Transmission issues and rebuild.

[cvtroger]

Well, I mentioned this on my van blog.

First off, sorry I've been out. Finishing up my bachelor's in public health at SFSU, my advance cardiac specialty in cardiac electrophysiology at BCIT and got an 07 subaru legacy wagon that was banged up with frame damage due to a 25yr old's newly found drinking habits (his dad is one of the cardiologists I work with), so it was my project in my autobody frame straightening class at CCSF. So been writing papers, doing internships and cutting and welding panels and frame pulling.

Last month, I noticed that my transmission started to have a slight delay in lower gear shifting. I was thinking it was the shift solenoid, but then when I put the previa into drive from park, it was in neutral until I gave it some gas.

Then it progressed even worse, when it would shift into 2nd and 3rd, there would be a long delay in shifting and then there is suddenly violent shaking!!

I took it the shop that did my motor and the gave me a quote with front clutches going out.
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Subsequently, I went to a transmission shop I originally SHOULD have taken the transmission while it was out when the motor was being rebuilt. He drop it and agreed the clutches were going out. He told me it wouldn't take long, but it is space on his rack (he has a contract with SF police dept and county sheriff to do their work), but he would take my car and it would be done in a couple days.
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The rebuild vs replace conflict came up again.

Now, I thought about getting another transmission as I've seen a few on craigslist and at a few junkyards. Obviously, who knows the condition, hell I even thought my transmission was solid! When my motor was out, I wanted to take my transmission to this shop, but the guys that were building my motor said that the pump feels good and they'll just do a flush/seals/AT kit service. And for awhile, it did feel normal.

Even looked into the transmission and it was the same as the supras, which some people say he is bullet proof.

I decided to go with a rebuild and he gave me a quote that was $600 cheaper than the shop I had my motor rebuilt. Plus he was ATRA + his contracts with the city and county and quality work from various sources.


I decided to roll with it and gave him my van 30mins after he test drove it (on Thursday). My transmission was done on Tuesday, but they were waiting for a tranny mount to arrive (mine were both worn and ripped, but stable).

When he was rebuilding, I asked him for a shift kit as well.

Anyways, here is picture of the front drum which was burnt and the clutches were horrible.
IMG_5688.jpg

I am happy with the rebuilt as I know nothing of transmissions and would not/could not attempt something outside of tranny pan gasket and shift solenoid replacement.

The full rebuild for the transmission covered:

- Master Overhaul kit
- New torque converter
- new forward drum
- new Input sprag
- new transmission electronics - shift and lock up solenoids
- fluid for transmission
- Transgo shift kit - SK 340 (Type 1 VB)

I have to say, of all the previas I test drove and even mine, this transmission feels nothing like any of them. The instant shift with power is simply a great feeling.

[cvtroger]

Let's do an update:

A few months back, my Previa started to have a delayed shift and even some rattling noise.
I automatically thought it was my transmission.. I mean those 2 things go together right?

So I took it back to the shop that rebuilt the transmission. It has been since 2014 and the tranny pan was lightly moist looking. He said he will investigate and service the transmission at no cost.
Fluid was clean and everything was fine.

BUT... it was my 2nd catalytic converter that was having issues. So the insides of that cat started breaking up (causing the rattling). This also messed with the shifting.

So after I replaced that 2nd cat, Previa ran great again.

Lesson - check catalytic converters if shifting issues pop up.