Old news Overdrive assembly failure

Hi.
I know this is an old issue. I would like to share my experience and insight for anyone that may encounter this type of transmission failure. My 01 Tundra SR5 4×4 has 170,000 miles. Everything was fantastic until about a month ago. Driving on the freeway I felt my truck suddenly slow down. Then a ticking noise began and I pulled off the road as safely and fast as possible. No engine or warning lights on instrument cluster. Here are some pics of what I found. In a couple pics that I posted you can see the metal bits and shavings packed in to everything. It was a mess. Rolling now with firm shifts thanks to a valve body makeover plus a shift kit. Strong, positive upshifts. Downshift much faster when accelerator pedal is to the floor.

 

Sucks about the tranny. Welcome to the forum. And sorry, I can't help myself.

 

That stinks. Looks pretty chewed up. What’s the vehicle history for use? Hard towing? Big lift, wheels and tires? Trans fluid changes? Inquiring minds want to know

 

All good maestro. I am assembling my transmission with excellent replacement parts today. For the low cost and good quality budget kinda man. I will be rolling in a few days. Just wanted to share some useful, cost saving advice to any members that encounter this unfortunate transmission failure.

 

Would help if you shared what led to this so that others may have a shot at understanding and potentially avoiding.

 

Bearing failure, heat and unhappy rotating parts is my first prognosis. The overdrive assembly including ring gear, planet and sun are too damaged to check clearances. Where there once sat bearings and race or races now appears molten. Looks like lead has been smeared and dripped. Many needle bearings in the pan. By the way, I am the original owner. It has a mild lift. 33's. I drive it like I stole it. I would need to look through service papers, but it has a nice history of dealership maintenance. Including all transmission maintenance as Toyota lists. Here is another photo of damaged goods.

 

Any signs of coolant mix from a failed/failing radiator?

 

Trans fluid looks pretty red to me in the pics. No milkshake that I can see

 

No. Radiator and trans cooler are both in good shape. Coolant is where it should be. Transmission fluid minds it's own business. I have the transmission back together, plus a fresh torque converter. Should be back in it's home tomorrow. The transfer case is not ready just yet.

 

I had little indication of a transmission problem. I pulled off the freeway and had it towed to my house.

 

There's been a known issue of a weak planetary gear giving out during or some time after heavy towing. This is known to occur primarily for the 00-02/03 trucks. Supposedly it was corrected in the later years. General advice is to tow with overdrive off to help prevent it from happening.

 

Yes. Never towed with it. Drove it like anything else. The parts were too beat to inspect. Plus they were jammed and packed with shrapnel. Very few teeth remain intact on the overdrive assembly. I'm putting it back in today. Lots of new goodies. New end plugs and some valves for the valve body to compliment the overhaul kit. New converter too.

 

Are you rebuilding it yourself? I am contemplating rebuilding mine but I have no experience with automatic transmission but have rebuilt a couple of manual transmission.

 

@Ironsheek187 Couple of questions- my Tundra did not have the factory tow package, so just hooks up to the bottom of the radiator. Should I buy some sort of aftermarket tranny cooler in your opinion? Next question- any chance you can share some parts link to what you did to beef yours up? Pretty cool you where able to rebuild it, I've always heard when there is metal like that everywhere you need another to rebuild

 

Jack nailed it, planetary gear failure. Please keep us posted on your repair (time spent/cost etc) as I am curious. I just got a 125k mile trans from an 04 tundra from the junk yard and swapped it on my 02 sequoia when it went out. $400 for the trans and $800 for install.

 

I can't find the specific post by southpaw, but he did an external upgraded trans cooler, and the new version has a built in thermostat. It's like $65. I'd do it for sure.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/southpaw’s-2000-tundra-limited-4x4-build.53510/page-3#post-1850747

 

If you don't mind junkyard parts, you may be able to snag the OEM cooler and lines from a truck that had them to install on yours.

 

Good idea!

 

Voila!

https://www.japanesetruckdismantling.net/Toyota-Tundra-Transmission-Oil-Cooler-p/32910-34010.htm