In 2000 I purchased a brand new 6-cylinder automatic Toyota Camry. Over the years, I have rarely driven it and the current mileage is 50,335 miles. The car has performed fine over the years with regular oil changes – no problems at all. Within the past month, the car was towed (parked in incorrect parking spot, no signs posted anywhere; anyway…) The following day when I retrieved the car, issues seemed to appear. That day, I had shifted the car into reverse from park, and the car wouldn’t shift gears. I pressed the gas and nothing happened – the car seemed like it was stuck or in neutral. Luckily, I was able to drive forward instead and leave my parking spot. A day or so later, I shifted the car into reverse from park, and again, nothing happened. I pressed the accelerator for a couple of seconds, and the car suddenly lurched into reverse. Since then, when I am pressing the accelerator when stopped at a red light, sometime the car “pops” into drive, similar to someone driving a stick shift shakily and the car “lurching” into drive.
A few nights later, I shifted my car into reverse and all the sudden, the car started making a terrible grinding sound when I would accelerate. Since that time, the grinding sound is both heard and felt when accelerating from a stopped position or from low RPMs. The sound goes away once the car reaches higher RPMs, such as leaving 1st gear.
The dealer examined the car and found metal particles in the transmission pan and low pressure when looking at the transmission – he believes something is ground up in my transmission. His solution is to install a brand new transmission, for the low low price of $4,085. I am very surprised, as my car has such low mileage! I’m currently getting a 2nd opinion (and plan for a 3rd). Mr. 2nd opinion’s original idea is to rebuild the existing transmission and install.
What do you think?
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Answers by: Dave
Third option: contact your nearest auto recycler or salvage yard and see if they have a suitable transmission. Those places are usually full of disabled & wrecked vehicles, but a number of the components may still work well. Usually a car is there because of extensive body damage (expensive to fix) or engine damage (also expensive); thus, they might have one with a perfectly good transmission, especially considering the age of the car.
Some will pull the part off the old vehicle for you, and some will require that you pull it yourself. Either way, it'll work out way cheaper than buying a new or rebuilt transmission.
Also, I never thought I'd suggest something like this, but since it sounds like the tow truck caused the damage, you may be able to sue the tow truck company for damages, especially if you were parked in a location that did not indicate that you could be towed. Of course, that route is riskier, because you'd need to retain a lawyer and an expert witness who can analyze your transmission and identify conclusively that the damage could be caused by towing the vehicle.