2001 TOYOTA CELICA Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFTIER DID NOT WORK AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

I PURCHASED MY CELICA NEW IN 2001. THIS YEAR I HAD A NEW CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PUT IN. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS I NOTICED THAT I WAS PUTTING OIL IN ON A REGULAR BASIS, NO LEAKS AND NO SMOKE FORM THE EXHAUST. I HAVE 128 THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL ON SCHEDULE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA IN JACKSONVILLE AND WAS TOLD I SOMEHOW MUST HAVE ABUSED THE MOTOR OR NOT CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY. LONG STORY SHORT, NOW I AM LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT MOTOR AND TOYOTA WANTS ALMOST $6000.00. I HAVE SHOPPED AROUND AND THE CHEAPEST WAY TO GO WOULD BE A USED MOTOR. IF I HAD NOT ALREADY PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH THIS CAR WOULD BE IN THE JUNKYARD. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MOTOR I WOULD BE A FOOL TO PUT IN ANOTHER MOTOR TO HAVE...

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, 1.5 QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES, STARTED AT 96,000 MILES, AT 114,000 MILES NOW. *TR