2001 RAV4 - is it likely the ECM or the transmission?
At the time of the class action settlement in January, 2012, we had 166,000 miles on our 2001 RAV4, so didn't qualify for the enhanced warranty.
One day last month, the automatic transmission wouldn't shift out of 1st gear. My husband turned right around, and we had it towed to the dealer, where we've been satisfied with service in the past.
Before that morning, there were NO symptoms of anything wrong with the transmission.
The dealer said it could be the ECM or the transmission, and the only way to find out was to replace the ECM for $1100. If it wasn't the ECM, we were out the $1100 because they couldn't take it back, even if it was in the car for a brief time while in their shop.
The settlement said that, if there was a harsh shift condition of the automatic transmission, or the Malfunction Indicator Light (check engine light) was on and had with the following computer codes: P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, and/or P1760, then the repairs would be covered, if the vehicle qualified, which ours doesn't.
Does not shifting out of 1st gear qualify as "a harsh shift condition"? None of those codes came up.
This car has been a champ, and we'd like to keep it, even though it has 188,000 miles on it. Is there a way to tell if it's likely the ECM or the transmission? Again, before the morning it wouldn't shift out of 1st gear, there were NO other symptoms of anything wrong with the transmission.
Many thanks
