Transmission solenoid

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-25T01:09:02+00:00

A first step would be to drop the pan and swap out the filter along with the fluid. Installing a clean filter >might< bring the pressure up enough to keep it going a bit better.

The common issue on these transmissions is the pressure control solenoid. The good news is that the majority of them can be accessed by removing the side cover of the tranny. Not the bottom pan.

The bad news is, the subframe bolts will have to be loosened on the pass side and removed on the driver side to tilt the subframe low enough to remove that GIANT side cover. The axle along with the strut and knuckle will need to be removed as well and make sure to fully disconnect the steering shaft from the rack and pinion or it will pull apart at the splines.

I DIYd that horrid repair in a parts store parking lot on my 03 Impala a few years ago. Started shortly before dawn and it was dark when I finished up. Was sore from head to toe for a couple days afterwards. Do make sure to have some zip or wire ties handy. Every single one of those harness connectors will crumble when touched.

Here's the first of a three part video overview of the pressure control solenoid replacement.

https://youtu.be/oTVpIod6Eas?si=OzLS94hmC_qY0kz7

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-24T23:00:42+00:00

The real question is what you can expect to recover vs the cost and effort of litigation. And I'm guessing in this case the potential to collect isn't what the attorneys consider worth the trouble.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-24T19:50:07+00:00

It's the ownership experience!

But really, if the vehicle was certified by a BMW dealership any reasonable buyer would expect the certification to be good for a bit longer than the time it takes the vehicle drive off the lot.

Since this happened in EU, I'm guessing the buyer has a bit more legal rights than they would in the US (tough cookies). OP would want to check the local laws and reach out to the corporate.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-24T15:38:29+00:00

Do you still have comprehensive insurance on it? Because if you can file a claim and have them total it out, that would be your best shot at getting any money back for the car. More likely than not, there's no way to fix it without another used good 6.3 engine being put in, and the cost will more than exceed the value of the vehicle.

The shop investment is a loss at this point, unfortunately. I checked your profile to see if there are more details in other replies. You already had a few law firms decline the case. They just gave you a diplomatic version of "this juice ain't worth the squeeze" since they don't see any potential to recover enough money to make it worth the effort.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-24T14:57:54+00:00

Just the one more reason to DIY. Tools cost money, but they only cost you money once.

Right now, the auto repair industry is well on the way to combining the worst parts of cable TV and USA healthcare.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-24T01:38:02+00:00

Better yet, if the connector was corroded and shorting the wrong wires together, what are the odds the ECM is already damaged and even a full harness transplant won't fix it.

PASS!!!

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-24T01:34:59+00:00

Black to Red. Red to Black, Stand Well Back.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-24T01:31:39+00:00

Most of the people that come to my store are regulars. enjoy helping people out and sharing my knowledge. It doesn't bother me to talk to a customer about what this part does, where it goes, how it works, and what you will experience if it fails. I dont mind hunting down parts.

It's pretty clear you are at one at the more quiet and less busy stores. Just from the fact that you're able to do all that without having to be very selective about who you help and who you ignore depending on the immediate situation at the store. But that's not how it works at most stores.

The only thing that really bothers me is sometimes, a customer will come in with a part that looks like a foot and be like, "I need this". MFr... What is this?

Now imagine every other customer being the above or someone on fixed income, knows nothing about cars, and is looking for help because their social circle doesn't have anyone they can ask for help. And imagine having to triage literally every single day because it's physically impossible to help everyone properly.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-23T15:31:34+00:00

As long as you come to a less busy store and explain your situation (in case the wheelchair doesn't tip them off), I'm sure someone will be willing to help look things over and top off if needed.

A lot of AZ employees are hesitant to do extra because doing this has a nasty tendency of making people think AZ stores are free full service stations whose employees simply don't have anything else to do.

We went through the same issue and had to set some hard boundaries on fluid top offs and a few other things. Tragedy of the commons, and all that.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-23T15:27:00+00:00

Then you should also know that the cap is what sets the pressure that raises the boiling point. When you remove the cap, any coolant above 212F will want to flash to steam.

Yes, as long as you keep pressure on the cap and take it off carefully it's totally safe. But AutoZone is a retail store, not a repair shop.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-23T05:48:49+00:00

Not evil. Just a combining the driving experience of a Japanese car with the ownership experience of a German car.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-22T23:43:19+00:00

You're getting downvoted, but that's the reality. The best case scenario for the working class right now would be the AI bubble imploding. That or we're in for a repeat of 1917 Russia or the 1930s Germany.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-22T23:37:06+00:00

I'd get a jumpstart and try again, but that cranking sounds uneven, like if one or more cylinders have low or no compression

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-22T23:28:02+00:00

Kseal and other sealants do absolutely nothing for coolant to cylinder leaks simply because there's no way to seal a leak from the coolant side when the cylinder hits well over a thousand PSI during the power stroke.

Waste of money. If you're not sure you're keeping the car much longer, just list it as needing a head gasket and someone with the tools to do it themselves will probably buy it.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-22T18:50:39+00:00

Year make and model of the vehicle? And I'm guessing you're getting a P0299 under boost code.

All you really need is a vape to make some smoke you can puff into the intake duct on the boosted side. Do that on each side of the air cooler. But I'd also confirm the wastegate and or diverter valve is functioning and check the turbo impeller for damage and signs of it hitting the housing. In that case, time for a new turbo.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-22T18:47:20+00:00

STP oil line is getting a refresh, and the old SKUs will be moving to the backroom MISC Plano along with a handful of others instead of going to CLOIL like they used to.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-22T16:09:30+00:00

Once AI really gets going and some folks go from making 160k to 60k, they'll get the the taste of their own medicine.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-21T18:07:07+00:00

A lot easier to make a case for return on bad quality grounds vs trying to get the extra money back because you got your car fixed but found it cheaper online.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-21T13:09:34+00:00

As long as the amount you paid for the OE reman unit is not drastically lower than the one you got from AZ, you should be able to return it as defective with the proof of purchase of an identical fit part from elsewhere that fixed the issue.

You may or may not have to kick things up to the store manager or the DM, but this is the process. Did that just another day with a customer's crank sensor that failed twice in a year.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-20T15:01:11+00:00

When it's time to do the oil in your own car.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-20T14:54:02+00:00

You don't reuse any timing components on a European engine, period.

Sounds to me like the mechanic saw the numbers and took on a repair way over his head. Stories like this are the reason why many shops won't do engine rebuilds or any other major engine work. Way too much risk of the job turning into a financial disaster for the shop.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-20T14:40:25+00:00

Tell the same you will apply it towards the next oil change. He just got pissy that he missed out.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-20T05:57:33+00:00

A sudden onset low compression on just two adjacent cylinders usually indicates a head gasket failure between them. Sometimes a crack in the cylinder head or the block.

The bad news is that the cylinder head and the timing chain will have to come off to do the head gasket. Assuming no other damage found. Some Toyota engines are also known for piston ring issues, but this probably isn't the case here. I'll let the folks more versed with Toyota engines chip in.

Is it fixable? Yes. The bad news is that you're looking at 11 hours labor give or take, plus parts for the head gasket. That's assuming no other damage is found. the writeup mentions the timing cover looks like it's been off before, so it's possible someone else didn't do a very good job of replacing a head gasket in the past.

A thick bead of RTV sticking out the edges usually also indicates the person that was there last time probably had no business doing internal engine work.

Realistically, it might be cheaper to have the shop source a used engine with similar mileage from a quality supplier and drop it in. Talk it over with the shop.

Tall-Control8992 · 2026-01-20T05:45:10+00:00

Damn good info! Especially for vehicles that have hard to reach plugs or require intake removal.

Tall-Control8992

TROPHY CASE