2004 4Runner Transmission Dipstick Tube Cracked - Help

[TNcaveman]

Well, thought I had an easy repair. I thought my transmission dipstick tube was leaking at the junction of the upper and lower section because of an old O-ring. Tried to separate last night, and it's stuck. Then noticed it flexed in one direction. Got a small screw driver and found that the upper section is cracked right at the joint.

So - here's the question - Anyone had this happen? And what did you do?

My two obvious options are:
1 - get some steel epoxy putty and seal it up (easy, fast, cheap) But, then it is one piece.

2 - pull the trannie oil pan and try and separate the tubes. Then replace upper tube with a new one. This would take extra time, mess, and effort.
Truck would be down a day or two (luckily I have a car) What worries me about this - I could damage the lower tube, trying to remove the cracked one. If I mess up the lower tube, I would need a new oil pan, or would have to rig something up.

Looks like a pan and upper tube together would be about $200. Just the upper tube about $60. So, I'm probably just going to seal the two sections together (<$10). If I ever need to pull the transmission (~270,000 miles), I can deal with it then

What you think?

Stephen

 

[AuSeeker]

Try checking with local savage yards first for another pan and upper tube, I believe maybe that later 3th gens may fit as well but not sure, but a 2003 would, if no luck then go for the quick repair is what I would do, if need be later maybe you can find the parts used or buy new.

 

[feralcomprehension]

Seems like at least trying the easy route has no downside; if it works, great, if it doesn't, the next step was more drastic anyway.

If you think you can get it sufficiently clean and warm (cold here now) JB Weld is likely to work fine.

 

[TNcaveman]

Seems like at least trying the easy route has no downside; if it works, great, if it doesn't, the next step was more drastic anyway.

If you think you can get it sufficiently clean and warm (cold here now) JB Weld is likely to work fine.

Heated and air conditioned basement garage - best thing ever

And this could give me time to find a pan and tube at a junkyard.

Stephen

 

[4runnerlover84]

transmission dipstick tube

when you replace the dipstick tube in a 2004 is there an o ring because it looks like mine is riveted into the pan

my tube broke in half