Advice Requested - 2008 Prado (KZJ120R) Gearbox

[iandvl]

I am a moron when it comes to Prados. My ex-wife used to drive a 4.8 Patrol (mine), on which I would have been able to provide an endless amount of advice and reputable contacts, but she wrote that off during the divorce and I replaced it with the above-mentioned vehicle.

However, she seems to have been ripped off in terms of maintenance and I received a desperate mail from her yesterday asking for my advice. Understand that it was quite a bitter divorce. Apart from communication about the kids, we do not actually speak to each other at all. I was not even aware of the vehicle issues she had last year (which I will get to shortly). However, she has asked me to merely help her get the vehicle sorted as she feels very ripped off and feels that she can trust nobody as she feels the workshops just see her coming and want to make a quick buck.... I guess this is understandable going through invoices of all the work that was done on the car last year. The only thing I've not seen on that invoice is "indicator fluid"...

The vehicle gave issues last year, and a considerable (about R15K's-worth) of work was done on the vehicle by an indie last year. After having the vehicle serviced last week elsewhere, there is suddenly a long list of serious items that need attention. Of these, several were "replaced" last year during the R15K-job. So I guess she has been ripped off.

Thanks to Manny, I've already been in touch with Darrel from Mikem for the suspension issues. But the other issue relates to the gearbox.

It's an autobox and apparently requires a service (read: filter change, flush and new ATF). The gearbox gives no issues - no grinding and no clunking. The shift is just a little stiffer than it was when cold. The gearbox places she has been in touch with have told her they do not service them auto box at all, and they are only prepared to do a rebuild. I've spoken with several people about this, and I'm calling BS. As such, I'm looking for a reputable gearbox specialist in Pretoria (or Jo-burg, but preferably Pta) that services Toyota autoboxes.

Alternatively, it is something I can probably do myself. However, I'm unsure as to part numbers for the transmission filter and transmission sump gasket. If anybody has these at hand, and knows of a supplier of the parts, please let me know. I'll obviously get the proper-spec ATF from the Toyota dealers for both the flush and the refill.

For those who do not feel like reading my sob-story, what I need are:

1: Reputable automatic gearbox service place in Pretoria / Johannesburg.

OR

1: Part number for autobox ATF filter.
2: Part number for autobox sump gasket.

Thanks.

[jakeslouw]

Don't want to piss on the parade, but once those Aisin auto boxes are FUBAR due to lack of maintenance (idiotic "filled for life" issue) then a rebuild of the solenoid valves and clutch packs seems to be the only option. But I'd also try a proper pumped flush and filter change myself before I go down that route.
Surely Toyota would supply the parts based on VIN number? I doubt those spares are available at Autozone or Alert.

[iandvl]

Jakes - thanks for the input.

As I said, I'm a little stupid when it comes to Prados. I hear you with regards to the "filled for life" thing. But from the reading I've done on several sites (including a forum I won't name here), a service of the autobox is not out of the question and will probably resolve the difficult shifting when cold. I know that many of the Patrol folk successfully flush and replace ATF, and discussions I've had with various people who know more about the Prados then I indicate that, despite the "filled for life" thing, there is not a huge downside to a flush and refill. As such, I reckon she has nothing to lose by attempting a service first.

To be honest, I'm more worried about the suspension issues she has, but I'm sure Mikem will get that sorted properly.

[jakeslouw]

Yep, as I said, I'd do a filter & flush first anyway.

Sadly the gearbox industry changes daily, but I've heard some good stuff about The Gearbox Company in Randburg and Centurion Gearbox and Diff in Zwartkops.
Since Jap boxes are very similar, who do the Patrol guys use for the Jatco boxes?

[HenriSteyn]

"To be honest, I'm more worried about the suspension issues she has,"

Sorry I cant help much, other than what I do understand these transmissions are used in Pajeros as well, and the Pajero guys dont seem to have problems obtaining filters.

But the sentence regarding "she has" amuses me!

[jakeslouw]

Maybe the bitter divorce was because her suspension had sagged?

[Shane]

[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787] must say my own suspension has been giving me hell of late....

a Few grease nipples on the ball joints would have come in handy right now!!!

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

[Mad Manny]

Ron of Traction 4x4 told Japie of Off Course 4x4 about a Gearbox place in Pretoria that he uses.
I'll try get the details.

[Mad Manny]

Did you come right, Ian?

[iandvl]

Manny - I have chatted with Darrel from Mikem and have a gearbox spot line up here in Pretoria. I want to eye-ball the vehicle first, which I'll do when I collect the kids tomorrow. So things will only start moving once I've seen the problems first hand. I'll feedback here when I've done that.

[jakeslouw]

a Few grease nipples on the ball joints would have come in handy right now!!!

I like it when we start talking about nipples............

[iandvl]

I collected kids in Brits today and spent a while digging around underneath the car etc. before taking it for a drive.

Definitely no gearbox issues as far as I'm concerned, but I don't drive either a Prado or an automatic. So cannot comment. Gear selector shifts smoothly for me. Gear changes are fine - no issues at all. The only issue that I can see with the gearbox is that the dipstick pipe is broken just before the o-ring where it goes into the box. So it's leaking a tiny bit of ATF through there. ATF levels are in-spec though. I've told her to take the truck to Toyota and have a new dipstick tube assembly fitted. I'm not sure if there may be dirt that got in, but I seriously do not think she has to worry about the auto-box.

I know this has nothing to do with the thread title (ie: gearboxes), but the other items she was worried about are suspension-related.

Looking at everything, I can see that the lower control arm bushes are worn. Darrel reckons one replaces the entire lower control arm - I'll get the details when I take the vehicle through to him. Tie-rods are within spec. TWnT did the alignment a month or so ago, and I'm pretty sure they would have commented on bad tie-rods should there have been issues. However, there is a bit more play on the right than on the left. And there is also a tear on the rubber boot on this side, so I reckon she should have them replaced.

Stabiliser bushes appear fine. Left hand side stabisier link is new (probably the only thing the last indie seems to have got right). Right hand one has a tear in the rubber over the ball-joint, so I guess that should be replaced. The car "submarines" a bit on braking, so I presume she will need shocks. There is also an intermittent (very minor) judder on braking which will probably go away when the other suspension issues are sorted.

All in all, the car drives better than my truck - but that is understandable. IFS vs live axle. Gear changes are smooth, and as mentioned, there is no stiffness shifting between P, R, N, D etc. Alignment is proper, and despite the very occasional judder, I could even brake sharply without hands on the wheel. There is nothing wrong.

What I find annoying is the fact that the previous indie serviced the drive shafts (apparently) but never even bothered to put the clamps back on the CV join boots. Super swak.

I think the issue she has at the moment is more that she feels done in and, if you look at the previous invoices (where the only thing that was missing was "indicator fluid top-up"), she has been done in. And people at work who don't know better have been scaring the crap out of her in terms of "I would not drive that car with that wrong" and so she has got uber-paranoid about everything and is seeing things that are not there.

I'll discuss the suspension stuff with Mikem on Tuesday, and arrange to get the vehicle there so that that can be sorted out. Anyways, I appreciate all the advice so far. We'll see how it pans out.

[Mad Manny]

I had an ex girlfriend (in fact I had her repeatedly),
she took her 3 year old Merc in and they convinced her to replace her battery, at R3000.
Back then a battery for a 3.0 diesel bakkie was well under R2000.
She did query the price but they told her you can only get a Merc battery from Merc as it is imported from Germany.

People take advantage when they realise you are clueless...

[iandvl]

Yes. This...

The indie she had the vehicle with last week for the service, I know and trust. The items he has pointed out as requiring attention, do require attention.

The indie she had the vehicle at last year (of which I was unaware) is a shark. A seriously screwed up shark. Whose work sucks too. But no name and shame.

In any case, we are working on getting her vehicle fixed up. Happily, it is not all as bad as she portrayed it to be.

[iandvl]

I just want to close the loop on this specific matter. As mentioned - I was in touch with Mikem (great service). I'd arranged to take the vehicle in on the 26th. However, when I was in touch with the ex to make arrangements with her on the morning of the 25th, she informed me that she had received a very good offer for the Prado at Haval in Brits, and that she would be trading it in on a new Haval Jolion. In short: the issue has gone away.

Thanks for all the input from everyone in any case. Appreciated.