tranny part 2: $4211

Shamrock, how many miles did you have on your 2010? Had you ever changed the fluid?

 

Also try the website Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market. It's an online database where salvage yards post their inventory. It's been around for years and is nation-wide. You can narrow your search based on location as well, if you want. Some of these places even show pictures of the exact vehicle they are parting out.

 

I'm the individual that started the suggestion of a first refresh of Prius 2004+ ATF at 30k miles and 60k miles thereafter. This was after getting my third lab analysis of Toyota Type WS ATF at 180k miles (every 60k miles). The ATF at 61k miles was loaded with metallic content and was overdue for replacement. At 120k miles the ATF looked much better and was even cleaner at 180k miles. I have attached the lab report here for the convenience of this discussion thread. There are four columns:

1. The analysis at 180k miles - Still better and maybe my Prius can go farther than 60k from now on, but it's only $100 to do the refresh at my dealer - low cost insurance.
2. The analysis at 120k miles - Much lower metallic content
3. The analysis at 61k miles - Note the high FE, Al and CU levels. The high silicon levels may be due to leaching of the sealants used in manufacture and is ignorable.
4. Analysis of Virgin Toyota Type WS ATF - very clean.

JeffD

 

Either plastic or glass is fine as long as the container is clean. 100 ml of fluid should be plenty. Try not to collect the initial gush or the final drops - try to collect somewhere in the middle. Run the car a little bit to stir up the fluid before draining. Make sure you are able to open the fill plug before opening the drain. Call R&G Lab and ask for standard oil test plus viscosity index. Mention Bob Wilson and PriusChat to get a small discount. Post the result in this thread:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...bleshooting/38524-transaxle-oil-analysis.html
Good luck!

 

Is the AT replacement a good DIY project, or do you folks recommend a dealer / Toyota Specialist shop handle it?

 

His information is often wrong, and he tries to sell parts to folks before they know whether or not the part is faulty. If, however, one is not knowledgeable enough to recognize when freidawg's advice is incorrect, then I could understand how that person might be fooled into thinking otherwise.

 

If the transmission is producing noise, it is highly unlikely that a fluid change will fix it. But there's no harm in trying. It's a cheap experiment.

Most dealerships aren't interested in installing a used transaxle. I'd find an independent shop with Prius experience. Isolating the noise to the transmission is generally a simple task. Transaxle replacement is also fairly straightforward.

By the way, the spider gears rarely fail in the Gen II transaxle. Your vehicle probably has a planetary gear and/or chain issue. The root cause is a bit moot, however, as long as the issue in in the transaxle.

$600 is a decent price. CarFax reports are not always accurate. However, most used transaxles in your area will be from crashed cars. Make sure the junkyard will take back the transaxle if it is defective.

Many junkyards claim to test parts, but in this case, the "test" part of "clean and test" is BS. Perhaps they are testing something that they think is of value. However, you can't fully test this transaxle after it has been removed from the vehicle unless you know it very well, have the correct testing equipment, and completely disassemble it. That would cost more in labor time that the transaxle is worth.

 

Transaxle fluid change is a easy DIY job. Almost as easy as changing the oil.

 

Why on earth would you have to replace the transmission on a 2010? And why wouldn't it be covered by the warranty?

But again, the logic doesn't work. How would Toyota save money by using a lifetime fluid? The fluid itself costs more when installed at the factory, and you cut down on revenue for the dealers because they do less transmission drain and fills.

Then you have the added potential for failures within the warranty period, within any extended warranty period, and within any certified pre-owned warranty period for the second owner.

All of this in the hopes that people would trade in their broken down cars...that they would have to repair in order to resell, and buy new Toyotas. Which...with the sour taste of a Toyota transmission failure at 100k miles they would be less likely to do.

So whatever questionable profit might be made from that would have to be weighed against the potential loss of sales due to an eroded reputation within the buying population.

Theres just not a way to put that into a sound business argument...and Toyota has always demonstrated that they make sound business decisions overall.

 

I assume that shamrock1 bought a totalled 2010 vehicle and is repairing it.

 

Well, it looks like you are on track to spend $1,500 on the repair, if you didn't buy the extended warranty. The $395 warranty would be useful if you think that the probability of replacement unit failure within 2 years to be > 26.3%.

I think that the probability of failure is much lower than that. If the transaxle has no accident damage and works upon installation, then it should be good for a reasonable length of time.

 

Patrick Wong is right, this is transaxle was damaged in a accident with only 1200 miles on the car and the car was totalled, after replacing the transaxle the car ran same as before, now its running as a Taxi in Canada. Unless you are in a accident these transaxles should last long long time. I know with gen II the taxis do 350000 to 400000 km which is about 250000 miles

 

This automatic transmission fluid change that is suggested at 30K......what is it that I should be asking for? Is it a AT fluid flush? Drain and replace? I thought there was some sort of fluid change where bad mechanics try to flush but you're not supposed to flush or.....?

Also, how much does this procedure cost? Should I take it to a Toyota dealer or a local shop?

Thanks!

 

If you haven't checked car-part.com yet, there are 25 pages of transmissions with prices, starting at the $200 mark. There are several more pages of places selling transmissions without a price listed too. You might be able to find something local, or closer, and be able to avoid shipping costs.

 

Just drain and fill with Toyota ATF WS. You will need 4 quarts and two replacement aluminum washers for the drain and fill plugs.
Tightening torque of the drain/fill plugs is 29 ft.-lb.
Tools for opening the plugs: 24 mm (or 15/16") socket and 10 mm hex key.

If DIY make sure you are able to open the fill plug before draining. A piece of flexible hose attached to a funnel will help the fill process.

Either dealer or independent shop can do this very simple drain and fill work. You may want to call around to find out pricing. Some people have gotten very good price from dealers.

Also see here:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...bleshooting/44124-changing-transaxle-oil.html

Good luck!

 

Drain and fill only. This is not a typical automatic transmission. It never needs a flush because all the fluid is drained on a drain and fill. Anyone that tries to sell you a flush is just a rip-off.

It's not that hard DIY. You can have it done at an independent. Make SURE they use the Toyota brand WS fluid, there is no substitute. Best off supply it yourself.

 

Amazing, I would not have thought that was a likely outcome. Good for you!

When the original fluid was drained, did you find metal particles in the fluid? What did the drain plug look like before it was cleaned? If you have a photo of that, it would be interesting to see. Pictures of the dark used fluid itself won't be particularly helpful.

If the shop plans to disassemble the transaxle to locate the failed parts, and you can get photos, that would be very interesting to post.