2006, 90k miles, transmission seems to be blown

I didn't really want to turn into a Toyota mechanic, but it looks like I might have to do this myself. There are lots of these transmissions listed on car-parts.com for 300-700, but they all have more miles on it than mine. I guess mine was defective in some way, but replacing it with a higher mileage one doesn't appeal.

 

I still hope to find a mechanic that will do this, but I will do it myself if required. Not really a crisis at this point

 

I found this video on youtube explaining how the transaxle works. As someone that started taking things apart at a young age to see how they worked, I would really like to know what's going on inside mine. I see now how the electronics can screw up the transaxle, MG1 and MG2 are key to forward motion. I suppose it also could be the damper, saw a report of someone having trouble with that.

 

at 13 minutes in the video, some fighters from Hill AFB fly overhead.

 

I have been studiously ignoring the Gen I Prius transaxle information that's out there, but since there isn't that much on the Gen II I went and watched some videos last night. Apparently the symptoms I have on my car are fairly consistent with a shorted MG2. I need to get it into the garage to look at things. I am contemplating the idea of getting an MG2 off off a used transmission and doing the swap that way.

 

Too bad the pictures are gone on that thread. That is one of two stickied threads in the technical forum that are pretty good. My thought process is that when you pull the suspension parts out of the way, MG2 is under a flat cover that is staring you in the face. I know people replace MG2 on the Gen I because that part is available separately, but it still seems a lot less invasive to grab a used MG2 and put it in rather than pull the entire transaxle. I'm at least going to pull that plate and look after I ohm out the windings.

 

I got the idea of just replacing MG2 from Luscious garage. They talk about the different failures in THIS POST.

Rich, there are a couple of transaxle replacement threads stickied in the tech section of the Gen 2 forum. Both people did it on jack stands and lowered the transaxle with a floor jack. Looks to me that MG2 stator replacement is probably a lot easier, since you don't have to drop a 300 pound transaxle. Still a lot of work though.

 

Would love to avoid the process of finding a transmission. Need to get the car into the garage and out of the foot-high pile of ice

 

I'm driving past a junkyard tomorrow that lists a prius transmission, with the caveat that the "dome is damaged." Since I am thinking about yanking MG2 stator and replacing that, I probably don't need the "dome," which I assume is the damper side of the transaxle. If it turns out that I do need to do a full swap, it seems like that part is swappable from the old transaxle? They are asking $300, I am considering offering less.

 

interesting that a dealer tech would have thought about this since you can't get the part. The puller doesn't scare me much, I'll just fab something.

I got lost looking for the junkyard and didn't get there in time, bummer.

 

Luscious garage says the part isn't for sale, you can buy it for the Gen I, but not the gen II. If there is any information to the contrary I'd love to know a part number