03 trans issue, broken flywheel - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jryan · 03-29-2009, 08:59 AM

My flywheel broke in my 03 Corolla ( 117,000 miles) with automatic transmission. Got one from a junkyard (04 matrix), matched it up and installed it, but when I try to mate the trans to the engine, I run into problems. First the two components don't go together nicely. There is a gap at the bottom that can be closed only after cranking down on the lower two bolts. It seems as if there is a spring between the trans and engine. Second, when I do crank down and pull the two together it locks up the engine. It seems as though the flywheel to torque converter bolts are becoming pinned against the engine. When I loosen the two lower engine to trans bolts a little, I can turn the engine a little bit, but it seems to be hitting what I assume are the flywheel to torque converter bolts. Any suggestions would be appreciated. When my flywheel broke, I had driven it for alittle before parking it. It started leaking trans fluid like crazy. I replaced seal where output shaft is. Could that possibly be source of leak and could that fix it? One of the trans to engine bolts toward the rear had started to back out. I don't know when this occured, perhaps it was partial start of problem. Maybe shoddy technician at dealer. Car was purchased used.

jryan · 03-29-2009, 05:00 PM

Maybe some people like work once in a while. Try it sometime.

jryan · 03-29-2009, 08:09 PM

Could someone else offer some helpful advice.

***REN69*** · 03-29-2009, 09:44 PM

I know he said it in a rude way, but I'm kind of partial to what solar gts says... seriously have someone check it before you cause more damage than what is done, there could be something you missed or even did wrong.

***toyomoho*** · 03-29-2009, 10:20 PM

Make sure the torque converter is installed on the trans oil pump correctly. It needs to engage the tang or slot on the pump. If not engaged the converter will stick out of the bell housing just a little bit too much. This make it difficult to pull up to the engine and if forced the result being damage to the trans pump as the converter is forced into its housing.

jryan · 03-30-2009, 08:03 PM

I am not opposed to taking things to the dealer. They are of course very knowledgeable in their trade. It does not mean they don't make mistakes. Not to mention they are very proud of their factory parts. I want to know how to fix my car. On the output shaft their is two different gears, an outer and an inner. When I put the torque converter on to the shafts I make sure I turn it so it is on the second outer shaft. I feel it drop in and I can't get it to go in any further. Could there be anything else inside the transmission preventing it from going in all the way? Trans ran fine before flywheel went.