Rebuilt Automatic Transmission
- Thread starter Cabinrunner
- Start date
kernel.panik
New member
My Tranny went out on me 4 months after I bought the truck from a dealership with a "certified pre-owned" warranty that-unknown to me-was up 3 months after I bought it. After a month long fight they swapped out a tranny for the cost of labor. I got a new tranny for $800. I had to wait 3 weeks for one to be shipped (literally) from Japan. I don't know of anyone who will rebuild a toyota transmission here (not that I would trust to hold up whatever warranty they gave, anyway). Stealership said the rebuild (from Japan) would have cost $2500 plus labor. Not a bad price if you know you are getting toyota quality. I would pay the extra over having some shop rebuild it.
I've got about 30,000 miles since the rebuild and not a single problem (knocks on wood) with the tranny.
Just my $0.02.
I've got about 30,000 miles since the rebuild and not a single problem (knocks on wood) with the tranny.
Just my $0.02.
ryanpavelchik
New member
Does the dealership offer a warranty on their rebuild?
I got the pink milkshake at 280K. Assuming the WCS, reputable shops around me are quoting right around $2,500 for a REBUILD including labor. An 18 month parts/labor warranty is longest I've found so far. Price goes up with warranty.
The prices I'm looking at for a REMAN'd online is around $2,400, but shipping and core charges affect price. Haven't asked about labor for putting one in.
Who is "remanufacturing" these trannies? Toyota? I wonder if shops are rebuilding these and calling them remanned.
The prices I'm looking at for a REMAN'd online is around $2,400, but shipping and core charges affect price. Haven't asked about labor for putting one in.
Who is "remanufacturing" these trannies? Toyota? I wonder if shops are rebuilding these and calling them remanned.
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According to ProDemand/Mitchell and assuming a 4wd, remove and replace transmission is 6 hours of labor. Remove, overhaul, and reinstall transmission is 18 hours of labor. Labor rate where I work (Central Arkansas area) is $150/hour.
There is a difference between rebuilt and remanufactured as well. Remanufactured are transmission rebuilt closer to factory specifications and will typically come with a longer warranty vs a rebuilt transmission. If I had to replace an automatic transmission in a 3rd gen I would be looking for a used automatic transmission for the appropriate sub gen (96-98/99-00/01-02).
Endlessblockades
Senior Member
Do you happen to know why there is sometimes a 'California' designation on a listing for an AT for the 99/00 sub-gen at some used parts resellers? Is there really a difference? I am looking for a salvaged original unit rather than a Toyota Reman or rebuilt. $150 an hour seems to be the norm for independent service shops here with more exotic/specialized shops being higher.
I don't know for sure, but I think it's due to the different brackets for the different exhaust manifolds. Federal exhaust manifolds are slightly different from Cali exhaust manifolds (besides the exhaust flange at the catalytic converter(s)). That's my best guess at least.
Endlessblockades
Senior Member
Thanks, man
One more dumb question - Do the 99/00 SR5 and Limited both use the push-button for 4-Hi?
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TW44LR
New member
My ‘00 SR5 “highlander” doesn’t have the button, just regular J-shift
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Completely missed the question. My bad! Only the 99-00 Limiteds use the push button. They have the VF3AM transfer case, and the SR5/base have the normal VF2A transfer case.
audiness
Senior Member
I have a perfect working order never-strawberry-milkshaked trans for sale in the classifieds. w /159k miles
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/for-...-transfer-case-charleston-sc.html#post3726586
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/for-...-transfer-case-charleston-sc.html#post3726586
Endlessblockades
Senior Member
Thanks! So I don't need to worry about which 99/00 transmission I source as long as it's a CA 4X4 it'll bolt up to my TC?
Endlessblockades
Senior Member
That's tempting. It would be much nicer to buy from someone with a more transparent history like this one has. Did you remove the transmission with the TC attached, and if so, can it be reinstalled in the same manner? Cross-country freight with diesel prices might be rough.....
Edit - to clarify...I'm still thinking ahead. i don't have a reliable diagnosis yet and am still driving daily out of necessity.
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Correct. Any 4wd 99-00 transmission will bolt up to your transfer case. The VF2A (standard j-shift) and VF3AM (multimode) have the same bolt patterns/etc and will interchange to any 96-02 4wd 4Runner transmission.
To answer your other question above, you can remove transmission and transfer case as one unit or you can separate the two to make it less cumbersome. If you are having to keep your current transfer case I would separate the 2 while it's in the truck, but if you decide to keep them together remove the bottom 3 transfer case to transmission nuts so they won't be blocked when you have it all on the ground after removal.
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phattyduck
Elite Member
If you are comfortable swapping the transfer case and pan/dipstick tube, any 4WD transmission from '96-'00 is compatible with your truck. You probably don't even need to swap the pan... I have a '97 fed emissions transmission (including dipstick) on my '99 CA emissions truck. They are different internally (valve body) but are compatible externally.
-Charlie
Endlessblockades
Senior Member
Thanks I'll keep that in mind. I figured there was a good deal of crossover. I just want to keep it as simple and straight-forward as possible because I will screw something up given the opportunity! Too bad (and bless them in the same breath) Timmy and Sean already did an R & R transmission video....I don't live too far from them (until Tim moves).
