Blown 5th gear !

Submitted: Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 07:34

ThreadID: 80251 Views:5507 Replies:13 FollowUps:21

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Member - Bucky

YES IT HAPPENED TO ME.

Our trip to Innamincka was gr8, but on the way home I decided to try 5th gear towing. Everyone said it can be done, as long as I am doing 100 km/hr, you are on the flat, or going down hill.

So after about only 200 km's of 5th gear running, on the return trip, in between Thargominda, and the NSW border, she went wiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !

Oh dear, (not allowed to swear) was my thought ! ... darn, gosh gollly ..
Has this really happened, and so quickly.

What had the previous owner done to my Nissan ?
That's the only thing me, as the second owner can never really know, but now know what gear they had towed in.

I am at present at a mates place in Albury, and pondering with the Idea of heading home, or getting the thing fixed here.... at Walla Nissan.
They will try and get Nissan to pay for it, as a good will warranty, as the old girl is 9 years old, and done the magic total of 152,000 kms when it stuffed up.

I rang up my local 4x4 shop that I get to do things form me, that I cannot do, and the ball park figure is $2500 approximately.. Ouch !

At least I know I can get home in 4th.
Had to cut off the last leg of the trip, over to another mate, and his family in Nowra..
Had to tell Kiwi & Mahindra the sad news last night..

Cheers
Bucky

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Reply By: Member - Myles F (QLD) - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 07:52

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 07:52

G’day Bucky,
Were you towing the Trak Shak at the time? I wouldn’t have thought that it would put a great strain on fifth gear despite the fact that they are a relatively heavy and well made trailer. I generally tow in fourth, but only to stop constant gear changes. If doing 100km per hour on a straight I go to fifth as well.
Myles.

AnswerID: 424960

Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:11

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:11

Yes mate
But as I said, I have no Idea of what the previous owner did.
One thing that I did factor in, was a replacement 5th gear, as I haggled with the car dealers at the yard I got the beast from 2 years back.

Cheers
Bucky

FollowupID: 695420

Follow Up By: Member - Myles F (QLD) - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:20

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:20

Bucky,
When it’s fixed I would appreciate knowing what their assessment was of the probable cause. Bugger to hear your trip was cut short.
Cheers mate,
Myles.

FollowupID: 695422

Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:29

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:29

Myles
Sad part of it is that I had planned to get some "bambi" over there.
And 2 nights of fun with the Barnes' there as well

Cheers

FollowupID: 695423

Follow Up By: Shaker - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 09:54

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 09:54

Myles F, the cause is well known, it is because the spline on the shaft into the gear is too short, there is a lot of info on the net about it, icluding some very damning photos. A GQ shaft apparently fixes the problem, but obviosly not after the damage has been done.
Nissan say that you should never tow in 5th gear, but couldn't refer me to the section in the owner's manual that states that, we still only managed to get $1000.00 from them.
My Nissan Terrano 2 towed camper trailers everywhere in 5th gear & never had a problem, right up until sold it at 400,000 kms.

FollowupID: 695434

Follow Up By: jdwynn (Adelaide) - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 11:11

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 11:11

Myles, in addition to what Shaker has said, check out Patrol 4x4 link - page 24. Cheers

FollowupID: 695442

Follow Up By: Member - Myles F (QLD) - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 16:35

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 16:35

Thanks Shaker and jdwynn, I wanted to know in case it warranted a change in my driving style, but it appears as though in this case it’s a design problem and nothing to do with operator error. You often read about fifth gear being too tall to be used when towing, but I guess if done thoughtfully, fifth is ok so long as you are cruising and have it under minimal load.
Regards,
Myles.

FollowupID: 695465

Follow Up By: Member - Vic S (VIC) - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 19:17

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 19:17

Bucky
recently did my 5th gear it can be two different causes
1.the gear on the end of the main shaft splines do not fully slide onto the shaft an sheer the splines off.
2. the selector ring for 5th / reverse sheers itself.
mine was the second but other damage was caused by the bits circulating in the oil,all up $4200 with a heavy duty clutch.
Good luck Vic

FollowupID: 695483

Reply By: Maîneÿ . . .- Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:05

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:05

Bucky,
have you thought about the probable extra damage that could be done to the rest of the gearbox, by driving home with the extra 'stuff' now flying around inside your gearbox from the damaged 5th gear ??

Maîneÿ . . .

AnswerID: 424961

Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:17

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 08:17

Mainey
Have already discussed that very thing with Walla Nissan.
Could be well worth the few $$$$$ to get most of the bits out, not that I expect that there would be much. Have seen 3 or 4 removed shafts, to date and it's very minor wearing on the spline.
Cheers
Bucky

FollowupID: 695421

Reply By: hl - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 09:26

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 09:26

If it's an early model (1999-2002) that gear would have let go whether you (or previous owner) towed in 5th or not. It was a weakness in that gearbox.
There would have been tell tale signs for a long time, dark, almost coffee colour gear oil is one, sticky downshift from 5th is another.

AnswerID: 424972

Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 10:40

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 10:40

Hey Bucky, I thought a smart fulla like you would have been awake to that
possibility. I was over that road recently, but only at 80 kph, but I dont have a
5 cog anyway, or a Nissan. Aint life a bugger ? Hope you come up with a cure
at modest cost. cheers....oldbaz.

AnswerID: 424984

Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 12:32

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 12:32

Nothing wrong with trying to cover lots of K's in a day, only at 100 kph though. I knew I would blow any economy, but never 5th gear
There really is lots of black top out there.
Cheers

FollowupID: 695445

Reply By: carlj - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 13:05

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 13:05

I blew 5th gear at 142000 while towing a 6x4 empty box trailer,when it was pulled out there were no teeth on the spline or the gear.Cleveland Nissan told me that Nissan had made the splines smaller and shorter thus when in 5th gear the gear was part way off shaft spline.Long story short $1400 latter and an updated shaft and gear back on the road.Got to love those Ni$$ans

AnswerID: 424996

Reply By: Member - John - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 14:01

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 14:01

Bucky, sorry to hear it happened, but maybe consider replacing 5th with the Marks 4wd adaptors 5th, instead of .84.1 it is. 74.1, giving better economy in 5th.

Marks 4wd adaptors

John and Jan

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AnswerID: 424999

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 18:33

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 18:33

John< I just looked at Marks adaptors, they say the Gu gearbox was a problem up until 8/04... I thought this was fixed long before that.. Michael.

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Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 17:07

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 17:07

One of the reasons for not towing in 5th and a good reason not to make it a higher gear is that the car can run significantly hotter in that gear than 4th.

My Cruiser towing 2800kg has an EGT of 350-375 Deg at 90kph in 4th .

Drop it into 5th even on a flat road and it immediately goes up to over 400Deg after turbo.

It also drops the revs back to a below torque range level and so the auto hunts up and down trying to get it right

I leave it in 4th and have done for the past 50,000k and fuel consumption stayed ok and the car just sang along no trouble at all.

Even at 100kph its still only doing 2500rpm and quite happy.

Cant see why everyone has to hurry.

AnswerID: 425015

Reply By: Roach"ee" - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 20:32

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 20:32

G'day bloke....sorry to read about your drama!!!!

I hope you can get it fixed a bit cheaper than $2500-; that seems a bit over the top to me. Like someone else said, why not contact Mark's Adaptors when you get back home and sus out the .74 5th gear ratio. That's what I'll be doing if ever mine lets go.....but given that I've done 250,000klm and (as far as I know) it has never been replaced, I'm figuring that mine might be okay.

Good luck mate,

Roachie

AnswerID: 425037

Follow Up By: Dust-Devil - Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 22:23

Friday, Jul 23, 2010 at 22:23

Oi! Roachie you dill

Thought you were flat chat establishing the new 'Casa del Roach' and had no time for frivolous banter.

If it was me i would just tip a bucket of petrol over the sucker, stand back a bit and flick a match. At least you may get the ins that way, which could be used as a deposit on a new 200 series diesel.

No problem towing anything at 100, 110, 120, 130, 90, 80 Kph with those mothers as the ECU and the 6 speed auto fiugures it out for you.

Or so I am told.

Oh! what a feeling T O Y O T A

DD

PS

If I was you I would have used the 'bucket of petrol' solution on that 'missin nissin' of yours after the 'trucking home' from the nth incident. Thats how the ancients used to eradicate things that bought shame upon them.

FollowupID: 695517

Follow Up By: Roach"ee" - Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 13:15

Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 13:15

DD, You're a lost cause!!! brainwashed at birth by some horrible mongrel wearing a Toymota Blandcruiser outfit and with a badge tattooed on his forehead. I bet your parents bought you plastic blandcruiser for your 5th berfdee instead of a 6 shooter and holster (like I got).... hahahaha

Now, get back in behind the wheel of that glorified soft-roader of yours and get ya-self down to Lygon Street and have another vanilla latte....hahahaha

FollowupID: 695583

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 at 14:01

Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 at 14:01

Lucky?

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Follow Up By: Member - Scott M (NSW) - Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 at 15:24

Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 at 15:24

Dusty - even the 80 series weren't immune to shredded 5th gears - suspect it's a problem for any overdrive gears towing any weight .....

FollowupID: 695931

Follow Up By: Pesty SA - Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 at 23:04

Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 at 23:04

Yes, sadly so I think Mr. "B" !!

Pesty

FollowupID: 695985

Follow Up By: Roach"ee" - Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 at 08:42

Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 at 08:42

hahaha, he can change his handle, but not his writing style!!!!

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Follow Up By: Dasher Des - Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 at 09:34

Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 at 09:34

Roachee, got to ask one question thou, when do you ever get Nev out of the shed to put it in 5th??????

FollowupID: 696010

Follow Up By: Roach"ee" - Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 at 11:13

Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 at 11:13

Nev's got soooooo much torque that 5th gear is the only one I ever use. Take off in 5th and stay there all day!!! hahaha.

I lied!

I do use the lower gears for going down steep off-road tracks for the engine braking capabilities.... LOL

FollowupID: 696019

Follow Up By: Dust-Devil - Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 at 14:25

Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 at 14:25

Roach"ee" What happened to your name dude, used to be just Roachie, Then again I suppose you have to do something to maintain the image and/or personna you now have to live up to after moving into the 'Toorak' of Kadina.

Is it true that there a signs all around the 'throbbing' metropolis of of Kadina pointing to the 'Casa del Roach'.

Des - Nev hasn't seen the light of day since having the 'extreme make-over' including -would you believe - Chassis rail extensions. Yep! I kid you not , Chassis rail extensions. Bet it cost a dollar or two as it wasn't done in Thailand on the cheap.

Bonz! Where are you, you globe trotting swagman. In some Sultan's Harem I bet with your flashy auto camera firing off more shots than an Apache Gunship.

Pesty! Well, enough said in that area.

ScotM - my apologies that you have to suffer the comments of the fools mentioned above.

Now, you boys have a good one and keep an eye on the Kadina horizon, as I suspect that there will be a big explosion there in the very near future, as 'someone' firebombs his ' bleep in Nissan' for the insurance to place a down payment on a Super Cruiser.

Oooooooooooh What a Feeling T O Y O T A

DD

FollowupID: 696030

Reply By: Member - Andrew (WA) - Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 00:48

Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 00:48

I haven't read all the replies but if it hasn't been mentioned yet, Nissan upgraded the 5th gear spline From Nov 2001 onward. Your new one will be the upgrade and you will never have this issue again.

I towed in 5th all the time when I had one (june 2002 model), never had an issue.

AnswerID: 425049

Reply By: Shaker - Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 10:39

Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 10:39

Here is a link to a thread with PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM

AnswerID: 425068

Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 12:05

Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 12:05

Gday Bucky,

Bugger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

" ... darn, gosh gollly .. ??????"

Yeah right! I bet there was a lot more said than that!

I've towed in 5th for years.......never even think of it being a problem to be honest. I know a lot people say it is, but mine's still going....TOUCH WOOD!

Cheers

AnswerID: 425073

Reply By: Robin Miller - Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 13:22

Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 13:22

Can't offer much except to say sorry it got to you Bucky.

I still believe that running mine with synthetic mobil 1 gear oil always has been a significant help and made gear changing easier but wether it has stopped mine taking out 5th in its 250,000km life , who knows.

Robin Miller

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AnswerID: 425077

Reply By: Member - Bucky - Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 17:01

Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 at 17:01

Thanks to all for stories and advice.

I really did take into consideration 5th gear problem when I purchased the Patrol, the only thing that hurts is my pride, my back pocket, and the fact that I will now run out of venison, for a while at least, till I get another.

Cheers Bucky

AnswerID: 425090

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 at 07:28

Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 at 07:28

Mine did 5th great Bucky and Nissan vame to the party. It was 5 yrs and 3 months old and they paid for the repair. I got new bearings put in at the same time. So I was happy with the repai. That was 4 years ago and all is good

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Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Friday, Jul 30, 2010 at 06:42

Friday, Jul 30, 2010 at 06:42

Bonz

Walla Nissan rang Nissan, but they would not warrant the Patrol, as I was the second owner..... funny thing, I thought the vehicle was warranted, not the owner.
Seems like crap to me, but what can you do.. ?

I will just get it fixed..

Still a gr8 vehicle

Cheers Bucky

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