Average miles on 80 tranny before rebuild?

[78crzr]

Passed on a mint 60 so I could get an 80 instead...

How durable are the transmission on 80's? How many miles can a person expect to get before a rebuild is in the cards? The one I'm considering has 103k on the clock...

Thanks

 

[Josh83]

I don't think enough have been rebuilt to really establish an average. I would say over 250K.

 

[MTNRAT]

Have heard of very very few needing any work.
Sean

 

[-Spike-]

As long as we're on the subject, what parts generally go, and what's the price of rebuild or parts replacement? I have a '96 with 185K that shifts slowly from 1st to 2nd, and have heard this is common. I've also heard it may be the shift solenoid at $~150 or the valve body at ~$800, and that the valve body includes the shift solenoids.

-Spike (Never worked on an auto)

 

[-Spike-]

How durable are the transmission on 80's? How many miles can a person expect to get before a rebuild is in the cards? The one I'm considering has 103k on the clock...

Thanks

There are at least 2 different trannys for 80's, which year is yours?

-Spike

 

[MTNRAT]

As for durability, mine pulls the 3500 lb boat all across BC every summer. Taken a POS durango to sell and brought a 6500lb bobcat over steep mountain passes with zero ill effects so far. Knock on wood. Been towing hard with a SC for 55000 miles.
Cheers,
Sean

 

[e9999]

change the fluid often if you tow, put a temp gauge on the ATF, keep an eye on things, and you should be good for a long long time...

 

[78crzr]

There are at least 2 different trannys for 80's, which year is yours?

-Spike

The one I'm looking at is a '97. Which year, or years, have the most durable version?

 

[MTNRAT]

Thats a whole kettle of fish in itself. It boils down to the one you have.
Cheers,
Sean

 

[78crzr]

Thats a whole kettle of fish in itself. It boils down to the one you have.
Cheers,
Sean

Haven't bought it yet, so knowing if one is more durable than the other would be beneficial in making the right decision.

 

[Uncle Ben]

Haven't bought it yet, so knowing which is most durable would be beneficial in making the right decision.

Your kicking a hornets nest now! The earlier 80 used the bigger bus tranny and have slight benefits in gearing ratios and strength. The 95 - 97 80's use a smaller tranny that only seems to have the problem of making noise in reverse. Both tranny's will probably outlast the original engine as far as some type of major repair. There is folks here that will argue which year is best more than you wanna hear! Basically if the 80 your interested in has a 4.5 engine your on the right track!

 

[78crzr]

Your kicking a hornets nest now! The earlier 80 used the bigger bus tranny and have slight benefits in gearing ratios and strength. The 95 - 97 80's use a smaller tranny that only seems to have the problem of making noise in reverse. Both tranny's will probably outlast the original engine as far as some type of major repair. There is folks here that will argue which year is best more than you wanna hear! Basically if the 80 your interested in has a 4.5 engine your on the right track!

Good enough. Not real excited about potential noises in reverse, but.........

 

[hatman406080]

246,000+MI.STILL ORIGINAL

HATTRICK

 

[Rainy Day FZJ]

I'm jaded, got 150k before the 1-2 shift took way to long, and I had to do something before I got rearended pulling out on the highway. Got a good used trans the 2nd time around that shifts better than the old one ever did at 130k. Lots of good advice above, however I will add my penny's worth. Get the biggest and coolest trans cooler that you can find. If you FI it go with the upgraded valve body, I found a place that will do it for around $400. My problems really were isolated to my heavy right foot, supercharger and large trailer. FWIW.

 

[landtank]

The one I'm looking at is a '97. Which year, or years, have the most durable version?

the 97s are the best of the bunch as far as the A343 tranny is concerned. I have a 96 that has had the reverse issue since 65k. It started as slow engagement occationally and then slipping while backing the camper up an incline to slipping backing out of a parking lot. Well with a liitle research the problems were addressed in the 97 production run. So I went on a search and found a 97 tranny for 750.00 and it's sitting in the garage waiting for warmer weather.

 

[alaskacruiser]

A442 = older, bigger tranny: some develop flaring and shift solenoid problems

A343F = newer, smaller (but equally durable) tranny: some develop a noise in reverse (chatter) or delayed reverse engagement

Both rarely develop these problems (happy, CDan?)

The A343F has a 2nd gear start feature that the A442F is missing, and IMHO it shifts more smoothly. It also seems to operate at a lower temperature vs. the A442F.

 

[alaskacruiser]

Hey Rick- where did you find the info. that this problem was addressed in the '97 production run? That's great to hear!

 

[landtank]

I subscribed to an online TSB house and downloaded the ones concerning the tranny. They gave serial number break downs so I was asking for that info from the sources who had trannies available. There is another TSB for trannies produced during the middle of the 97 production as well.

While these TSB don't tell the whole story they give a glimse into a products developement. I'd suspect that at some point after the initial startup in 97 additional changes were made to further help this condition which resulted in a groan when shifting out of reverse, so a check ball was added to the valve body.

 

[Capt. Jim]

My '97 has 225K+ miles on it with no major work to the tranny or engine. Used it tow boat / car trailer for several years until I got a diesel.

Wife still drives the 80 everyday. Suspect it will be handed down to my 16 year old for her first car. After she trashes it, it will become my next trail truck.

 

[firetruck41]

As long as the tranny operates normally on a test drive, it would not be a concern for me, no mater what year I were buying. Tranny issues seem to be pretty rare on any FZJ80.