Replacement transmission sources?
06-09-09, 04:41 PM
#16
Good point, that (software/ECU) is certainly another interface between the tranny and the car, just like the cooler. But I have not heard of any problems in the GS430 in that area, and all mechanics said there are no codes - so what could I reasonably try to do to see if that's the problem? What does the ECU do that could cause the trannies to actually fail?
Here is the TSB
TSB Number: TC002-06
Bulletin Title: HARSH SHIFT AND/OR M.I.L. ON" DTC P0750, P0755, P0758, AND/OR P1760
Release Date: March 3, 2006
Applicable Year(s): 2001 – 2003 model year RAV4 vehicles equipped with automatic transmission.
File Size: 35kb PDF
Download: http://RAV4World.com/tsb/2001/TC002-06.pdf
Description: Some 2001 – 2003 model year RAV4 vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle may exhibit a harsh shift condition and/or M.I.L. “ON” with DTC P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, and/or P1760 stored. Improvements have been made to the Engine Control Module (ECM) (SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) manufacturing process to reduce the possibility of this condition occurring. Use the following procedure to repair the vehicle.
Bulletin Title: HARSH SHIFT AND/OR M.I.L. ON" DTC P0750, P0755, P0758, AND/OR P1760
Release Date: March 3, 2006
Applicable Year(s): 2001 – 2003 model year RAV4 vehicles equipped with automatic transmission.
File Size: 35kb PDF
Download: http://RAV4World.com/tsb/2001/TC002-06.pdf
Description: Some 2001 – 2003 model year RAV4 vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle may exhibit a harsh shift condition and/or M.I.L. “ON” with DTC P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, and/or P1760 stored. Improvements have been made to the Engine Control Module (ECM) (SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) manufacturing process to reduce the possibility of this condition occurring. Use the following procedure to repair the vehicle.
Purchased a new 2002 Toyota RAV4 at Stevinson Toyota, Denver, CO in 2002. Recently, we found that the transmission was shifting oddly. Found out that Toyota put out a Technical Service Bulletin in early 2006 after defects started surfacing stating to replace the car's computer (ECU). The company did not inform owners about this defect which is now surfacing and did not recall due to cost of replacing the ECU and transmission it destroys. The defective ECU burns up the clutch and other parts in the transmission.
Toyota will not do the honorable thing and recall the vehicles or even pay for any portion of the repair if it is even a tiny bit outside the warranty period (as ours is). Bottom line - they will not stand behind their product or mistake if it it costs them too much (unless there are overwhelming public complaints/outcry as with their head gasket recall).
Currently, the vehicle is at Liberty Toyota in Colorado Springs. Service Dept number is 719.278.4851. They will not even discount the repair which we need to have done. Also tried getting in touch with Stevenson Toyota Service Manager, Jeff Totsky (866.424.0557),but still have not gotten a call back.
Technical Service Bulletin is: TC002-06, Revised March 3, 2006. Do a search for the words TC002-06 RAV4 , and you will find out about it and many complaints blogged.
Excerpt:
"Some 2001 – 2003 model year RAV4 vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle
may exhibit a harsh shift condition and/or M.I.L. “ON” with DTC P0750, P0753, P0755,
P0758, and/or P1760 stored. Improvements have been made to the Engine Control
Module (ECM) (SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) manufacturing process to
reduce the possibility of this condition occurring. Use the following procedure to repair the vehicle."
It goes on to say replace the ECM/ECU and possibly the transmission. Total cost is currently around $4800.00. I am getting the ECU/ECM replaced at this time and then will take it to AAMCO for the tranny rebuild. The ECU/ECM part itself costs just over 1,000, then there is labor added to that.
I'm a veteran (retired Air Force), and I don't like being treated like I'm trying to steal something from them (this is how they make you feel) when it is actually the honorable thing that they should take care of the problem. Ironic that a company based in a country that emphasizes honor to such a high degree holds so little regard for doing the honorable thing. http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15515
Toyota will not do the honorable thing and recall the vehicles or even pay for any portion of the repair if it is even a tiny bit outside the warranty period (as ours is). Bottom line - they will not stand behind their product or mistake if it it costs them too much (unless there are overwhelming public complaints/outcry as with their head gasket recall).
Currently, the vehicle is at Liberty Toyota in Colorado Springs. Service Dept number is 719.278.4851. They will not even discount the repair which we need to have done. Also tried getting in touch with Stevenson Toyota Service Manager, Jeff Totsky (866.424.0557),but still have not gotten a call back.
Technical Service Bulletin is: TC002-06, Revised March 3, 2006. Do a search for the words TC002-06 RAV4 , and you will find out about it and many complaints blogged.
Excerpt:
"Some 2001 – 2003 model year RAV4 vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle
may exhibit a harsh shift condition and/or M.I.L. “ON” with DTC P0750, P0753, P0755,
P0758, and/or P1760 stored. Improvements have been made to the Engine Control
Module (ECM) (SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) manufacturing process to
reduce the possibility of this condition occurring. Use the following procedure to repair the vehicle."
It goes on to say replace the ECM/ECU and possibly the transmission. Total cost is currently around $4800.00. I am getting the ECU/ECM replaced at this time and then will take it to AAMCO for the tranny rebuild. The ECU/ECM part itself costs just over 1,000, then there is labor added to that.
I'm a veteran (retired Air Force), and I don't like being treated like I'm trying to steal something from them (this is how they make you feel) when it is actually the honorable thing that they should take care of the problem. Ironic that a company based in a country that emphasizes honor to such a high degree holds so little regard for doing the honorable thing. http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15515
06-09-09, 08:20 PM
#17
Yeah on some Toyota models there were the transmission flash TSB. However the GS trans never had any sort of TSB...as far as I'm aware of. I'm thinking there is some other cause for lyonkster's trans to be going out so often. Maybe the dealer just rebuilt the transmission instead of putting in a brand new unit. You can check it by looking at the VIN tag on the transmission. It will be on a metal plate with the VIN stamped on it. If the VIN is different from your car or has a R at the end of it then the dealer probably replaced it. If it has the exact same VIN as your car then more likely than not, they just replaced the clutch packs in it and threw it back in.
06-10-09, 07:07 AM
#18
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This is the part I am really hung up on now - I need to find what the root cause of this problem is, as I have no intention of replacing transmissions every 2-3 years. And everyone I talked to so far has not been able to find anything - they keep saying "well, maybe the fluid was not flushed at the time of tranny replacement", which may be the case - but how do I know if that is the problem, or something else?
The mechanics I have gone to (Lexus, and independent Lexus repair place) do not appear willing or able to look for the root cause, they just want to R&R the tranny. Do they still have mechanics out there who actually know how to look for the source of the problem in something as complicated as these trannies, instead of just spinning wrenches? Should I try a transmission repair place?
06-10-09, 02:26 PM
#20
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My new theory is that the problem may be in the electronics, and more specifically in a connector at the tranny. I just cannot believe that the original tranny would fail mechanically at 27K from the factory. So my suspicion is that there may be a loose connector pin somewhere, that maybe works its way out over time due to vibration and heat. Every time the tranny is replaced, they reseat the connector, which is why things work for the next two years. I am discounting the ECU itself, because that has never been replaced, but yet the tranny works perfectly every time it is replaced, which would not happen if the ECU was acting up. Anyway, it's a stretch, but I am going to be inspecting the connectors this weekend and will let you know what I see!
06-18-09, 08:16 AM
#21
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Maybe there is a sensor malfunction that is causing the tranny to somehow run hot, or not engage correctly. You may be correct that a wiring problem could be the issue if theres a bad wire or plug connected to the tranny that is causing a short.
06-18-09, 09:44 AM
#22
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I would be sure to rule out all possible causes this time. Replace the cooler, converter and the tranny. I would bet the failures are due to trash/metal in the cooler and converter coming back to kill the tranny. Remember these cars hold LOTS of fluid in the converter and little in the pan. Just my .02
06-18-09, 07:19 PM
#23
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BS from the dealer. Our tranny's have an issue where the shift selector does not communicate to the computer and the computer thinks the car is in neutral. Put it in 3rd and see if it moves, if it does shift into D and you are good to go.
Irritating but also a cheap fix.
Irritating but also a cheap fix.
06-18-09, 07:22 PM
#24
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I figure if it does not come back, then this will be the DIY success of the century (given that the dealer and an independent mechanic said I need a new transmission). And if it does come back, well then the fact that it goes away for days and then returns probably tells me something too, though I am not exactly sure what. I would guess that if the tranny was truly "broken" or worn out, then it would not be this intermittent (?), so perhaps that would still point to some electrical more than mechanical problem.
If the problem returns, I will plan to drop the pan and see if it's clean or full of shavings/junk. That will be yet another piece of information that I will use to try to pinpoint the cause. I did check the flow of fluid through the cooler, and it flowed very freely, about 1 qt per 10 seconds. The fluid was very clean. So I don't think that that is the problem.
I'll see what happens in the next few days or weeks and will report back.
Leon
06-18-09, 07:26 PM
#25
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BS from the dealer. Our tranny's have an issue where the shift selector does not communicate to the computer and the computer thinks the car is in neutral. Put it in 3rd and see if it moves, if it does shift into D and you are good to go.
Irritating but also a cheap fix.
Irritating but also a cheap fix.
06-18-09, 08:11 PM
#27
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.
06-22-09, 07:10 AM
#28
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Just for posterity, in case anyone comes across this thread, I found the problem, and it was NOT the transmission - it was a dying battery!
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ieve-this.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ieve-this.html
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