One Transmission, Two Transmissions,
Three Transmissions, Four

October 8, 2002
      Actually, we are up to FIVE transmissions in my '87 Toyota Van.
      And I have 250 miles on the hybrid Prius I am renting(?), a 2-day car repair ob has reached seven days and counting.
      First we had to locate a place to get a rebuild, since Toyota doesn't make them anymore. (Boo, Hisss!)
     Then, they took out the old one, and sent it to this place so they could "match" it.
      "They" shipped one down. (I don't know who this "they" is.)
      Oooops.
      Turns out most passenger vans of this make were automatics.
      Mine is not.
      And I bought it as a repossession with 560 miles on it. It came this way.
      Which is why I bought it.
      So they tried again.
      Today, seven days into this, Toyota tells me that they finally got one.
      And it fits.
      They bolted it in.
      It does not shift.
      Wait a minute!
      The old one didn't shift!
      That's what we are repairing!
      So back again they go for yet another transmission, from a different location.
      And they can't test the repaired air conditioner until the transmission is in and running.
      I will take bets that they manage to blow fuses - as they do anytime they touch my car.
      They "forget" to disconnect the battery before fiddling with the electrical stuff.
      Since they are putting in electrical parts, they will be fiddling.
      I asked about warranty.
      Twelve months.
      Oh joy!
      'Course, with all this delay, they could have just machined up a brand new one.
      Transmission that is.
      A whole new van would take longer.

      ps: The sixth one worked - the air conditioner works - the radiator floating sensor was replaced - the clutch is repaired - a tad under $3,400. The '87 Toyota van runs just fine now
      Of course, I did have to rest the clock and the radio stations - with my long acrylic nails---..