GU 4.2 5th gear problem

Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 13, 2005 at 23:35

ThreadID: 26438 Views:2917 Replies:12 FollowUps:5

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V8Diesel

Nearly bought a real nice '99 GU 4.2D with a turbo on it tonight. Absolute ripper of a rig, but I decided I'd better take it for a spin on the freeway before forking out my hard earned. When I put it into 5th at around 1,200RPM it started to vibrate and feel generally sh%thouse up until about 1,700RPM at which stage it started to smooth out.

On further investigation, it would pull smoothly from 800RPM to redline in the first 4 gears without a problem, but 5th was a deadset shocker at certain speeds. Vehicle has 116,000km's on it and has been very well maintained all its life.

I think I already know the answer, but it this the famous death rattles of a GU's top cog as has been reported here so many times before?

If so what advice can you give me? I would really like to purchase this particluar rig, but I'm no muggins either. Will Nissan do the right thing and replace it out of warranty (1999) before it dies, or am I simply buying trouble? I'm quite willing to cause a stink and kick up a fuss if need be.

Who should I talk to at Nissan in WA?

Also, what's an entire gearbox rebuild worth for the above with the stronger shaft?

Cheers

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Reply By: muzzgit (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 13, 2005 at 23:54

Tuesday, Sep 13, 2005 at 23:54

I don't know anything about the problems with the Nissan 5 speed box first hand, but I would say that not many forby's would be happy at 1200 rpm in fifth gear.

See if you can find another one to take for a test drive and see if it's the same.

AnswerID: 129987

Follow Up By: BGJ - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 09:09

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 09:09

I had this problem with my 98 4.2 diesel. After having a heavy duty clutch fitted by Robson Brothers, the problem disappered, as well as the low rev growl that Patrols have.

FollowupID: 384475

Reply By: Member - 'Lucy' - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 00:29

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 00:29

V8.

It's not 'good practise' to drive any diesel in 5th gear under 2000RPM.

Yeah! it will most probably do it, however it loads up the 'working bits' excessively.

Also, most turbo's ( unless variable geometry ones) don't do much under 2000rpm.

Therefore I'm with MUZZGIT on this one, take it for another drive and keep all gears at a min of 2000rpm. If you do this, you will be around the 100Kph mark before tackling 5th gear. Then listen for strange noises in the grear box area.

Have a good one.

Regards

Ken Robinson

AnswerID: 129989

Reply By: GUPatrol - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 01:14

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 01:14

V8,

The fault with the 5th gear was a manufacturing fault of the splines, no vibration is experienced...
The faulty splines problem was from 2000 to 2001, however if you are in doubt, ring Nissan, give them the VIN number and they will tell you if that particular car is affected.
In my case and many of my friends (I got it cleared in writing from Nissan) some of my friends got them replaced under warranty as a result of that check.
I would say the vibration was normal at such low rpm in 5th, TD42s have a bad vibration inherent which is most notable between 1300 and 1500 rpm, in 5th and under load would have been most noticeable...
The 3.0L models have a fluid filled flywheel to minimise that kind of vibration.
Will

AnswerID: 129990

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 03:07

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 03:07

Get a quote for a recon box fitted then point this out as a common fault (he probably knows its there) offer him whatever you get him down to minus the cost of the box minus a bit more because it your doing him a favour buying a dodgy vehicle (could be the head could be the bearings- maybe even the diff, maaayte) then if it really is stuffed your even if not your ahead

AnswerID: 129995

Reply By: hl - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 07:03

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 07:03

Hi,
Just had mine done under (extended) warranty. The service chap reckoned the bits to replace were worth about $3700.00, new box $3900.00, so they fitted a new box. Had to come straight from Tokyo, so it took 4 weeks. The costs could be nissan trade prices, so retail may be more.
The old box had done just under 50k, there was no noise or vibration, just a sticky 5th gear shift after running in 5th for a while and the oil was very dark (that's how you can tell!!, the oil goes rust or coffee colour).
Cheers

AnswerID: 129999

Follow Up By: Member - Trevor R (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:15

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:15

V8 and hl,

My uncle had his repaired privately then reimbursed by Nissan.
Cost him $3000, Nissan covered $1500 of this.
V8, I doubt you will feel the cog is about to let go but as someone else said here the oil goes a coffee colour so check this before you buy.
But you would be pretty lucky to catch it at the right time but you never now unless you look. My old 100 series when no load was being placed on the box would pop out of 5th and also crunch going into 5th (replaced under warranty twice) but have not heard similar experiences with Nissan's (they just go cccrrunch apparently)

Cheers Trevor.

FollowupID: 384485

Reply By: madcow - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 07:53

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 07:53

I would hit up the owner if he was the original owner and suggest he take it to Nissan for rectification. I believe they are not covering this anymore but a complaint coming from an original owner may carry a bit more weight. Good Luck1

AnswerID: 130003

Reply By: Redback - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 08:15

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 08:15

V8Diesel, i'm with Muzzgit and Lucy here, at 1200RPM most big 4.2TD would do what you have discribed, even the 3.0l would i think, i know our Disco which is a 2.5l turbo diesel is not happy at 1200rpm and it would be aspecially unhappy in 5th gear at 1200rpm.
Have a professional look at if it is as good as you say and if they give a good report then buy it, they are a good 4X4.

Baz.

AnswerID: 130004

Reply By: Alloy c/t - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 09:23

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 09:23

V8 ,would have to agree that 1200rpm is way to low for the 5th cog , should not slot into 5th until 2 thou or so , is basicaly an overdrive .

AnswerID: 130013

Reply By: joc45 - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 09:25

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 09:25

Tend to agree with all the above. My 5th gear let go without a murmur leading up to it. Mine was a Dec '99 build.
Gerry

AnswerID: 130014

Reply By: V8Diesel - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:07

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:07

Righto, so it sounds like the GU failures don't give any warning (don't know if that's good or bad in this case)

For the record, I would not normally be slotting it into 5th at 1,500 RPM, but it did alarm me that when doing what I'd consider a fairly normal thing to do when evaluating a gearbox, it displayed no signs of trouble in the first 4 gears at all, but vibrated significantly in 5th within a certain rev range. Still seems strange to me.

My Cruiser will pull smoothly and steadily from any RPM in any gear on a level road, not just one particular cog.

AnswerID: 130021

Follow Up By: Redback - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:23

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:23

There would be a good reason for that as they are not the same as the 4.2ltr Patrol, with a differant flywheel and clutch setup i think the cruiser is like the 30ltr Patrol and Disco with a floating flywheel, so to speak.

Baz.

FollowupID: 384487

Follow Up By: hl - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:36

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:36

Hi,

Well, yes, they do give a warning as I said in my earlier post.

1. 5th becomes hard to shift back to 4th
2. The oil changes colour

The hard shifting is not necessarily noticable on a short test run. Take it on a freeway drive for about 1/2 hour in 5th, then shift down.

I have heard that Nissan will not fix under warranty now if vehicle is well past, such as a 99 model. Mine is Feb 2001, but I had extended warranty.

Cheers

Cheers

FollowupID: 384489

Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:59

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 at 10:59

Wat did the dealer say when you said I'll take the car tomorrow if you replace 5th gear?

Did you mention to them the vib? If not take the dude for a drive, and say if you fix this, I'lll take the truck

IMHO look for a LATE 2001 or better. You dont want to have the issues. Thats what Im shoppin for.

AnswerID: 130030