I hit an Ox with big horns, used here in Zim for pulling the Ox-cart. I hit on its left hind quarter after it ran into the road, travelling at about 60km/h (37mph) just off the farm in Dec 2019. The Ox was ok, just bruised and a few ticks got squashed. Insurance paid out 12k and I replaced the whole front end, fenders, bonnet, grill, headlights, radiator etc, I also upgraded to an Onca bumper. sliders and a snorkel. I am happy with the results and will post pics of the results. All this was done professionally by Spraytech bodyshop in Harare and due to Covid I was without my cruiser for just over a year. So in Feb I got it back, it had 506,000km on the clock, but because it sat for over a year we serviced it at the bodyshop, all except the gearbox.
My Hundy timing belt was done at 150k, 300k, 411k, and so I planned to do a major service and timing belt change at around 512k. from 506k to 512k the gearbox was acting up, and when i sent in my hundy for a full service, I mentioned that I wanted the autobox serviced, I suspected the oil was low, so I asked for the oil to be drained & the filter cleaned. The mechanic who is a friend did the timing belt, oil change both to the engine, and gearbox, cleaned the filter in the gearbox and checked all the diff oils, topped up, sorted a few problems, including cleaning the sunroof drain as I had a wet passenger foot well after every thunderstorm and heavy rain.
At 512,000 km I must say the engine has never ever given me any trouble and the 1HD-FTE is a beautiful thing. I replaced the turbo at 280k, after buying the cruiser at 250k, as it was smoking a little at the robots(traffic lights). I also upgraded the intercooler to something about 5 times bigger as I was told the wear and tear happens when towing a heavy load over 120km/h. I then upgraded the turbo insides for extra low end torque at 500k and made sure the turbo was still good. I replace the oil every 5,000km with mineral oil or every 10,000km with synthetic and I have read up on all the good and bad of both and I honestly liked every 10k because it was simple, every time the clock climbed up 10k km I would make sure all the filters, oil, fuel & air were changed along with the engine oil. I recently added a Unichip with my upgraded turbo, and it smokes a little so I am thinking of getting my computer remapped to the UK spec Amazon 100 series as that has an extra 19% power. But i have the unichip installed and it saves fuel and adds power so I was happy.... I also extended my diff breather pipes to the top of the engine bay as I now have the snorkel...
The mechanic said there was only about 1 liter of oil that was clean with no smell that came outa the gearbox... that worried me slightly but it worked so I didnt worry, it was pulling off alot better then before the service, Untill just 600km after my timing belt change and gear service I was about 2km from the farm and I lost all power... the gearbox just stopped pulling. Nothing wrong with the engine... Just the gearbox felt like it went into Neutral but the light was in Drive. Its a 2007 so the 5 speed. I switched off the engine and waitied a minute and then when i switched back on I was able to go 1 km down the road slowly and then again it felt like it went into Neutral. Again I switched off and waitied a minute and switched back on and went another km down the road until I got to work.
I then was told to check oil, I checked the wrong side, added 3.5 liters and still it didnt pull (by then the extra liter he put plus my 3.5 made 4.5 liters too much) so I towed it back to him, engine running, vehicle in Drive but feeling like it was in Neutral. He emptied out the oil and checked the filter O ring was ok (not broken or sucking air) and refilled with new oil but it would not go over 3rd gear. I was worried it was the clutches so I took it to a gearbox specialist and he pulled the sump off, and removed the valve body and looked at the clutches from underneath, they are good, all the o rings on the solenoids on the valve body were replaced, and again new genuine oil was put in but it still only goes to 3rd gear... He said its either a wiring or computer problem... I need help here on where to look, I need my Hundy back!
My Hundy timing belt was done at 150k, 300k, 411k, and so I planned to do a major service and timing belt change at around 512k. from 506k to 512k the gearbox was acting up, and when i sent in my hundy for a full service, I mentioned that I wanted the autobox serviced, I suspected the oil was low, so I asked for the oil to be drained & the filter cleaned. The mechanic who is a friend did the timing belt, oil change both to the engine, and gearbox, cleaned the filter in the gearbox and checked all the diff oils, topped up, sorted a few problems, including cleaning the sunroof drain as I had a wet passenger foot well after every thunderstorm and heavy rain.
At 512,000 km I must say the engine has never ever given me any trouble and the 1HD-FTE is a beautiful thing. I replaced the turbo at 280k, after buying the cruiser at 250k, as it was smoking a little at the robots(traffic lights). I also upgraded the intercooler to something about 5 times bigger as I was told the wear and tear happens when towing a heavy load over 120km/h. I then upgraded the turbo insides for extra low end torque at 500k and made sure the turbo was still good. I replace the oil every 5,000km with mineral oil or every 10,000km with synthetic and I have read up on all the good and bad of both and I honestly liked every 10k because it was simple, every time the clock climbed up 10k km I would make sure all the filters, oil, fuel & air were changed along with the engine oil. I recently added a Unichip with my upgraded turbo, and it smokes a little so I am thinking of getting my computer remapped to the UK spec Amazon 100 series as that has an extra 19% power. But i have the unichip installed and it saves fuel and adds power so I was happy.... I also extended my diff breather pipes to the top of the engine bay as I now have the snorkel...
The mechanic said there was only about 1 liter of oil that was clean with no smell that came outa the gearbox... that worried me slightly but it worked so I didnt worry, it was pulling off alot better then before the service, Untill just 600km after my timing belt change and gear service I was about 2km from the farm and I lost all power... the gearbox just stopped pulling. Nothing wrong with the engine... Just the gearbox felt like it went into Neutral but the light was in Drive. Its a 2007 so the 5 speed. I switched off the engine and waitied a minute and then when i switched back on I was able to go 1 km down the road slowly and then again it felt like it went into Neutral. Again I switched off and waitied a minute and switched back on and went another km down the road until I got to work.
I then was told to check oil, I checked the wrong side, added 3.5 liters and still it didnt pull (by then the extra liter he put plus my 3.5 made 4.5 liters too much) so I towed it back to him, engine running, vehicle in Drive but feeling like it was in Neutral. He emptied out the oil and checked the filter O ring was ok (not broken or sucking air) and refilled with new oil but it would not go over 3rd gear. I was worried it was the clutches so I took it to a gearbox specialist and he pulled the sump off, and removed the valve body and looked at the clutches from underneath, they are good, all the o rings on the solenoids on the valve body were replaced, and again new genuine oil was put in but it still only goes to 3rd gear... He said its either a wiring or computer problem... I need help here on where to look, I need my Hundy back!
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