2004 RX300 Gearbox Boken

Fsport · August 25, 2022

Well after installing the tow bar and taking the car for a long trip to the other side of the country (6 hours drive) the gearbox decided to fail after a steep climb up a hill.

It was probably a combination of the heavy tow bar, the extensive luggage in the back of the car combined with having to pull the weight up a steep hill.

The gearbox now does not select reverse although can still drive forward.

Am trying to decide whether to buy a used gearbox from a scrap yard and have that installed or just to scrap the car. The rest of the car is fine.

What are peoples thoughts? Any idea on how much replacing a gearbox is in labour at independent? Can everything be done for £1500 ish including price of a used gearbox?

I am expecting that it is uneconomical and I should just scrap the car and move.

Bluemarlin · August 25, 2022

This place in Erith came up first in a google search. They appear to do rebuilds at the kind of price you're looking for. I have no personal experience of them, but it gives you a starting point regarding cost.

https://www.automatic-gearbox.co.uk/exus-rx300/

Whether it's worth it depends on how long you think you'd get out of the car once fixed, against what it would cost to buy a replacement in today's market. If I thought I'd get another 2 or 3 years without major expense then I'd probably get it fixed if it can be done for under a couple of grand.