Cost to Replace Auto Transmission on 2006 Prado

Mulga Bill on 24/04/2023 - 12:53
Last edited 04/05/2023 - 11:41 by 1 other user

I need to replace the transmission on a 2006 Prado (4 Speed Auto, Diesel, 500,000 km).

I am currently getting quotes for a new, reconditioned and second hand options. I am leaning towards reconditioned because new will be too expensive and second hand may end up having the same issues? Have no prices back yet but I am expecting between $5k - $10k (depending which transmission I choose) but the Prado is probably only worth $15k so $10k is out of the question.

Is it worth considering second hand transmission or should I go with reconditioned? Or should I cut my losses and put the money towards another vehicle instead?

Update: We feel it is not worth spending $7k-$10k on the vehicle with so many KMs so we will try to sell it 'as is'…if we come across a cheap enough second hand transmission we may consider that too but its unlikely.

Thanks everyone

Automotive 4WD Toyota

Comments

  • bobbified on 24/04/2023 - 12:56
    +8

    …but the Prado is probably only worth $15k

    With 500,000kms on the clock, it's still worth $15K??

    • payless69 on 24/04/2023 - 13:07
      +1

      It is a Toyota!

      • bobbified on 24/04/2023 - 13:11

        They're good, but 500,000km is the equivalent distance of going to the moon and halfway back! 😆

        • payless69 on 24/04/2023 - 13:14
          -2

          The German cab driver who clogged up 1.6 million km's ignored the rear motor warning on his Tesla and eventually it caught fire.
          Mercedes done 2 to 3 million k's if used 24h a day.
          A Pajero with 150kk would hardly be worth a change of box!

          • bobbified on 24/04/2023 - 13:23
            +2

            @payless69:

            A Pajero with 150kk would hardly be worth a change of box!

            It's 500,000km, not 150,0000… haha.

          • CurlCurl on 24/04/2023 - 15:46
            +2

            @payless69:

            A Pajero with 150kk would hardly be worth a change of box!

            1 million Pajero.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMRZUljZfv8

            • payless69 on 24/04/2023 - 19:29

              @CurlCurl: Amazing! I never intended to knock Mitsubishi's. Just had too many mates who probably been too rough on them. I am sure this lady would do 2 million k's on a cruiser. Even gearboxes need looking after and good technicians willing to do a proper job are extremely hard to find.

              • CurlCurl on 24/04/2023 - 20:35

                @payless69:

                good technicians willing to do a proper job are extremely hard to find.

                The mechanic I've been using for 17 years shut up shop and retired last week. Bugger.

        • Leadfoot6 on 25/04/2023 - 23:01
          +1

          I have driven lots of Toyota commercial Hi ace vans with 500,000+ km and still drove/presented very well.

    • magic8ballgag on 24/04/2023 - 13:14
      +2

      Comparing with others on Carsales, I'd say it's more around the $10k mark, depending on overall condition, service history, mods, etc. And that would be for a car without a faulty transmission.

    • Gunnar on 24/04/2023 - 14:08
      +1

      Would probably be worth $10-15k; Toyota 4WDs hold their value incredibly. Go to Rural Australia and see how many of them you find.

      OP isn't too far off the money, a Carsales search would indicate the car is worth $10-15k depending on the condition and mods that's been done to them:
      https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/toyota/landcruiser-prado/?s…

      OP how attached to the car are you? If you are attached to the car, it's in overall good condition and you want to get another Prado you are probably stuck between a rock and hard place on what to do assuming you don't want to put too much more money into the car

      • GordonD on 24/04/2023 - 15:22

        Toyota 4WDs hold their value incredibly.

        I'm not arguing that isn't a fact but its hard to reconcile that with Toyota having to pay out a record amount, a billion, in compensation for supposed loss of value from the diesel particulate filter issue. It sounds like a case of wanting to have your cake an eat it too to have a vehicle that retains its vehicle amazingly well because it has fewer problems that others, and to also want compensation for the one problem it does have. But, hey, that's how class action lawyers get rich.

  • bathuu on 24/04/2023 - 13:17
    +3

    500k prado worth only $10k to be honest. So even transmission job cost $5k, it is still questionable if worth doing it. Maybe scrap the car and put that $5-10k towards new prado with lower k.

      • Euphemistic on 24/04/2023 - 15:45
        +2

        Someone with a 500,000km Prado is pretty unlikely to be shopping for a brand new car.

        • bathuu on 24/04/2023 - 19:55
          +1

          New prado lower k does not mean brand new prado. Could be same 120 series with lower k. Comprehende?

          • Euphemistic on 25/04/2023 - 07:11

            @bathuu: Mokr’s comment was about wait times for a new car.

    • Cyphar on 24/04/2023 - 14:32

      Massive wait list for the Prado. Didn't Toyota recently stop take pre-orders for them? Second hand market is obscene.

      IMO might be worth the $5k investment to keep it going as long as the engine is still good.

  • Muzeeb on 24/04/2023 - 13:26
    +2

    Put the money towards a new car and sell the Prado as a whole parts car on sharketplace and scamtree.

    • pegaxs on 24/04/2023 - 16:05
      +3

      Woooo, “sharketplace”. I like it. Consider it pirated from now on.

  • Euphemistic on 24/04/2023 - 15:52
    +2

    No idea if there’s a real market for 500kkm Prados. If there truly is it’ll be easier to sell running with a second hand tranny in it. It’ll be worth a LOT less not running.

    Alternatively, reconditioned if you are going to try to get another 100,000km out of it.

  • Brucet on 24/04/2023 - 16:54
    +1

    Get new car.

  • lachhelix on 24/04/2023 - 20:53
    +2

    For a car with a trillion km, most well just get a used gearbox.
    A quick ebay search from wreckers come with a whole bunch between $500 and $1500 + labour
    Certainly wouldn't be paying 10k for a gearbox on a car with 500000km lol

  • Mulga Bill on 24/04/2023 - 23:27
    +1

    Thanks everyone, engine was rebuilt $350,000 km ago (water in the diesel at an outback servo) and it does have a few extras such as lift kit, 2nd battery and 2nd fuel tank but I understand may not be worth $15k? I am not good with prices because I don't sell cars, I drive them till they die, so it may be that time…

    • Euphemistic on 25/04/2023 - 07:14
      +1

      When was the engine rebuilt? At 350000km or it’s done 350000km since rebuild? Either way, it’s got a fair few kms on it since the rebuild. Yes, it’s likely to be able to carry on, but still pretty long in the tooth.

      Buying the same model but with less kms would mean you can relatively easily install your accessories onto it.

  • JIMB0 on 25/04/2023 - 07:48
    +1

    Just get a good second hand one fitted if the rest of the car is in good condition.

    • Dslrfirst on 25/04/2023 - 09:17

      estimate 100,000kms max life for the 'box.

      • kiitos on 27/04/2023 - 10:39

        Is that in general for gearboxes our because you expect harder use in this type of vehicle?

  • jonkvh on 25/04/2023 - 10:49
    +1

    Get the trans recond & fit a trans cooler. That ere of Toyota are easy fixer's. $5000 seems steep, if it's the Borg Warner decended one like I had done myself, cost was just over $3000 fitted.

    • Leadfoot6 on 25/04/2023 - 22:48
      +2

      It won't be a Borg/Warner box(like Australian made B/W boxes).
      Based on the information provided it will be a Japanese box.
      Aisin/Warner.
      A343
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Aisin_transmissions
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_A_transmission
      Toyota Prado 120 Series 3.0L 1KZ Turbo Diesel with A343 4 Speed Auto

      https://automatictransmission.com.au/select-your-vehicle/toy…

      Just over $5,000(incl. GST) + shipping + installation + I believe core deposit(refundable)

      From Bayswater ,Melbourne.

      https://automatictransmission.com.au/shop/rebuild-of-prado-9…

      I hope this has been of some help.

      If nothing else, you will have some yardstick to help compare prices.

      P.S. If I have picked the wrong model/series please let me know.

      • Mulga Bill on 26/04/2023 - 10:55

        Thanks for that info, very helpful! My old trans would need to be shipped back to them and considering I am replacing mine likely due to damaged gears (chunks in pan) I likely wont get my $1,200 deposit back.

        "Refundable Deposit Conditions
        This transmission is sold on a changeover basis. The transmission you return to Wholesale Automatics must be suitable for rebuilding. If the transmission is returned with significant damage to shafts, drums, gears, case, valve body (in other words, ‘hard parts’) or has extensive rust ingress then all or part of your refundable deposit will be kept to cover the replacement parts."

        • Leadfoot6 on 26/04/2023 - 11:06

          Let us know how you get on.

  • Leadfoot6 on 25/04/2023 - 23:51
    +1

    P.P.S. You might like to confirm the transmission model code by looking at the build plate on the firewall.

  • hothed on 27/04/2023 - 12:44

    Please keep us updated OP. I have a 2006 prado and keen to see how much it costs and where you get it done.

  • Mulga Bill on 04/05/2023 - 11:39
    +1

    My mechanic came up with the following options - uninstalling the transmission, sending it off to get reconditioned and then reinstalling installing
    - quote price $9,000 plus approx $1,000 labour & courier costs ("couple hundred dollars")
    - quote price $8,000 plus approx $1,000 labour & courier costs ("couple hundred dollars")
    - fixed price $7,500 plus approx $1,000 labour & courier costs ("couple hundred dollars")

    • none of their usual contacts have reconditioned units available to "swap over"

    • they would also install a second hand transmission but I would need to source it as they don't want to be responsible for any potential future issues with a second hand unit

    or Leadfoot6's suggestion of a "swap over" reconditioned transmission from automatictransmission.com.au was basically $5,000 plus $1,200 deposit (only returned if my transmission "swap over" was in good condition?) plus approx $1,000 labour & interstate courier costs to deliver it here and then return my trans $?

    We feel it is not worth spending $7k-$10k on the vehicle with so many KMs so we will try to sell it 'as is'…if we come across a cheap enough second hand transmission we may consider that too but its unlikely.

    Thanks everyone

    • Hackney on 04/05/2023 - 15:51
      +1

      I would move the vehicle on, it’s getting old, & things will go wrong @ that age.Just not cost effective.You have to know when to draw the line with a car at that age.At the end of the day you have had a good run out of it, & seems to have served you well.

  • Leadfoot6 on 04/05/2023 - 15:46

    Did you make your mechanic aware of the transmission reconditioner from Bayswater Melbourne that I linked to, and that you quoted above?
    To me, that would have been the best option to allow you to keep the car going with peace of mind.
    It would also have saved you some "downtime", assuming that they had an already reconditioned unit ready to ship.

    • Mulga Bill on 04/05/2023 - 16:45

      Yes, thanks and it was an option. I am concerned over shipping costs interstate (there and back again) and don't believe I would get deposit back so effectively costing $6,200 + installation and courier costs.

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