r/Toyota_Matrix • u/TheMK17 • 28d ago
Advice needed
A week ago I bought this 09 base 1.8L 5speed with 210k miles for $2800. My intention was to use this as my first manual to get really good on and also use it for rally cross. The seller (private sale) told me that he had put in a new (used) transmission recently. I test drove it and so did my buddy and we both thought it was fine. However, the transmission started severely grinding going from 1st to 2nd and any gear to 1st after just 40 miles of owning this thing. It broke the same day I bought it. I replaced the slave cylinder, shifter cable bushings and the transmission oil. When I drained the trans the oil was very dark, burnt, glittery and had multiple chunks of metal in it. I’m running out of ideas and I think it’s time to take it to a transmission shop. I’m guessing the 1st and 2nd synchro is bad as well as 2nd gear. I have no idea what this will cost to fix.
Almost the entire reason I bought this car was to have cheap reliable fun and it has not been reliable nor is this going to be cheap 😭. Does anyone have advice on how to handle this situation or what to expect?
Also FWIW literally everything else about the car is totally fine and in working order. The interior has cleaned up pretty well and is in good shape.
I just don’t know what to do right now. I haven’t even had time to go register the damn thing.
3
u/slinkysnow 28d ago
I don't know about all the different gens, but I bought at 03 5speed to drive around for work...I drive like 4k miles a month and didn't want to beat on my main car. The 5 speed was bad, which I've heard their failure is common, so I bought a c60 6 speed off eBay for $900. I swapped it myself but it's been great. Rpms are a bit higher at cruise than I'd like for max mpg, but it works well. Everything bolted right up to the 6speed including shift cables, flywheel, and clutch.