kosmo69

So the tranny is out on my '99 Rx AWD w/ 119k on the ODO.
My indy quoted me approx $3200 for a REBUILD. A Toyota Dealer said "close to" $5k. SO i have a decision to make: Rebuild or Sell as-is???

First, I've read:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...different.html

but its seems like the highlander trannys are indeed cheaper but not w/o hi mileage. What is a typical labor time to drop a old and intall a new tranny???
Im guessing if i find a used tranny on the cheap its still prob nearing $2000 all-in, right?

If i decide to sell as is what could I get? theres one on ebay very similar to mine that also needs a tranny:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-T...=p4506.c0.m245

what to do? what to do?

hypervish

Well I personally would get a new tranny for a highlander and install it in the RX. Do you plan on driving this daily and for a long time if so get it fixed. If not, still fix the RX then maybe with a used highlander tranny not new but used and sell it once it is fixed so that you will get some money back.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

You can find used Highlander transmissions from $750 to $1300 on e-bay. There are some rebuilt ones that come with 2-3 year warranties for around $2000. But you have to add installation and shipping your core back (~$1000 total). It really depends on whether you intend to keep the car. If you owned the car from new and have changed the oil regularly, you shouldn't have any engine problems and you might want to go the $3000 route and keep it. If you don't know its history or know it's not been well looked after, you might want to go the cheapest route and unload it. You probably won't get much for it with a dead transmission.

kosmo69

we are the original owners. I recently had the timing belt done too. One interesting note is that I DIY the tranny oil recently also, I used whatever it said in the book. hmmm?

BTW is anyone else surprised at the current bid of $4k on the one list on ebay???

code58

I'm betting that is not gonna sell. It is a dealer and they're gonna want more than it's actually worth. You can't just take the price of having the tranny rebuilt off of the book value of the car. When people buy a car that has major problems like that, they generally buy at a price that rewards them for the added headache or they don't buy. The bad part is additionally, SUV's are not generally a hot item now, and may not be in the future either. It's a tough call, and you have my sympathies. I suppose I would still take a chance on it if you can buy a Hylander trans. reasonable enough that you can determine should actually be in good shape.
I have serious doubts that your trans service had anything to do with ti going out. I assume if you DIY that you just drained and filled or dropped the pan, serviced and then filled the amount the pan held. Not much chance that could have done anything but good, rather than harm.

kosmo69

is the hylanders' 3L V6 known as 1MZFE? thats what comes up on the parts search. tks

Lexmex

Yes, the 1MZFE in the Highlander is the same engine as in the RX300.

However, an important note, you need the AWD tranny, known as the U140F, not the U140E that goes with the FWD Highlander or RX300.

Sometimes you will see a distinction with the 1MZFE with an MCU15 after it, and that is the AWD, the MCU10 is the FWD.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Yes, I believe that is the engine code. The transmission codes are U140F for AWD and U140E for FWD.

I'm surprized the bid has gone as high as 4k, as that translates to over 9k with the transmission repair and the car isn't worth that with the headaches.

salimshah

Who is keeping count ... here is another one which bit the dust soon after trans service.

Salim

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Dunno, is the sense that we should be considering transmission fluid a "lifetime" item, after all?

thomas1

I was keeping count from both sites....80 plus emails from these folks.....

kosmo69

so the one on ebay sold for $4650. I gotta think the buyer is in the car biz like a wholesaler whos got access to cheap labor/parts.