Dear Mr. Kilmer, I've been a fan and follower for several years and used several of your tips but now I'm in a pickle. My '03 Toyota Avalon with 194k miles started slipping when warmed up. Wouldn't shift, high revving from stop and wouldn't go into reverse. Started without warning or problem. My very well trusted mechanic of almost 3 years says it needs a rebuilt transmission to the tune of $2608 with 18 month warranty. I've done my own brakes struts etc but this was more significant. Should I look for a low mileage used unit instead $300-$850 or do the rebuilt one or junk it? The engine seems to be good and I don't drive it rough. Thanks for all the years of help through your channel. :beg:
Sincerely Alan "Big Al" Rowe
Avoid rebuilds at a transmission shop. They are almost never done correctly. I had the tranny in my Ranger rebuilt, and it took 3 re-visits for them to get it somewhat right, and it's still not. It's tolerable. You could try Lucas' Transmission Fix, Scotty's mentioned it in a couple videos for slipping transmissions. Take a quart of fluid out and put the quart of Lucas in. A junkyard transmission is gambling. If I were doing it myself, I might try it, but I probably wouldn't pay someone $800 to do it and chance having to do it again because it was a bad unit, unless they will put the other unit back in with no charge. I doubt they would do that. Consider a remanufactured transmission as well. They come with much better warranties and are basically brand new transmissions. A remanufactured unit for my Ranger would have cost the same with install as I paid to rebuild mine.
A used transmission is a real gamble, especially if you're paying someone to install it. I've done well with used transmissions but install them myself so if I had gotten a bad one I would have been out some grunt work but not any money for labor.
Check out Monster, TCI and Powertrain Products for remanufactured transmissions with a warranty.
