Good afternoon!
I have a 2005 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner with 107,000 miles on it. I've had the truck for less than a year, and I've noticed that when I shift into gear the vehicle slightly jumps. The same thing happens occasionally when going from first to second gear. I took the truck to my local mechanic who is on the fence about changing the fluid. I don't have any information about when it was last changed, and the mechanic told me when he checked it that the fluid looks dark, but doesn't have any major sediment or any metal shavings in it. With that being said, he told me that he is pretty sure changing the fluid won't cause major damage, but the possibility always exists that it will start slipping. On the same hand, he quoted me $820.00 to change the fluid, filter, and pan gasket.
Without knowing when the last time, if ever, the fluid was changed, should I get the service done or just leave it?
Thank you!
Very Respectfully
Joe
he quoted me $820.00 to change the fluid, filter, and pan gasket.
this is insane. Go someplace else.
Unless you have been driving it like you stole it, if it were me I would change it. The recommended mileage for those to be changed is 90k I think anyway, you aren't too far away from that. I did a full fluid exchange at 130k on my GX470 with basically the same transmission, still running great at 190k. Mine did have a drain and fill at 90k though. I have changed transmission fluid on a 98 4Runner with higher miles than yours, as well as a 99 corolla with I think the same mileage, I picked it up at 107k.
Look up your specific transmission, the a750e, it is used in a TON of toyotas and Lexus vehicles. Plenty of posts to see what the people are doing, and how it is working out. Here is one.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/toyota-a750e-f-do-it-yourself-transmission-flush.283617/
With that being said, he told me that he is pretty sure changing the fluid won't cause major damage, but the possibility always exists that it will start slipping.
You can always keep the old fluid after it drains, just in case. Then if there’s issues you can drain the new fluid and fill the old one back in.
Latter
I would definitely do it, it shouldn't cause any damage especially if the mechanic didn't see any sediment in the fluid. But that price is way too much, it is easy to do a drain and fill yourself, should cost you less than $80 for the OEM fluid. As mentioned, just keep the old fluid in a gallon container close by in case it does act up so you can put it back in.
Well, you can't really go back on a drain and fill like you can with a full exchange. With drain and fill, you pull out maybe a third of the fluid. Once you put the new fluid in, it mixes and if you did a drain and fill with the intention of undoing what you did, you would be draining out only about 1/3 of the new fluid you had put in from the original drain and fill.
I mean that might help a little, but not like completely undoing what was done.
I agree with you though that it likely would be fine.
Yes, agree with you.