1989 Toyota Corolla transmission compatibility
Asked by Jonnylinngo Jan 25, 2016 at 05:58 PM about the 1989 Toyota Corolla DX Wagon
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I have a 1989 Toyota Corolla wagon The three
speed automatic transmission has failed on it. I
was wondering if I could put a four-speed automatic
transmission in there instead or a manual
transmission if so what type of modifications would
I have to do for either one?
5 Answers
If you can find a wrecked donor car with a good manual transmission/transaxle the conversion should be fairly straight forward but labor intensive. I doubt your car is worth it though. Why not just buy a manual transmission car and save all the headaches?
Jonnylinngo answered 8 years ago
The purpose is not to have a manual but to just get it good working condition. The 3 speed auto went out in it about 8 months ago. After a let of looking we found a lot of used 4 speed auto transmissions but our mechanic said the 4 speed wouldn't work (why not?) we finally found a used 3 speed which cost nearly twice as much as the 4 speed (we were told it was very rare) then after only 8 months it went out again. Then after it went out again our mechanic told us yet hat it had needed new drive axels for the entire 8 months after he installed it so we finally put new ones on and within a few days the trans went out. He said that was what made the Trans go out.... Putting on the new drive axels...... Too much stress on the Trans. So would a 4 speed auto work? And do you think the failure analysis was correct? Thanks for the help!
I put a 4 speed on my 89 corolla wagon and it works fine. Your mechanic doesn't know what he is talking about. All i had to do was switch out the throttle cable length coming off the trans, Because my 4 speed original was too short. so i switched it out with one from a 3 speed that has the original cable length for a 1989 Toyota corolla. the 4 speed cable length is originally I believe for EFI modles but all you need to do is change out the cable and it should work.
Allen have you noticed any difference on shifting? I have a 1988 corolla wagon with a bad transmission Im not willing to gamble $350+ on ebay a buddy of mine gave me 4 speed out of a 92 thinking of swaping it just wanthing to see if you ran into any issues sice the swap
IheartDragons answered 3 years ago
I ran into a similar issue, my 89’ wagons’ auto 3 speed tranny gave out, swapped it out for a used 4 speed off of a 92’. Switched the throttle cable before hand, but still I get no go! Just a bunch of loud noise...
