not sure if this is transmission issue or engine?

Complete Transmission Repair Cost Guide Transmission Forum – Ask an Expert Toyota not sure if this is transmission issue or engine?

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  • #1973
    ramjaane1979
    Participant

    Hi I apologize in advance if this is not proper forum to ask question. I will describe the problem just in case someone can shed some light.
    I have 2002 Camry 4 cylinders and has 175,000 miles. I was driving on the freeway and suddenly I felt a jerky motion and check engine light came on. When I stopped at traffic light the car began to vibrate and driving at low speeds it got me home. Admittedly, I had put lot of hard miles on the car in past 6 months and I was lazy in getting oil changed in time. It might have been 7000 miles since oil chg. I took the car to local oil change place they did not mention anything about engine but they said my transmission oil was dark and burnt. They said I should flush and replace. I agreed and tech said he had to do second flush as oil was still dark. After second flush, he said its little bit better. I was hoping this would solve my problem but unfortunately no. After oil chg and transmission fluid flush and change, Car was still vibrating. When I drove at slow speed it was driving but as soon as I tried to accelerate the car lost power. Check engine light has been on since the incident at freeway, but now check oil light and battery sign comes on as soon as you try to give little bit of gas. Subsequently, the power steering looses power. I had to park the car and restart, as long as I drove very slowly it would drive. However, if I tried to accelerate where the rpm went from one to next level car would loose power with warning lights on, power steering loss and car would stall.
    I had recently replaced fuel pump, filter and any repair which was suggested to me. Admittedly, I have not replaced timing chain or belt (not sure if it matters). I would appreciate any help and assistance any one can provide?

    Need a replacement transmission? Quality transmissions are hard to find. Free estimate to your email.

    #1974
    Hostgator
    Member

    Your problem certainly is transmission related. I would narrow your choices down to these:

    • Torque converter
    • Clutches
    • Bands
    • Gearing

    If it looks like this is a broad range of choices, you are right. Physically, at least, you are looking at four different, but related, areas of your transmission. The thing of it is this, they are all in the same acceleration chain, if you will, that enables your Toyota to accelerate from a start to 50 kph and back down again to 0 kph. The torque converter takes the power from the input shaft and transfers it through the valve body to the clutches and bands that are activated by the solenoids. The clutches and bands then, working with the gearing, provide your Toyota with each gear in cycle.

    Now, it is possible that the input shaft or the shaft seals may be out of round and vibrating which will set the entire acceleration chain off kilter. It’s possible that this is what is causing your vibration, but I think not. I think that when you removed the old transmission fluid that was black and burnt various deposits were freed up by the new transmission fluid — the stuff that became blackened and burnt quickly — and they floated through the transmission case, only to become lodged somewhere else. Most likely, the new deposits filled in various valve spaces in the valve body so that, at key moments, when the transmission fluid was supposed to be opening a check valve to flow through to the new gear settings needed by the clutches, bands and gears to operate correctly, there was no fluid.

    In turn, the lack of flowing transmission fluid or smoothly flowing transmission fluid damaged the clutch/band combination and/or the clutch/band/gear combination, causing the problems you are having.

    If you want to hold onto your Toyota, which I suspect you do, the only thing for it is a rebuilt transmission to replace the one that is now in the case. Though it depends on your physical location, you are looking at an investment of up to $3,800 (U.S.). I know that is probably not the answer you want to hear, but it is, nevertheless, the only answer that is possible.

Fair Replacement Transmission Cost by Vehicle

  1. Use the Year / Make / Model lookup tool to determine what transmission your vehicle has.
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  3. Find your transmission model in the table below for fair prices from reputable suppliers. Also fair labor cost for local installation at a local auto repair shop.

  4. Get a free estimate on a remanufactured transmission by email.

Fair Remanufactured Transmission Price Ranges by Transmission Model Updated May 1, 2018

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