Thanks for all the tips. I think I'm going to take it in tomorrow. I'll post up the results.

 

If you take to to an Aamco, don't let them put their multi-vehicle fluid in it, only ATF +4

Nick

 

Thanks for the heads up.

Took it in today. I'll hopefully get the results tomorrow.

 

They just found a handful of metal shavings in the bottom of the pan. I'm screwed. It is still under warranty yet I'm still having to argue with the warranty people to try and get it covered. Warranty guy says that the tranny could have failed due to abuse. I granny that thing everywhere I drive.

 

what warranty do you have? We have a ton of experience dealing with aftermarket warranty companies. Let me know if we can help

btw, did they actually show you the shavings? Some metal sludge in a tranny pan is totally normal. Any of these trucks can benefit from a better converter, a valve body and a controller to bump line pressure. Your problem sounds like a converter to me.

 

What dealer are you at?
After the Brentwood closed down, most of the techs went to Concord.
Concord is now the best dealer out here.

 

I actually bought it out of state from a Jim Norton Toyota Dealership. The warranty is the base 12 year/12,000 mile warranty and is through Millenium. I still have plenty of time/mileage left on the warranty but Millenium is saying they "MIGHT" cover part or all of the transmission repair costs. There's no way I can afford to pay $4,800 if they don't cover it. They won't let me know until the mechanic tears into the tranny and finds out what exactly failed and whether or not it was due to abuse/negligence. The warranty company hinted that the fluid was found to be low and that could indicate negligence on my part but I only put 2500 miles on the truck since I bought it so I shouldn't have low fluid already and if I did wouldn't that indicate a problem w/ the tranny?

 

Ahh man, that sucks. Did AAmco volunteer the info to the warranty company or did they send out an inspector? Best of luck, keep us informed!

 

I actually took it to Diablo Transmission in Concord. The warranty company will probably send out an inspector later on to verify whatever the final results will be.

 

Ask them how their "analysis" will prove "abuse". What technical test, or experience, will give them the ability to determine abuse vs. overheating from another failed part. Clutches slip when seals fail causing low pressure, slipping clutches cause heat. You see where I'm going with this?.........Low pressure can also come from a pligged filter, weak pump, many other things as well. Did the tech get a picture of the dipstick reading low? Every bit of information they should have to be able to "void" the warranty. Ask them where in the paperwork , that you signed, did it state that you should have the experience and knowledge to know when something may be going wrong and how to avoid it causing further damage? Some things just happen, and heck, even ME a seasoned technician, A.S.E. Master certified and all, can't tell when something is "about" to go wrong. Your crystal ball probably doesn't work any better than mine! LOL All of these things try to keep in mind for your rebuttle if they try denying the claim.

 

didn't your earlier posts prior to taking it in say that you checked the fluid? You said it was red and not burnt, so was it also within the safe area when warmed up?

Who thought you'd have to get a second opinion just to get warranty work? Starting to sound like the medical profession.

Ask the tranny guy if he's getting kickbacks from that warranty company? Why is he telling the warranty company it could be abuse? What does it matter to him?

 

That's exactly what I am trying to explain to the warranty company. When I bought the truck (exactly 3671 miles ago) I asked the dealer to change the fluids in the tranny, engine and everything else before I picked it up. The dealer said "already done!" (Just a wild guess, but don't they service these vehicles extensively before they sell them anyways?). So for the warranty company to even mention "possible abuse" it really pisses me off. I even took the truck into a Michael Stead dealership last month to check on the problem and they said everything was normal (I have it on paper).

Ya it was about a 1/4" below the full mark AFTER the tranny had warmed up and was in neutral. It was within "OK" area on the dipstick and was NOT brown, it was clear red. Maybe I didn't warm it up long enough? (Why the heck would it be low after the dealership changed the fluid 3000 miles ago anyways?). To clarify, the warranty guy is the one who mentioned "possible abuse" not the mechanic. The mechanic only noted that the tranny fluid was a little low

I just can't believe this B.S. is happening.

 

Hopefully the PO didn't have a programmer on it. If the shop claims this make them prove it to you. That's the only way they can say it was abused. As for dealerships servicing used vehicles, don't count on it. If the vehicle needs no other work, they probably just top them up.

Nick

 

No kidding. I just assumed they would change the fluids like they said they would. My first vehicle from a dealer (definitely my last). I guess I had to learn the hard way.

 

Result: Bands are shot, clutches are fried, torque converter basically blown up, and a few other parts have been chewed up and spit out into the transmission pan(there was a handful of metal chunks). I can't believe this thing still ran through the first three gears. Warranty guy said there is no way they are going to cover it b/c there was abuse to the tranny before I bought the vehicle. They're basically saying the dealership sold a truck with bad tranny. The mechanic wants $4280 for rebuild and I'm definitely not going to be the one paying for this. Told the dealer what's what and they'll hopefully resolve this tomorrow. I think I'm going to . To be continued...