Hi,

I have a V reg (1999) Toyota Landcruiser Colorado 3.0D with an automatic transmission.

THE HISTORY:
Approx. 12 months ago I noticed the gear changes were very 'lumpy'. If I accelerated quickly the gear change would shake the whole car.

Took it to the local Toyota maindealer. Apparently the radiator had deteriorated, such that the engine coolant (water based?) had mixed with the transmission fluid and entered the automatic transmission.

A new radiator and several £££ later the gear changes were great. The garage never claimed this would be the end of the problem but also never gave a straight answer. Just lots of "oooh", "mmmmm" and drawing of breath.

A few months passed and slowly the lumpy gear changes returned. (If I ease off the accelerator when I know it's about to change gear it's fine). During the service the transmission fluid was flushed and changed and the gear changes were fine again.

NOW:
Some months have passed since the service and the gear changes are awful again.

I spoke to an automatic gearbox specialist yesterday, who said immediately that the gearbox needs rebuilding (though he hasn't yet seen the car).

QUESTIONS:
Has anyone experienced this?
Is continuing to drive causing further damage to the gear box?
Is the maindealers apparently preferred choice of flushing through the lubricant just delaying the inevitable (with further damage as time passes)?

Many thanks.

Sorry to hear you're having problems with your auto box , i feel the long and short of your current problem is the plate linings inside the gearbox have been contaminated with engine coolant, and once contaminated will start to deteriorate until the gearbox no longer works.
The linings inside the gearbox are designed to work in the red gearbox oil and don't like water or coolant on them, sorry to say its going to be spend up time ( gearbox rebuild ) or P/X the vehicle into a dealer (weather that's morally correct or not )and make it their problem .

The gearbox is probably damaged,but if it worked ok with new fluid maybe you could try changeing the filter or remove and clean properly if that nasen't been done as yet.

I think (hope) any damage done so far is minimal. Although we've done a few miles in the last 12 months, we've fallen into the habbit of 'soft peddling' to keep the gear changes as smooth as possible.

With the new fluid I could literally floor the accelerator and each gear change was smooth as silk.

I just cannot understand why the main dealer (who I have little respect for anyway) would encourage the 'well see how you get on' approach if it's likely to cause further damage.

I'm sure I remember them saying at the time "oooh, well I've known cars still do that after several years". I realise there's ample scope for misunderstanding (by me) but I was left with the impression that the water in there was causing the dodgy gear change but that it was doing no further damage.
I thought if the water would be reduced every time we did a fluid change it would eventually become insignificant (have a 'half life' if you like).

The main problem is that the longer the contaminated fluid stays in the box,the mare it will cause damage.A drain and refill only replace some of the fluid as the rest -a few litres stays in the torque converter.Their is a way to do a continous flush until the fluid runs clear.

Also check the colour of the fluid.Should be red.

Is this difficult / expensive to do? I'm not a mechanic, nor especially mechanically minded. Maybe I should ask the garage if they can do this.

Thanks for the advice. I'm still erring towards getting the box rebuilt before any further damage is cause. Looking at £1500 though. Ouch.

what you can do if it is bearable is use the box until it dies .Change the oil frequently.Just drain and refil from the dipstiick tube.Always check level with the engine running.If with new oil the box works ok ,it might clear up.One reason to use until it dies is th ensure all the clucthes are changed when it's rebuilt.At the end of the day the rebuilt will still cost you the same.

Hi,

I know it's an old post but two years ago I had the exact same problems as SFletch where the radiator blew and put coolent into the gearbox. (Is this a typical design for Toyota/4X4?)

Almost dejavu with SFletch's post - the guy who repaired the radiator couldn't guarantee the how long the gearbox would last but recommended plenty of flushes. This I've been doing at each service and some in between. Since the "accident" the low gears have always been clunky - high gears pretty smooth(ish) and again so like SFletch, easing off the accelerator when a gear change is imminent

A few days or ago, however, the gearbox has progressively worsened to the point where i reckon a box replacement is possibly the only answer. In D(rive) it pulls away almost like the handbrake was on but L(ow) is fine - until I change to Drive then it clunks in.

I've got a couple of questions that I could do with some advice on - firstly, if a replacement is required is it better to go with an auto-gearbox specialist or a dealer - I have to admit that I'm not confident about the dealer's specialsim here. Secondly anyone know the likely cost of a replacement? Lastly, is generally a reconditioned replacement the norm in these circumstance rather than new?

I've had the Cruiser from new and it clocked 100K 4 weeks ago - other than above it's been a dream.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Hi Did you get any further with this - I have exactly the same issue, my gearbox on my Colorado 3.0 GXTD has gone kaputt, water leaked into the gearbox. An anybody recommend a company who can repair this ?
Thx
Lee

Sorry to hear that you've had the same problem.

I believe there are a number of routes, the cheapest i think being to register with one of the spares dealers and then when one turns up having someone that could do it.

My gearbox went completely and i had no option but to have it professionally replaced. The place i took the cruiser to was Midland Auto Transmissions in Kettering. They were brilliant, very professional but expensive but provided a 12 month warranty. I see you live in Cov so it may not be too far.


Hope this helps.

hi peeps

do i need a gearbox or not ...

my prado 2.4 is not letting me select any forward gears... (goes into reverse)
it blew the radiator, which got welded (before i owned it)

i flushed it out a no long ago, taking off the sump on the box and cleaning the filter etc....

it ran fine for 2 months then it did the same, i have trid to flush it out again found more gung in there
but it wont have any of it......

recently i have trid to seperate the oil form the water by fitting a oil cooler just for the gearbox on its own
rather than the raditor do both (to help eleminate suspect parts/problems)

also do they have a radiator with built in oil cooler at the bottem

or two seperate units

all replies and help appreciated
thanks

faisal

anyone????


faisal

Confused me mate, in one bit you say you have bypassed the one in the rad, then you ask if it has one, maybe I read it wrong but you need to explain.

sorry

what i ment was from factory the auto box uses a oil cooler.... linked to radiator..
when the rediator goes bang the water and transmission fluid mix i think....
so to stop this
i have put in a custom oil cooler to do more or less the same job... but it hasnt worked

i gonna try reerting back to standard to see if it makes a difference...

faisal

Most people use both coolers in line, but it sounds like your gearbox is beyond repair, worth a try and hope it works out for you.

I dont know if another cooler can be fixed into engine compartment as it is almost full with all the engine parts. I think the best way to prevent the mixture is to put some coolant to the radiator as to protect it from deterioration and corrosion happen to the cooler tube of transmission.

Also, my practice is to always check the transmission oil whenever i change engine oil. if it is not milky, then souldbe ok.