OK, so the transmission on my 1997 4Runner SR5 4WD recently started giving me trouble. Just passed 150k miles.

Took it to local Aamco (Silver Spring, MD), they said something in the radiator busted and antifreeze had gotten into my transmission fluid and destroyed the transmission. They're quoting me $2,100-2,900 to rebuild the transmission, saying they cant quote exactly until they crack it open and see what parts are needed. Price would also include a transmission cooler and a 1 yr/15k mi warranty.

Does that price sound correct? The shop was recommended to me by a local mechanic that I trust. I spoke to a few different people on the phone there, but none of whom sounded too questionable. (I guess that IS their job, right?)

Anyway, I can't do it myself and don't want to buy a new car. This is the first real problem I've had with it in 11.5 years, so it's about time I suppose (knock on wood).

The car won't drive, so if I do decide to go a different direction, it will have to be towed, which means more $$. So that's another consideration.

Any help would be appreciated, but I'm mainly concerned as to whether the price is right. Thanks guys.

(Long-time lurker, first time poster. Love YT!)

 

Man, that doesn't sound right. You say the coolant line busted into your tranny?? How long did you run it that way for? You may just be good with a good ole flush of the tranny and put some fresh fluid in there....

Otherwise...I'd try and find a donor tranny...depending on where you look...you could probably find a decent one for 1000 or less. I would put money on a donor tranny with 100k miles than a rebuilt one from Aamco but thats just me....

 

nope you cannot flush water out of a tranny. water ruins the clutch packs immediately and also hides in there you can never flush it all out. it requires a rebuild, new clutches or replacement.


the glue that the clutches use dissolves in water...so the thing will grenade
it is only a matter of time.

pay up, or find a good one on a dead truck

 

That's getting to be a common problem with the late 90s & early 200x 4runners. I think most have been able flush enough out to keep going. I don't remember anyone doing a rebuild because of it. Search "strawberry milkshake" to see more threads.

 

Others that have had the same problem:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/r...-fluid-116812/

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...tranny-143800/

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/9...-trans-117503/

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/t...-burst-126886/

Bypassing the ATF cooler:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/b...cooler-126953/

 

Thanks all.

Well its good to know they aren't joshin' (yep, I said it) me. Mechanic described almost exactly the way BigBallsMcFalls did about the glue breaking down and mentioned "strawberry milkshake" when I talked to him (thx mt_goat). Sounds like we have a winner.

Other threads seem to be split on whether its better to go with a rebuild now for the $2k+ or try a flush along with maybe adding a transmission cooler just to be safe. The car's got 150k on it, which jives with most of the other milkshake victims I saw, so the rebuild may be the way to go. Any point in also looking at replacing the radiator too? Or am I completely off base?

Thanks again guys, very very helpful so far.

 

Might be a good idea, especially if its 12 years old anyway. But it is possible to flush it, bypass it as far as an ATF cooler and seal up the ATF inlet and outlet and keep on using it.

 

You dont have a good local guy that has his own tranny shop? Maybe some of your buddies know a good one. I would rather find someone instead of a franchise to rebuild it.

 

If you haven't pulled the trigger, you might want to consider just picking up a used tranny. You can then rebuild the transmission that is hosed overtime with all the goodies you want in it and get the valve body done by level 10 or something like that.

Having someone rebuild a transmission on a rig that old is not money well spent unless you plan to keep it for 500,000 miles. I did it and regretted it big time.