Big problem - big money?
Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 11:38
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justinb
Hi,
I have a 1992 Landcruiser 75 series ute. Yesterday while dirving it started shuddering and jerking and ground to a halt. The engine was still running, so I put her into first but it didn't move. Then I couldn't get it out of first. To make a long story short, had to get a tow-truck to take me to garage. They had to take out the driveshaft to push it into the workshop as the back wheels were locked in place. Couldn't put her into neutral either.
Apparently the gearbox is locked up and they can't find what caused it to do so. Anyway, I figure I am going to ahve to put in a new gearbox (ouch) and hoped that the members here would be able to give me a rough idea of the likely cost. also, should I put in a reconditioned gearbox (which is what it has at the moment apparently ) or a new one altogether. She's done 205 000 km's but I am hoping to do many many more. The wife wants me to just get rid of it but as I still owe thousands on the loan that isn't an option. Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks
Justin
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 11:48
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 11:48
Reco of a GQ Gearbox is $4000, GU is similar.
So dont expect any change from ~$3-4000.
AnswerID:
28409
Reply By: Hughesy - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 12:23
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 12:23
Justin, regularly see them for between $2k and $3K reconditioned or more again for new. If you know the box has been properly reco than getting a new one would be a waste. Only thing is that the reco price is usually based on exchange for old and considering yours is truely rooted than you might have to pay more. Definately pay to
shop around because the difference in prices is amazing. Good luck and don't let the missus convince you to sell.
Cheers,
Hughesy
AnswerID:
28414
Reply By: Tony - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:01
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:01
Maybe get a 2nd hand one for now off the wreckers and re-build your old one slow time.
AnswerID:
28418
Reply By: justinb - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:11
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:11
ouch...even more than I had thought
Thanks for the replies everybody. Goodbye tax refund......
AnswerID:
28419
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:35
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:35
How much were you expecting?
FollowupID:
19688
Follow Up By: justinb - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 15:05
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 15:05
Well, never had to think about it before, so I had a figure of around $2000 in mind, but if it is more then so be it.
FollowupID:
19704
Reply By: andy - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:23
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:23
Recently I paid $3400 for a fully rebuilt 75 series box, transfer case and new clutch. The truck had 310,000 on th eclock and had been used for towing a really heavy ski boat on long trips so it had been given a workout. Surprised that yours had gone with such low kilometres. Must have had a hard life. This $3400.00 included fitting and was garunteed for 12 months. Was from a gbox place in Malvern Victoria. I was quoted a lot more from regular mechanics who were just going to send it away to a gearbox place anyway and take a split of the cost. Go direct and by pass regular mechanical workshops who do not specialise in gearboxes. If you get a second hand box you may not get a waranty, or know anything about its history. If you plan on keeping the car get a full reco, if selling go for the quick fix and save some money.
AnswerID:
28423
Reply By: diamond (bendigo) - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:59
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 13:59
i think someone a few post ago was asking about a gearbox he had laying in the shed i think it was cruiser have a look there.post 6627.—~‘¬‘¥•s’B
AnswerID:
28431
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 14:08
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 14:08
Dozer is your man, Andrew has heaps of goodies...
Check the Trader section for his contact details.
If I was keeping the truck for long time, Do it properly and have no hassles.. Goto a reputable gearbox place and hand over large amounts of $$.
AnswerID:
28432
Follow Up By: Member - DOZER- Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 14:24
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 14:24
Thanks Truckster,cant help sorry, i have too many 80 bits, comes from owning a L300 and leaving swap meets with it fuller than when i got there to sell.
I have seen, somewhere, a box with an overhaul kit for 2k, might be overlander or offroad.au etc will
check and get back to exploroz.
Andrew
wheredayathinkwer mike?
FollowupID:
19699
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 14:26
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 14:26
Just for interest people, I dealt with Andrew from Sold.com.au yonks before this place...
Very good to deal with and very honest.
Got some 181 Hellas off him, they came with covers, Hella Relay and switch and wiring!! Only expected the lights.
FollowupID:
19700
Follow Up By: justinb - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 15:09
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 15:09
Yep I do plan on keeping it for a long time (only owned it for 12 months in fact). Sadly my mechanical skills are not up to the task and gearbox rebuilds/installations (still pretty wet behind the ears), so I guess it will be off to a gearbox place for an expensive bit of tlc
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Reply By: haze - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 20:30
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 20:30
It very much sounds like the dreaded gearbox output seal problem where the box empties its oil into the transfer case. Result not pretty! I had an 85mod. which never did it in 300k, my present 97 hasnt done it in 130k., but plenty have. And I never go on a long trip without a
check on the oil levels. I thought T. had fixed the problem long ago, but still keep on hearing about it. I have to honestly say you Nissan owners are one up here!
Which ever repair option you take, there is a double sided lip seal for the output shaft which forever fixes it. The other remedy has been an oil return pipe between the two cases.
As to costs, really hope it doesnt hurt too much, nothing T. comes cheap.
cheers haze
AnswerID:
28474
Reply By: Member - DOZER- Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 21:13
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 21:13
Justin
Draining the box to see what comes out would be my first move.
If nothing comes out your in trouble, if something comes out you need to look for metal bits.
Here are a few options
1 if your box has no oil in it
www.pickles.com.au/vehicles/landcruiser/ damaged. 4k will get you a whole 75 ute or troupy smashed.
2. if it has oil but its silver
Don Kyatt sells repair kits (Qld),
depending where you are you may
check the trading post for a secondhand unit
or a exchange unit, but your box has an input shaft to suit 1hz, which means you will need to get a box from a 1990 or later 75 series if you do go preloved.
3 if it has no metal bits in the oil (
check transfer aswell) it may
well be a selecter gone south or a sinchro problem.
Without further data like what gear were you in, was it noisy b4, did it get noisier b4, etc etc etc, we are stabbing in the dark.
Andrew wheredayathinkwer mike?
AnswerID:
28482
Reply By: Old Jack - Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 23:04
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 at 23:04
The Leaking seal problem noted here by a few members has been present since the 1970's, once again they could have spent a few lousy cents per box on the right seals. Oh
well they spend the money instead on advertising how "unbreakable" there products are, then punish you when you buy parts!
I own a fully imported toyota car, a lot of parts are genuine only. I keep asking if they have the decimal place in the wrong spot every time I have to buy something for it from the dealer! example :-power steering hose quoted over $900.00 trade. made up new ends and had hydraulic's place fit off the shelve hose you can get at any enzd/hydraulics agent $60.00
Oh what a feeling!
The crashed 75 sounds like the go, you might get a few other parts off it to sell to ease the pain!
good luck!
If you still owe money on it & otherwise the truck is in good shape keeping it would make a lot of sense.
AnswerID:
28511
Reply By: justinb - Wednesday, Aug 20, 2003 at 07:54
Wednesday, Aug 20, 2003 at 07:54
Thanks for the input everyone. The bad news is - no oil was found in the gearbox. It could only have leaked out recently as about 2 months I changed the engine oil and didn't notice a leak from the gearbox. Since then the wife has mainly been driving it and it never gets parked on bitumen so it wasn't obvious.
According to the Toyota garage the front bearings are seized, something about the input gear and cluster gear being burnt and the gearbox will need repairing or maybe replacing. My fault really for not keeping a closer eye on the thing - I've learnt my lesson here, just would'a been nicer if it hadn't been such an expensive one....
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: haze - Friday, Aug 22, 2003 at 13:35
Friday, Aug 22, 2003 at 13:35
Justinb. As suggested my post, and am sorry for your bad luck. Dont forget though that the only way out for the oil is leaks in the case (which you would have seen) the input seal which would cause it to drip from the bell housing (also visible) or where it usually goes-- into the transfer box. This will be now overfull, and if not corrected will blow its seals too. Dont forget the double sided output seal when you have the repair done
cheers haze
FollowupID:
19980
Reply By: colin - Friday, Aug 22, 2003 at 15:09
Friday, Aug 22, 2003 at 15:09
if the oil has leaked into the transfer box you may also have metal from the gearbox in there so you will have to address that as well. When all back together have a pipe fitted between the two filler plugs which allows the oil to self level between the two, most hydraulic mobs have kits made up for this problem. Col
AnswerID:
28745