91 4runner SR5 Transmission Problem.... See if you can help me...

[Lifted91Yota]

A while ago, my yota started making a grinding noise that got worse and more frequent. Starts when you first start it up, cold or warm. push in the clutch (in neutral) and when the engine turns over, sounds like the teeth on the flywheel is grinding on something. Pitch of the grinding changes when you put on the gas with the clutch in. Also does the same noise if you start going in first then apply the clutch immediately after. Shifting into second has become a pain in the ass, and it grinds right before locking into second gear. Also, reverse is extremely noisy... Does it when downshifting too. When it's sitting in one gear, runs great, with no other sounds. Only when shifting. My clutch is definitely part of the problem... Any ideas about the transmission? Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance...

~Aaron

[Brian R.]

Welcome to the AF!

Sounds like you have a bad throw-out (clutch release) bearing. If it only makes noise when you press on the clutch, that's probably it. If it gets too bad, it may trash your pressure plate. Get it fixed as soon as you can.

You may not have any problem with the transmission.

[Lifted91Yota]

So I took her in to AAMCO... tried to tell me that it was an internal transmission problem. The only way to know is to dismantle and investigate. Said I might need a rebuild to the tune of 2300 bucks. Does this sound right? I was almost positive when it started happening that it was my clutch release bearing. The grinding DEFINITLEY only happens shifting into 1st, 2nd, 3rd (if accelerating quickly, otherwise it's fine), and reverse is really noisy. Checked the transmission fluid for shards of metal and couldn't find any. When it makes the noise, you can feel the flywheel spinning through the shift knob. Starting off in first is a little shaky at low RPMs, gotta rev it up higher than usual to move without stalling it out. I'd love to hear that it's just my clutch and I can save my 2000 bucks for much more interesting things.. Thanks for the help.

~Aaron

[Brian R.]

Don't get into the transmission unless the throw-out bearing (and maybe the pressure plate/clutch) doesn't solve the problem

[corbinwaterski]

$2300....outrageous....marlincrawler.com has a completely rebuilt transmission for around $850. This guy knows his stuff. Just some info if it comes to that.

[fourwd1]

Originally Posted by Lifted91Yota

So I took her in to AAMCO... tried to tell me that it was an internal transmission problem. The only way to know is to dismantle and investigate. Said I might need a rebuild to the tune of 2300 bucks. Does this sound right? .

~Aaron

NO NO NO NO NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GET AWAY FROM THEM FAST.

That's the method they use to rip you off.

AAMCO stands for All Automatics Must Come Out

Once it's out and apart, they give you an outrageous price to fix it.
If you say no, they still get to charge you a ton of $$$ to re-assemble and re-install it. A friend used to work there and hated the way they do business.

They're thieves.