Transmission Issues with My 2003 Toyota Echo… Is This Normal?

Toyota Passenger and Sports Car Forums Toyota Yaris/Scion iA/ Echo/ Vitz
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Hi, I own a 2003 Toyota Echo automatic, and I’ve just been told my transmission is starting to fail after first gear started slipping. It’s got about 240,600 km on it. Is this normal wear, or is it unusual?

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There’s a lot to consider here—whether the fluid’s ever been changed, if it’s mostly highway or city driving, etc. Dealers usually ask for the VIN to know the exact vehicle and transmission type.

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brunomars said:
There’s a lot to consider here—whether the fluid’s ever been changed, if it’s mostly highway or city driving, etc. Dealers usually ask for the VIN to know the exact vehicle and transmission type.

Fluid’s still good, and it was used as a DoorDash delivery car here in Canada. I didn’t go to the dealer since I don’t really trust them.

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@Keenan
The fluid isn’t meant to last a lifetime. Changing it every 60,000 km is usually a good idea. But if it’s never been changed, doing so now might actually cause more slippage.

Since DoorDash driving means a lot of stop-and-go and extra wear, you’ll want to find a reliable transmission shop in your area. A dealer or shop can tell you exactly what transmission you have and what options you’d have for a replacement.

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@brunomars
Got it. I don’t really have the money for a dealer replacement, and even a used transmission might be a stretch. If I wanted to sell or scrap the car, how much would it be worth? It’s still in good shape otherwise.

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@Keenan
The main point is that it’s free to ask the dealer what transmission you have. Once you know that, you can look for a used one (Kijiji, eBay, scrapyard) or even consider swapping to a manual.

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brunomars said:
@Keenan
The main point is that it’s free to ask the dealer what transmission you have. Once you know that, you can look for a used one (Kijiji, eBay, scrapyard) or even consider swapping to a manual.

Thanks for the advice!

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@Keenan
Just to give you an idea: I once found an entire car for $750 CAD on Kijiji to pull a manual transmission from, with labor costs around $1000 to $2000. But keep in mind, at this age, any accident could write the car off.

If you’re looking for a good shop, maybe check Reddit for recommendations. And as for guarantees, well, my garage once joked that it lasts as long as you can still see the taillights.