Cwang

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclexus

Do you think Toyota/Lexus technicians just learn to make repairs without any specialized training? How are the repair specialists at independent transmission shops trained?

I don't think dealerships generally repair transmissions, they don't even regularly service them. A normal indy mechanic sends a troubled box away for repair, a dealership probably won't do that so they'll sell you a new one. (Although Holden have done so in the past) I doubt a dealer is getting much experience working on 200K+ mile cars with gearbox issues, by then the car is worth less than the cost of a brand new gearbox.

This may differ from the US system but here training is no different to the carpenter/builder transition. Qualified mechanics traditionally complete extra training at night (unimaginatively called night school) to learn transmissions in depth. With that knowledge they then work in transmission shops where by fixing transmissions every day they become experts in the field.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclexus

Read some of the reviews about AAMCO, one of the largest transmission specialist with shops all over the U.S. Do you really want them, or heaven forbid some shade tree mechanic, working on your transmission

I wouldn't touch a chain or franchise either. We're well past the days of the trimatic 3 speed, gearboxes have advanced and much like performance and heavy work they warrant their own specialists. It's both cheaper and more efficient to remove the gearboxes and send them off to transmission shops for repair or send the customer direct if it doesn't require removal. If you want to find a good transmission specialist, ask a mechanic with excellent standing in the community who they send their work to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclexus

and learning how to do it on-the-fly?

Everyone sticks to what they specialise in - Lexus do not specialise in repairing gearboxes but they'll sell you a new one, as evidenced by Dave's post. If anyone is learning on the fly, it's a dealership tech because it's not a monthly task. For a dedicated tranny shop it's their meat and potato, done with their eyes closed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveGS4

The service advisor came out and said with a straight face "our technician thinks you should replace the transmission, it'll be $3,500 do you want to do that today?". For. A. Very. Slight. Leak.

It sounds surprising but it's really not, most Lexus mechanics aren't experts on their own transmissions because they don't work on them - how can they be? The job carries more risk than changing oil and air filters and doesn't make the dealership any more money, why would a dealership take on that risk? I'm sure Lexus mechanics are capable of following a factory guide re diagnosing internal gearbox issues but faultfinding (and being right the first time) is a practiced art. I know I'd rather use a specialist with their ear to the ground who tears apart gearboxes every day of the week than someone following an internal bulletin step by step who hasn't done this exact job 10x this year.

Looking at it from another angle, the last thing Lexus want to do is take $3K for fixing your clutch packs for the TCM to die 4 months later. Whilst not their fault it doesn't make for happy customers - we all know Lexus are no.1 for happy customers. Financially speaking the brand is aimed at BMW and MB customers so in their eyes a Lexus customer should be able to afford a whole new transmission , which will guarantee reliable service for the rest of the vehicle's life. A fair position for Lexus to take - never mind a $2 part had failed.

Cwang

That's very common with high mileage transmissions. Once it's that far gone it's best to leave it alone, the fluid is so full of crap that replacing it causes slipping - another reason never to flush. Regular changes to prevent the fluid ever becoming like that is one way to avoid the issue, although depending on how it's driven it may never be an issue anyways. I track my GS so I follow my logbook maintenance schedule.

hipine

They do know things. That's no guarantee the things the transmission makers know get translated to the manuals. 20 years ago or so I had similar questions about another vehicle. That vehicle used a ZF brand transmission and the owners manual claimed the fluid and filter should be changed at 30,000 miles and never touched again. Being an engineer in the auto industry I knew some people and managed to get on the phone with the development engineers at ZF USA. All nice guys with good German accents. The short answer was, "If you want to replace the transmission at 150,000 miles, follow the owners manual instructions. If you change the oil in the pan every 30,000 miles and the filter every hundred, that transmission will last longer than you do."

I've followed that advice on a few vehicles since and got long life out of many that shouldn't have. 280k on that ZF when I sold it, 300k on a 4L60E in an Astro van, 180k on my LX now. I did NOT follow that advice on our Sienna, just let the service shop change it at the dealer specified intervals. That trans crapped out at 180k. I don't know about camrys, but the pan on the LX has a nice plastic-framed rubber gasket with metal inserts that prevent over-crushing, etc. No sealants required. The only part that requires a little attention is that the level needs to be set when the trans is at a specific temperature.

Good luck!

-Dave G.

Just4Me

i know this thread is old. You guys probably got different cars by now, but anywho..

i changed my fluid and filter today at 113,000. And cant tell a difference .. i guess that means, mine was still in good shape.. i didnt smell any burn in the old transmission fluid (smelled like transmission fluid) but it was OH SO BLACK!!! Looked about the same as an over due oil change... i plan on doing it again eventually... not sure when. But before 200,000.

bclexus

I feel sure the original fill ATF you drained out was perfectly good and ready to deliver the goods for at least another 113,000 miles.

carson26d

I am going with the recommendation by Lexus. I don’t believe the failure rate up to about 500,000 will materially change if the fluid is changed or not and if there is a potential improvement in the failure rate due to a fluid change I believe it would be offset by the risk of an improper change. In my case there would be no abnormal use or conditions. I expect 50/50 highway and suburban, almost no urban stop and go. Perhaps one or two track days.

UDel

Just because it was dark does not mean it was not still doing its job or degraded. I have been told all transmission fluid will turn dark with age/heat but it is not a sign it has degraded or is no good anymore, if it is dark because of a bunch of metal/rubber particles then that is a problem. Same with oil, it turns dark over time being exposed to heat/combustion but it is still doing its job, if your oil doesn't turn dark that is probably a bigger thing to worry about.

azipod

Good decision. Now you or any subsequent owners will be able to enjoy the car for a much longer period of time without having to worry about transmission trouble.

TTBomB

iTrader: (2)

Has anyone ever sent in a sample to a company like Blackstone Labs to have their trans fluid tested?
This way the data can tell what's going on vs speculation, etc...
My GS only has 35k so its going to be a long time until I can.
Anyone else with over 100k that is planning on changing their fluid willing to do it?

hoartgoart

From my understanding if you want the transmission to last you must keep the pan magnet and filter clean along with roughly 3 drain and fills by 250k km mileage

Just4Me

i havent, but your car is pretty new. . I changed mine a few days ago at 113,000. I read in this wiki concerning TOYOTA SEALED transmission.. , under "normal" driving conditions. Service (change) ATF fluid around 120,000 ,. Under "special" driving conditions at 60,000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota...smission_Fluid

TTBomB

iTrader: (2)

I was hoping with all this back and forth of should we, we shouldn't... the fluid is fine for a lifetime, etc.... Hopefully someone will send out a sample to a test lab to see what the actual tests have to say about the fluid.
Would be interesting to have some results from a 100k car, 150k, 200k etc. That would be some valuable data that others could use to determine if they want or should change their fluid and at approx. what intervals.
I have done it in the past for engine oil but never for trans. Was hoping someone has or is willing to. Thanks

hoartgoart

I've seen samples at 90k and another one I think at 150k.. was ok for the mileage... but metal values were exponentially higher than normal. I wouldn't want that fluid circulating through my transmission.

charley95

Does anyone here have the beating of a dead horse emoji?

bclexus