sheikhmax

I also remember my Service Rep telling me that cars after 06 have fly by wire throttle (whatever the heck is that I D K) which is a known problem too and he refused to take a look at the transmission. After that i took it in for Trans Fluid Flush BTW they don't need to drop the pan and change the filter for the FLUSH. At dealerships esp lexus.. its done via some kind of machine. And they use some sort of detergent as well to clean up the lines etc. So even if you have brass particles in it they would be flush out with pressure and transmission will be smooth once again as in my case.

Always Remember Service Advisor / Reps are Sales People... more they sell more money they can make. Plus Transmission on 09 year is not going to go that soon. So take it some where else and get it flushed. My $.02

mljohnson2

The only question is whether I should have them go ahead and change spark plugs. I noticed in your other thread that you did that as well at the same time? Could the issues be linked and how much did they charge for $130?

sheikhmax

I think i paid around $250 for the flush and i did spark plugs my self.

Usually dealers have specials so check their website or just negotiate with them they do price match with other area dealers.

DiabloX22

NO fluid is LIFETIME! It goes through and serves the same purposes as any other fluid. BMW, Mercedes, VW ANY vehicle that has a sealed transmission "that is not serviceable" IS serviceable. Their "lifetime" SLOGAN means how ever long the trans lasts, their repair procedure is to REPLACE the trans! Imo quite ridiculous! People hear LIFETIME, and think forever, when it really means, when it goes, it goes, replace it.

It does sound like lock up. The frictions are not made of brass in a transmission. There are other parts that are. If you are keeping the vehicle, might want to talk and do some research on what usually goes bad, maybe you will get some insight. Sounds almost like part of the valve body.

Luap

Find another GX on a car lot and trade yours in on that one , all you lose is the tread in value

mljohnson2

I've had it for 4 months. I would lose probably $1,800-2,000 on trading in it and paying off the bank. It would end up about the same as buying a new trans.

Not to mention it has a new radiator, brakes, and I just did Timing Belt/Water Pump. It would practically be a new truck with a new trans.

BradTank

I think I would have a 2nd opinion before getting a new transmission.

Also, $500 to check out the fluid is awfully steep, and that's money down the drain if you do indeed replace the transmission.

drowssap

Have it flushed at a Toyota dealership. Might be cheaper than the $500 they quoted

Rz500

My truck has been doing the exact same thing for over a year now. My assumption was torque converter. Really curious to hear your outcome.

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

you should change the fluid every 100k or so if you want it to stay in good shape. no such thing as lifetime fluid, and that is not why they removed the dipstick. Actually my 2003 model has a dipstick, they removed it in 2004 for some reason.... I think that they just didn't want you to mess with it, and to bring it in to them for the service. refilling the fluid with the dipstick is so much easier than pumping fluid underneath the car.

They generally use the flush machine at the dealer and hook it up to the trans cooler lines in front of the radiator, so for them it doesn't make much of a difference.

DiabloX22

When I had my shop I had a "Trans Vac" it is a machine you hook up to the lines and does replace all fluid with new fluid, which imo is the only way to go. I could pause the machine and drop the pan if the gasket was leaking or if the filter was serviceable. Again, my opinion, new fluid and new filter is the right way to do it. It is pressurized and even renews the fluid in the torque converter and all the passage ways throughout the valve body. But when something is breaking up in there, it can cause more damage which means more $. You have to really watch these trans shops. I worked for 1, for a SHORT period of time after I found out they would remove the trans, clean and inspect it, then fix ONLY what was wrong and say ir was rebuilt! So if the steels and frictions 4-5 were burnt, they would replace those and thats it! Then they would tell them they needed a new torque converter, "oh well its not part of the engine, or transmission, its in between" (some truth to that). If the valve body was damaged or needed to be replaced, then you are getting into some serious $. It depends on what the shop quotes you and what they consider a "rebuild" so do your research!

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

If mine ever goes its getting a manual swap and LHD pedals from a prado (yes they do make them but are rare).

mljohnson2

Service Advisor just called and said they flushed trans, put in new filter, fluids, and gasket. He said they drove it for a good while and he said "It helped a little bit but I still suggest you replace it". I flat out told him that wasn't going to happen and I'd be there to pick it up today. I'll report back after I drive it.

I'm not sure what he means by that since it was only on occasion when it happened in the first place.

sheikhmax

Good It will go away eventually just give it a good amount of driving....

You Definitely Don't Need a Trans...

mljohnson2

So far so good.. I've only felt the shudder once and it was much lighter than it was before. I'm thinking it may clear up completely after a bit more driving. The truck actually drives better to me, shifts smoother and is more seamless. The cost however was insane. I got flat out robbed by the dealership.

$702 for flush, filter, gasket, fluids, oil change, and labor

I would have gone to Toyota had they not already had it apart.