Cabinrunner
New member
I have 2000 Toyota 4runner and need a rebuilt transmission. Does anyone know of a trusty supplier with a dependable warranty? Thank you Cabinrunner.
Rebuilt Automatic Transmission
- Thread starter Cabinrunner
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Rebuilt transmissions suck for the price you pay (probably around $1500 to $2000). You can buy a brand new OEM transmission for a little more than what you would pay for a rebuild. You can also find a used low miles transmission for a few hundred dollars and pay a mechanic to remove your old transmission and install a new one all for half of what a rebuild would cost.
Make sure you check all options before listening to some mechanic who suggests a rebuild. Just my .02
Make sure you check all options before listening to some mechanic who suggests a rebuild. Just my .02
LittleCaesar
New member
Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market. Used is better IMHO.
As far as rebuilding, look for IPT (I think) transmissions out of Jersey for good quality.
As far as rebuilding, look for IPT (I think) transmissions out of Jersey for good quality.
My personal opinion is the only thing that makes a rebuilt transmission even a possibility is if they give you a very, very, very good warranty.
If they don't give you a very good warranty, I tend to consider a pulled transmission from a salvage car usually a better bet. Most rebuild shops do it by hand. By hand will never be as good as the original transmission's build by very good, automated companies. Asian, the maker for Toyota's transmission for as long as I can remember, builds to very high spec and extremely tight tolerances (using advanced robotication). Most of your rebuilds are hand attempts... they never do it as well and this usually becomes apparent in longevity.
Theoretically, a rebuild should last as long as the OEM; but they rarely do. If you get 150k out of the original, I consider getting 50k out of a rebuild to be a good start.
The problem comes with buying a pulled transmission. You do kinda take a crap shoot on the condition when pulled.... true.
If you can find a good donor car, one where you can get that the engine popped but the trans was fine... do that. Usually cheaper. Otherwise, make sure you get a very good warranty and stay away from any place that doesn't. That is them admitting they don't do good work.
At least several year. Jasper gives pretty good warranties on their engines and transmission. I got a 5 year year warranty on an engine reman I had done.
Knowing you get a several year warranty really helps put you at ease.
If they don't give you a very good warranty, I tend to consider a pulled transmission from a salvage car usually a better bet. Most rebuild shops do it by hand. By hand will never be as good as the original transmission's build by very good, automated companies. Asian, the maker for Toyota's transmission for as long as I can remember, builds to very high spec and extremely tight tolerances (using advanced robotication). Most of your rebuilds are hand attempts... they never do it as well and this usually becomes apparent in longevity.
Theoretically, a rebuild should last as long as the OEM; but they rarely do. If you get 150k out of the original, I consider getting 50k out of a rebuild to be a good start.
The problem comes with buying a pulled transmission. You do kinda take a crap shoot on the condition when pulled.... true.
If you can find a good donor car, one where you can get that the engine popped but the trans was fine... do that. Usually cheaper. Otherwise, make sure you get a very good warranty and stay away from any place that doesn't. That is them admitting they don't do good work.
At least several year. Jasper gives pretty good warranties on their engines and transmission. I got a 5 year year warranty on an engine reman I had done.
Knowing you get a several year warranty really helps put you at ease.
Moves2Music
New member
Where do you find used 4runner transmissions for a couple hundred bucks?
OP- I had my trans rebuilt due to whats known as the pink milkshake. I think I paid close to $2300 including the install of an external tranny cooler. If I had to do it over, I'd buy a used one from a salvage yard with lower miles and have a shop install it to save some monies.
Only thing with a used tranny is that you're taking the word of the person/company that pulled it.
Good luck.
Last edited:
Sherwood4Runner
New member
I see them on craigslist for 300-600 dollars usually.
Moves2Music
New member
I couldn't find anything locally when I was looking. The lowest I found was 800-1000 with 175+k miles plus shipping. At the time, my truck had 125k, so I wasn't interested in a trans with higher miles than my truck. In fact, I've never seen a good running 4runner trans for under $800. Not saying they don't exist, just saying I have never seen one. Especially with a warranty.
Cabinrunner
New member
Thank you. I would prefer a new transmission over a rebuilt. Is a Toyota dealer the only place to purchase a new transmission?
Yea, you will be hard pressed to find a used transmission with a warranty. That is why they are cheaper than a rebuild. The best you will usually find is a pick and pull/salvage yard that will give you a simple DOA warranty.
If they offer it, it is a simple: We promise that it will work, at least once, once you take delivery. Or maybe even a 30 day.... but beyond that, not on a used.
NEW transmissions from Toyota are usually sold at RATE for new, when the vehicle was new. It doesn't matter that they no longer sell the truck anymore and that all the transmissions they have are just sitting, it will cost you NEW and that tends to be really expensive.
I have never gone with a NEW from Toyota part on an Engine and Transmission exactly for this reason. It is hard to justify spending what could easily be the total worth of your truck on only 1 component.
You won't recoup that when you go to sell it. So if you put a 5k transmission in a 5-7 thousand dollar truck; your not going to get anymore money out of it.
If they offer it, it is a simple: We promise that it will work, at least once, once you take delivery. Or maybe even a 30 day.... but beyond that, not on a used.
NEW transmissions from Toyota are usually sold at RATE for new, when the vehicle was new. It doesn't matter that they no longer sell the truck anymore and that all the transmissions they have are just sitting, it will cost you NEW and that tends to be really expensive.
I have never gone with a NEW from Toyota part on an Engine and Transmission exactly for this reason. It is hard to justify spending what could easily be the total worth of your truck on only 1 component.
You won't recoup that when you go to sell it. So if you put a 5k transmission in a 5-7 thousand dollar truck; your not going to get anymore money out of it.
http://webapp.jasperengines.com/docmantreeview/warranty.asp
Take a look at them. They appear to offer a 3 year, 100k mile warranty on your transmission.
I like that they ONLY offer manufacturered. Not rebuilt Reman'ing attempts to replace everything with OEM spec and return it to as close to straight off the line as possible.
No idea the cost.
Take a look at them. They appear to offer a 3 year, 100k mile warranty on your transmission.
I like that they ONLY offer manufacturered. Not rebuilt Reman'ing attempts to replace everything with OEM spec and return it to as close to straight off the line as possible.
No idea the cost.
shadow247
New member
Check out LKQ Corporation. They offer used transmissions and you can purchase a lifetime warranty to go with it.
LKQ Corporation - Parts Search
LKQ Corporation - Parts Search
On craigslist. Search for a totaled 4runner. Get spare engine, transmission, and extra parts for around $1000 - $1500. This is only an option for those who are heavy DIY'ers.
Cabinrunner
New member
Rebuilt Transmission
My local transmission shop wants 3500 to install a rebuilt.
Jaspers want 2450 for a rebuilt and my Toyota dealer is selling rebuilts for 2200.
I have found several used transmissions; however, they come from high mileage vehicles and range between 800 and 1200.
Im wondering if I shouldnt just replace the torque converter since it stays locked up all the time realizing that I would eventually need a rebuilt transmission.
My local transmission shop wants 3500 to install a rebuilt.
Jaspers want 2450 for a rebuilt and my Toyota dealer is selling rebuilts for 2200.
I have found several used transmissions; however, they come from high mileage vehicles and range between 800 and 1200.
Im wondering if I shouldnt just replace the torque converter since it stays locked up all the time realizing that I would eventually need a rebuilt transmission.
PhdNPrerunners
New member
Wow that sounds like a lot to me. How many miles on your transmission just curious?
Cabinrunner
New member
210,000 miles on my 4runner. My local transmission shop will not rebuild the Toyota transmission, they would order a rebuilt tranny and swap mine out.
Last edited:
Moves2Music
New member
And they want $3500? That's steep. I've been keeping up with this thread and a lot of guys are saying they can be found for cheap, but I'm just not seeing it when I search.
What exactly happened and is wrong with your tranny?
If you can source a tranny for what you want to pay, do it yourself and find another shop that will install it for less then the one you're at. On avg, transmissions I found that were used, but not rebuilt were around 1100-1300 without shipping. Find a reputable salvage yard and work through them. I don't see how it would cost much more then $1000 to install the new tranny. Shop around with another shop. $3500 is too much.
Like I said earlier. The trans shop I went with rebuilt mine and then reinstalled it and added an external cooler for just under $2400.
Cabinrunner
New member
My torque converter is locked up all the time causing my engine to stall at stop lights. I removed the tranny pan checked all three solenoids, which are working correctly. The magnets in the pan contained lots of metal leading me to believe I would have total transmission failure soon.
