Need a great transmission rebuilder in Austin, Tx

[mtbtim]

Jan '23 Update: The good - transmission from Yota1 is working very well. Have about 800 miles on it so far. Only once while traveling slowly in town wiht little throttle did a slightly harsh 1-2 shift occur, that worried me. It never did it again, with nothing but smooth shifts up and down.

Now here is another Plus. Fuel efficiency has gone Up dramatically. Previously even on Full highway driving, the best it could achieve was upper 14s/lower 15s, the other day it broke 17!! So clearly something was very wrong with my old trans, it shifted smooth until it last day but the T-converter would not move at all when removed it, weird.

Now for the not so good. Toyo1, while they do a fantastic job on the trans, are not so good administrative wise. Over the 2 months I waited, I patiently would only call for an update every other week. Each and every time someone in the back answers, says they need to go to the front and then returns saying no one is available, will leave a note, they'll call you back.

No one Ever calls back. Now it gets even better. The old trans is still sitting on the pallet even though I've called 3 times since Dec 27 for them to come get it. They said they'd ship a label. I called last week, lady sounded super busy and said, "Sorry I forgot, I'm gonna write this on my hand so I remember". That was 9 business days ago. I would like my $400 back yet I this point I don't think its going to happen and that will be a write-off.

So if it goes this route (1 more call today), then I cannot recommend this Yota1 outfit anymore. Look around your own area instead, Luck all.

Sounds like they lost some office staff. I wouldn't give up. They want the core back because that's how they make more money by rebuilding it and reselling it. I'll send Nick a message and see what he says. They might be experiencing some growing pains.

 

[jgue467]

Sounds like they lost some office staff. I wouldn't give up. They want the core back because that's how they make more money by rebuilding it and reselling it. I'll send Nick a message and see what he says. They might be experiencing some growing pains.

Appreciate that mtbtim - Funny you mention the office staff loss, Susan said they'd lost 2, one even a relative, so yeah they're behind like many business' right now.

So I did speak to Nick today. So apparently I misunderstood their web statements about shipping to/from. Nick said they are clarifying their language to make sure everyone understands Shipping is paid by the buyer for both the New and the old trans.

So in my case, being in Austin, the core return cost is $392, with the core deposit only being $400, I'd get a refund of $8.

Not exactly what I wanted to hear so my fault for not asking more upfront. To Nick's credit, he said he's take care of the the return core charge because as you said he really needs them. But then he asked about the condition, how did it fail. Told him it still ran yet sounded like it had marbles in it. Said the TC did not seem to want to move. At that point I think he decided he did not want it and said he'd call me back, no call so I think I have a boat anchor to get rid of somehow.

Still a good new Toyo1 trans, so far - we'll see around this time next year where all is at. Thanks all and Luck to everyone.

 

[jgue467]

Any ideas why Toyo1 would Not want the case back?

Spoke to Nick last week, he offered to pay shipping since the website was confusing (updated since) and then asked how it ended for that trans. Told him it made whining noises and sometimes other sounds yet still shifted smooth and ran until the end - it did not grenade.

He said he'd check with someone in shop and call back if they wanted it, no call for 3 business days so I guess they don't want it. Ideas?

 

[96RedRunner]

Did you drain the fluid? Any metal in fluid? Was this dicussed with Nick?
If Nick doesn't want it I might be interested in the core.

 

[brillo_76]

I am just following along here. Kinda perplexed as to why if they need cores so bad. Why this isn't on it way back? Maybe just super short staffed..



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[jgue467]

Did you drain the fluid? Any metal in fluid? Was this dicussed with Nick?
If Nick doesn't want it I might be interested in the core.

Yes we did, now we tried to remove TC to drain more but it would not come out. Is that an indication of a "non-desireable" core? I've asked some friends, they don't seem to think it matters unless case is cracked, which it is not, took care of it when removing/lowering to pallet. thanks.

 

[mtbtim]

I am just following along here. Kinda perplexed as to why if they need cores so bad. Why this isn't on it way back? Maybe just super short staffed..



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I believe the issue is how the trans failed and I think Nick gleaned that from his conversation with the OP. Yota1, not Toyo1, has a set price for their automatic transmission rebuilds. If it sounds like it's not a "basic" rebuild where new clutches, seals and bearings will bring it up to par, but rather things imploded (gears breaking, shafts bending, etc) then the rebuild gets much more expensive and the profit margin diminishes exponentially. This is just my best guess of why Nick is passing on the core.

 

[96RedRunner]

I Reread post #42 Marbles and I'll assume TC did not seem to want to rotate.

On a rebuild a TC I'll say is a fixed cost, plus cost of minor rebuild parts.
Fixing the marbles sound is major bucks if you have to rebuild either of or both
of the planetary assemblies, 01-02 known failure point is O/D planetary.
I wouldn't knock Nick for not wanting the core.
[MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION], exactly. you beat me to it.

 

[jgue467]

I Reread post #42 Marbles and I'll assume TC did not seem to want to rotate.

On a rebuild a TC I'll say is a fixed cost, plus cost of minor rebuild parts.
Fixing the marbles sound is major bucks if you have to rebuild either of or both
of the planetary assemblies, 01-02 known failure point is O/D planetary.
I wouldn't knock Nick for not wanting the core.
[MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION], exactly. you beat me to it.

ok sounds cool. So let me ask, should I limit how much I use the OD override (to limit trans temps and just plain make the vehicle perform better going uphills) to avoid this achilles' heel or just use it?

 

[96RedRunner]

With 340k+ mi I'd keep doing what you've been doing use O/D as you see fit.
Starting at scratch service it I bet your good to go for a while.

In my case someone else owned it for 198k mi 1 fluid service in records,
Did 4 D & F's over 1st year of ownership no problems, 15k mi after D & F's
did fluid exchange 5k mi later it started the whine.
I serviced it too much, Ha.

 

[brillo_76]

With 340k+ mi I'd keep doing what you've been doing use O/D as you see fit.

Starting at scratch service it I bet your good to go for a while.



In my case someone else owned it for 198k mi 1 fluid service in records,

Did 4 D & F's over 1st year of ownership no problems, 15k mi after D & F's

did fluid exchange 5k mi later it started the whine.

I serviced it too much, Ha.

Exchanging the fluid wouldn't damage anything. It would have been already damaged before hand. At least I haven't seen exchanging fluid hurt one yet. I know some may disagree. I just see the damage being done by extremely dirty fluid and plugged up screen filters...


Did you change the screen filter doing these drain and fills or exchange?






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[brillo_76]

I believe the issue is how the trans failed and I think Nick gleaned that from his conversation with the OP. Yota1, not Toyo1, has a set price for their automatic transmission rebuilds. If it sounds like it's not a "basic" rebuild where new clutches, seals and bearings will bring it up to par, but rather things imploded (gears breaking, shafts bending, etc) then the rebuild gets much more expensive and the profit margin diminishes exponentially. This is just my best guess of why Nick is passing on the core.

That makes sense. I just figured that they would grab all the cores they can so they can make 1 out of 3 if need be. As most transmissions would fail differently, thus some of the parts could be used in other transmission to fix them.

Maybe it doesn't work that way, as shipping is completely insane anymore. I could supply them with several transmissions. Granted, a lot of these would be coming from pick and pulls thus no history of what is wrong. Most of these around here are rusted chassis and wrecks causing them to goto the yards though.

For example: I have a 1997 auto sitting here that was damaged by overheating. It still functioned just the rig had a damaged TC. So I swapped it with a better one. Maybe its a good core, maybe its not. I just know without Toyota supplying remfg. We need to prepare for 3rd party transmission rebuilds if we want to keep these rigs going.

 

[96RedRunner]

Did you change the screen filter doing these drain and fills or exchange

Was being funny stating serviced too much lost in translation.
No I have not dropped pan is on to do list have the parts, I do believe it could be the screen with how it's acting.
With cleaning agents and viscosity of 100% new fluid doing it's job after 5k mi it started the whine.
70* plus it doesn't whine, 48* today it will some till it reaches and runs at op temp for a
bit about the time it takes for trans to cold shift. Hi teen temps takes a good while.
If screen is partially blocked pulling cold fluid through less than full screen area could be starving pump.
My digging and talking is worse case planning, has mostly sat since Oct 1st deer season start, two more weeks it over.