Transmission work...your advice?

[Behrooz]

Hello All,

I am currently having work done on my 2001 Corolla Standard Transmission under a 3rd party warranty at a place in my home town. My question is, the guy who is doing the work doesn't seem to think there is any big deal about ordering whatever parts are available for the transmission and putting them in...I on the other hand have been told by my dealership that I should have only genuine Toyota parts put in...who is right? I'm baffled as I don't know enough about the intimate workings of my transmission. The problem seems to be the synchromesh gears as with the clutch fully depressed the gears will grind as I shift. My Toyota dealership pointed out the problem, but my warranty specifies that they choose the mechanic...not me. Should I insist on genuine factory Toyota parts and just pay the difference, or should I accept the judgement of the transmission mechanic and the warranty company and allow them to put in whatever they feel is best? The guy doing the work says that many aftermarket parts are actually identical to the factory parts and are manufactured by the same people. I buy that for American cars, but question the validity of that statement regarding vehicles like Toyotas. Any input would be spectacular considering that if bad work is done on the Transmission, I don't have the cash to fix it, and it will stick with me for the life of the vehicle!

Thanks.

[01loadedLE]

easiest thing to do is just get the toyota parts.

the more complicated option is that toyota does use different brand parts but you'd have to call your dealer and ask which brand of parts they use for your trans. when toyota answers that and "if" its the same brand that your mechanic is wanting to install it will be ok. otherwise I'd tell the mechanic to put in whatever brand toyota told you they use.

[Behrooz]

Alright, thanks. I'll be sure to insist on the real deal.

[JohnelP]

Oh yes, sure! Dealership experts! Brand parts! Been in 3 dealerships for one "unique" part called differential oil seal. I am embarrassed for the toyota "experts".
First dealership: explained what I need with pictures, the muppet looked 1/2hour in his computer, talked to 3 mechanics, ('course he did not have the part on stock but referenced me a different dealer), and he gave me the the part code for fast search. The next dealer (after explaining again the my needs) concluded that the code given to me by the other official dealer was wrong! And he gave a part with a different code. That one was slighty different from what I pulled from the tranny, but anyhow. During the process of fitting (my mistake, I admit, I cracked it), so i've been to another official dealer (the third one) for a new seal. The third seal was different again than the previous two, I argued with the selling guy if is sure what he is selling to me, and i bought it. This time I fit the seal to a mechanic. Now it leaks more than the old original seal.


But, before, be sure that it's the transmission! I would n't recommend to fix it,but either to buy one from a wrecked car (with the original factory build), or to live with the old one like that.

There are many tranny rebuilders, and many of them don't know what they are doing. Heard many complaints about rebuilt stuff that broke after one year........

[REN69]

I've seen people get Auto trannys rebuilt and true, they end up breaking down again or having the same slippage problem a year later. I'd rather just get a used one for half the price than a rebuild for full price.

Synchros are synchros no matter what.. chances are the ones for your car are only made by one manufacturer, specially for Corollas made in Canada/US, its probably the same manufacturer that supplies Toyota with OEM stuff.