How to choose a good used transaxle. Ideas?

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

For now where can I probe with my multimeter to see the voltage without taking it too far apart. I have linesman's gloves. I have the rear seat out and can access the case. I was thinking about probing through the insulation on the main cables but would rather not if I don't have to. If voltage is fine then I will leave checking on the battery till later.

There is no external test point although there is Toyota proprietary test cable. You really have to take the case off and there is a significant risk in that. Whatever you do, don't try to go through the main cable insulation. The traction battery is isolated from the frame and there are three, safety relays.

The only sensible way is to remove the traction battery and put it on a bench. Personally, I would hold off until you have a scanner and manuals.

Originally Posted by orange4boy

An "interesting" find when I jacked it up for the first time: No tranny drain plug! Gone. There is a deep gouge on the pan too from an altercation with a curb, no doubt. No perforation. the rest of the underside is undamaged. So much for a sample unless I can get enough out of the pan. I think the dealer didn't bother to replace it with the tranny gone, but why would they bother draining the oil? Hmmm. Could it be someone forgot to replace the plug and hence destroyed the tranny? Inquiring minds want to know.

You've diagnosed the failure ... nothing to learn from an oil sample.

Bob Wilson

[orange4boy]

Not necessarily. It may just have been the last nail in the coffin. Here's the story from the fleet manager. Tremblay is their service provider and the car was brought to them with some kind of transmissions problem. The tech entered "transmission wonky" an it was decided then to take it to the dealer:

The car was driven to tremblay, then driven to Downtown Toyota, while
downtown toyota had the vehicle out on a road test it died and was first
towed to their shop, then to Tremblay

I wish I knew when the plug was pulled. So far, it's a mystery.

[bwilson4web]

Sorry, I forgot to mention the ground fault interruption system. If the resistance to ground of either side of the traction battery falls below several megaohms, it takes power off of the three safety relays to isolate the traction battery on each end and breaks the middle. The system is so sensitive that an electrolyte leak will trip it. You never want to do anything to compromise the insulation and I believe the main power cables are shielded.

A photo of the pan would help but I can imagine someone driving over a curb or rock in such a way as to loosen and start to unscrew the plug. Once loosened, the oil would leak out and vibration would cause the plug to unscrew and drop off. Loss of oil and the rest is burnt toast.

Bob Wilson

[orange4boy]

In a way, I suppose it's a good thing because it's not an MG2 failure/manufacturing defect, just a accidental loss of fluid. One less negative reliability statistic.

[Shubin Andrey]

is it possible to buy used transaxle including the seller's warranty for some valuable time period in USA ?

[Patrick Wong]

Usually a salvage part has a very limited time warranty, like one week. The buyer is basically assuming the risk of failure.

For example, see:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYOT...Q5fAccessories

[orange4boy]

It would be tough to drop it in, find out it's bad, remove it and get to back to the seller within a week. The last time I replaced a tranny, in a Volvo, there was a one month return policy that I didn't have to use. Things have changed since then. That's why I need to perform as many tests as possible. I'm hoping to find one close so I can pick it up myself.

Update: The tranny died of thirst for sure:

Slow leak through that tear...Fast leak out the drain.

Happened to me once in my beetle. The oil drain plug let loose "for some reason" *ahem* and I lost 6 litres of oil in 100 feet. The oil light saved my engine and luckily a fire truck passed as I was stopped and cleaned up my mess.

[orange4boy]

Found a few at Gundies Auto Recycling which have a 6 month warranty if installed by a certified tech. I have a friend who could sign off on it.

2002
Transmission
Toyota Prius 45,000--km--72,464 A B90519 $850.91
2002
Transmission
Toyota Prius AUTO (CVT) 77,000--km--123,994 A B90433 $752.91
2002
Transmission
Toyota Prius 1.5,AT 93,298--km--150,238 A PS69 $700

Will probably go for the lowest mileage one. Have to pick it up in Bellingham.

Found one locally for $900 but with unknown mileage. This one comes with a 4 month warranty. With exchange it's about the same as 850 US. I can look at this one on Wednesday and if it looks good I'll probably get it and save the border hassles.

[bwilson4web]

Ok, I'm going to suggest a couple of sensible precautions and why:

1. Flush the transaxle - it has probably been in different orientations and that means the accumulated gunk has had a chance to wander into places it should not be. Hobbit found a 'plug' at the top of the NHW20 transaxle and there may be one on the NHW11. Assume filthy, wretched previous vehicle oil has sloshed about. Try to flush out as much of the old stuff as possible without stressing the assembled unit.
2. Drop the pan and wipe all exposed parts throughly - this will also give you a chance to look for 'bad stuff' in the sump. There is a small nook to the rear that the differential gear is in that can barely be reached via a small, finger sized galley hole. Be creative!
3. Careful about foreign lubricants - straight kerosene might be OK for a flush oil but it has not been tested. If you use it, you are the newest, junior Prius, materials engineer. This might be a place where parts from the failed transaxle may give a clue. Either OEM Type T-IV or Type WS transaxle oils are known to be safe.
4. Clean, clean, clean, clean ... Oh did I mention clean?
5. Last chance to check the oil pump ... be sure to have a set of gaskets.

My high mileage transaxle appears to shed small bits of the silicon sealant that I've found in the pan. It looks like pinkish plastic bits.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

[orange4boy]

I like the idea of a flush but I think I'm going to steer clear of the kerosene and do a very quick fluid change instead. I don't like the idea of a solvent sloshing around and thinning the fluid and eating into who knows what. Drop it in new fluid, drive a couple dozen miles, replace with new.

All the other advise, I will take. Clean? I think I'll scrub out the inside of the case with a bit of sandpaper and maybe sandblast the case so it's all spotless. Haha. just kidding. Makes me shudder just to think about it.

I think I will start the new thread soon.