lightemup67
New member
Friday, my transmission started acting up in my 2006 4runner sport with 79k miles. It was slipping, and seemed like it didn't know what gear to be in. Then the CEL, VSC, and trac lights came on. So I limped it over to the Toyota dealer that was really close (didn't know where else to take it that would be close).
After diagnosing the problem, they said the shift solenoid contact points on the trans were corroded, they did their best to clean them and get the corrosion out, and re-connected everything. The dash lights all cleared, and the trans shifted perfectly. The mechanic warned that if this didn't fix it, that the shift solenoids would have to be replaced (about a $1200 job). He claimed that the trans would need to be dropped to do this. Is this true?? I thought solenoids were in the pan?
Then over the weekend, the dash lights came back on, but the trans was still shifting perfectly (even when I beat on it a little, she shifted smoothly). So I took the car back in. Today they called and said that the corrosion was also in the "wiring harness" and that they wanted to re-wire the entire car (about $4k job) because you can't order sections of it. Of course I laughed, and then proceeded to argue with the guy about even suggesting that. He finally admitted that the dash lights were not currently on, and that no codes were stored in the computer. He wanted to re-wire the car "as a precaution". I almost couldn't believe he said that, and then told him not to touch my car.
So... 1) are shift solenoids really hard to replace? in looking at some of the threads, I believe that they are in the pan, but one might be on the top? The car runs fine, but I may have to do this in the future.
2) Has anyone ever experienced corroded wiring harness or even understand how this could be true? I think this guy was just trying to rip me off
3) Don't go to Grossinger Toyota in Chicago.
After diagnosing the problem, they said the shift solenoid contact points on the trans were corroded, they did their best to clean them and get the corrosion out, and re-connected everything. The dash lights all cleared, and the trans shifted perfectly. The mechanic warned that if this didn't fix it, that the shift solenoids would have to be replaced (about a $1200 job). He claimed that the trans would need to be dropped to do this. Is this true?? I thought solenoids were in the pan?
Then over the weekend, the dash lights came back on, but the trans was still shifting perfectly (even when I beat on it a little, she shifted smoothly). So I took the car back in. Today they called and said that the corrosion was also in the "wiring harness" and that they wanted to re-wire the entire car (about $4k job) because you can't order sections of it. Of course I laughed, and then proceeded to argue with the guy about even suggesting that. He finally admitted that the dash lights were not currently on, and that no codes were stored in the computer. He wanted to re-wire the car "as a precaution". I almost couldn't believe he said that, and then told him not to touch my car.
So... 1) are shift solenoids really hard to replace? in looking at some of the threads, I believe that they are in the pan, but one might be on the top? The car runs fine, but I may have to do this in the future.
2) Has anyone ever experienced corroded wiring harness or even understand how this could be true? I think this guy was just trying to rip me off
3) Don't go to Grossinger Toyota in Chicago.
