98 - 2000 100 owners - Is your Transmission Original or Replaced?

[TheFuzz]

I doubt that we are ever going to be able to gather enough info to really accurately chart this issue, mostly because those of us on Mud are an extremely small population of the total number of 100 series owners in the grand scheme.

I think that it's safe to bet that this issue is fairly well isolated, and is slightly overblown on here. I read the horror stories before I bought my 100, and while I had it in the back of my mind when comparing vehicles, I'm happy with my decision.

 

[OregonLC]

I completely agree with you JB. Heat is the ultimate killer and how it is driven plays a big role in the statistics.

But, while a statistical failure rate may be impossible to determine here, I was hoping to see a mfg date (or VIN) cutoff if there was some batch problem as I had read elsewhere (thrust washer?). Kinda like getting genetically tested, right? If you know your VIN is predisposed to a problem then maybe there are some steps you could take to prolong the life?

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Doesn't seem to be any pattern, either with mileage or build date.

The trouble with data like this is it's not very scientific. You'll always get replies from the folks who've replaced one, but not necessarily from those who haven't.

I wonder what the failure population looks like from other years for comparison.

Edit: I think the list above is a little short. On the first four pages alone I count around 30 posts with 2000 LC's. Not counting the 98's, 99's, and a few 01's.

Yes, but they didn't list VINs or Manfct dates. Also some are repeats.

The only thing I can tell so far is that it seems to be transmissions built in 2000 (late model year 2000s and early model year 2001s) and not necessarily model year 2000.

 

[pfran42]

Lets see how common the transmission failure issue is for 98 - 2000 models. I have seen enough scattered posts about it to think that it warrants a thread of its own.

- What is the model year?

N/A (I have a 2002)

1. Has your transmission failed? N/A

2. If so, after how many miles on it? N/A

3. Before the failure, was it serviced as recommended? N/A

Interesting fact finding.

 

[rph74]

1999 LC Built 3/99

156,600 miles

Bought vehicle 10/2002 with 96,000 miles, I assume original transmission.

Original Transmission, replaced fluid every 30,000 miles since I've owned it.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Keep it coming. If we can put manufct dates to some of these failures we might have some psuedo statistics insight.

 

[drmwvr]

Year 1999
Milage 161,XXX
No problems
Scheduled maintance at dealership who sold it.

(I can get you manufactured data tomorrow)

Manufactured 05/99

 

[tnlandcruiser]

2000 TLC, mfd 4/00. 118,000 miles, original tranny. Still running ok... but...
Sometimes "bangs" into or out of reverse, sometimes shifts hard, esp at low speed. Have a loan on it so REALLY hoping it holds at least a dew more years. Just bought it 6 months ago, but the tow hitch looks like its had some, but not a ton of use. I know the tranny was flushed and filled at least twice, but I suspect more as the maint was kept up. Last flush 11,000 miles ago. My last car had occasional tranny slip, this has never done that.. there is never that disconnected moment where the engine revs but nothing moves, rather its like you started in too high a gear and it kicks down hard after a few hundred yards. Unfortunately the only other lc's I've driven were new, so I've no basis for comparison. My wifes 98 Avalon sometimes can be a tad rough, too. It has 140k. Hope some of this info helps.

 

[SHAGGY101]

I have a 2000 UZJ100 with about 121k. It shifts so smoothly that I cannot normally feel it go in and out of gear. If it werent for my exhaust system, I would not be able to tell when it shifts while driving. I drain the pan every oil change (~10k) and put about 2.2 qts of Amsoil ATF back in. I believe this makes a huge difference in the smoothness of the tranny and saves me from having to replace the entire 18 qts at one time.

 

[tnlandcruiser]

Hmmm. sounds like I may be headed for trouble then... any advice?

 

[tnlandcruiser]

Actually I guess I overstated it a bit. Paid close attention on the way to work. It actually is pretty smooth except for into or out of reverse. I think what I thought was rough shifting is more the way its geared since its a 4 speed and most of what I drove in my sales days were 5 speed. So I amend my statement to: seems ok, but sometimes bangs into or out of reverse.

 

[2000UZJ]

Mine is pretty clunky. It shifts hard and not smooth at all. Going uphill with about 40% throttle the trans will "bang" into gear ( yes, audible). I have learned to let off a little bit when it shifts. Sort of treat it like a manual but with no clutch/shifter so it doesn't clunk

 

[cbmontgo]

Mine is an Oct 1999 build, 2000 model. About 94K miles and no issues at all so far.

 

[bigdaddy]

2000 (Mfr 02/2000)
Original tranny with 148K
Smooth as butta!
Fluid changed at 60K, 90K and 120k
Gonna drain the pan and replace with AMSOIL every oil change (10K) from here on out as long as I own her.

 

[PDPerry]

1998, original owner
205,000 miles
original transmission
regular fluid changes every 60K

 

[Kigiin]

Mine is pretty clunky. It shifts hard and not smooth at all. Going uphill with about 40% throttle the trans will "bang" into gear ( yes, audible). I have learned to let off a little bit when it shifts. Sort of treat it like a manual but with no clutch/shifter so it doesn't clunk

Really? How many miles on yours? I have 148k and mine is still pretty smooth. Have you towed a lot?

I have a 2000 UZJ100 with about 121k. It shifts so smoothly that I cannot normally feel it go in and out of gear. If it werent for my exhaust system, I would not be able to tell when it shifts while driving. I drain the pan every oil change (~10k) and put about 2.2 qts of Amsoil ATF back in. I believe this makes a huge difference in the smoothness of the tranny and saves me from having to replace the entire 18 qts at one time.

Funny, when I drain mine I get about 3 plus quarts - I just measured this last weekend.

 

[2000UZJ]

Really? How many miles on yours? I have 148k and mine is still pretty smooth. Have you towed a lot?

No towing,the first 85K of it's life spent 95% in the city and stop/go. The rest of the 65K are highway/mixed offroad. Original fluids, it's not bad somedays. But sometimes it just wants to clunk around. Especially when leaving a driveway and stepping on it and it shifts into second while still under hard acceleration. I am blaming the larger tires for this though. I speedo box would probably help the wrong shift points and putting extra load on the trans. But for 300 bucks I can let off and have it shift. Or hold it in gear so it doesn't shift around 500 times getting through downtown.

 

[cajun65]

I have a 1999 with 179,000 miles. Original transmission. I have replaced the fluids once since I've owned it. I don't even notice it shifting and no clunks when I shift out of reverse.

On a side note, I had an 89 FJ 62 that had transmission issues and I had to rebuild it. Even after it was rebuilt, it always made me paranoid after I had it worked on because it wasn't the smoothest thing. The 1999 is so smooth compared to the 62.

 

[MEMCruiser]

!998 with 185,000. Drove it for a long time and did not even change the fluid. It is very smooth. Do not know the manufacture date. Will find it and post later.

 

[hundyvoo]

98 uzj100 117k

I have a beautiful black and tan 98 UZJ100. She has only 117k miles on her. I am the third owner, and all maintenance is and has been kept up with. Bought her with 88k miles august before last and she has driven like a dream. The only problems I have had were minor damage done by the previous owner, looked like they ran it into a pole at moderate speed 15-20mph. The damage was only at the right front of the stock bumper, subframe was bent and led to a popped michelin on 2nd wheeling trip. no biggie made it home on spare(original at the time), and the upgraded to bfg at tako. As for bumper I replaced it with arb safari. Looks and works great. From what I have heard from the guys at Slee the 100 is much less of a maintenance concern than older cruiser.

I wanted an 80, got a 100, and love it!