Problem in A442F transmission

[pilotleston]

Hello, I am new to the forum but have been already reading some prior to writing.

I have a 1993 Land Cruiser VX model HDJ80L-GNPEX with almost 200,000 km (125,000 mi). It is normaly driven in the city and some in the country (normal country driving, not "off-road" sporty driving).

The mechanic that makes the maintenance procedures felt that the tranny was acting weird so he opened it. He found a very worn component (about to break). I don´t know the exact name of it in english, but the code is 35760-36020 (might have been superseeded by 36021) and the description is "GEAR ASSY, RR PLANET". The MSRP in the United States is around $1,700.

I cannot find that component here in Argentina (we have an important Toyota factory and assistance network, but Land Cruisers are not very common here). Toyota might be able to import the part, but it´d take around 60 days.

As the component is not available here and the price is not low at all, I am a bit concerned about the whole situation. I suspect that this item is not frequently changed, although the mechanic said that "it is common on these vehicles when driven in the city".

Any comment would be very much appreciated.

 

[Pinetop Cruiser]

Can't comment on your problem, but welcome to the forum! Where in Argentina do you live? I spent a couple of years in the Patagonia (Neuquen, Trelew, Bariloche, Ushuaia) as a missionary years ago. Welcome, again, and please enjoy some empanadas criollas for me! I can say that 3 of my fzj80s have never had that problem that I know of and they have spent most of their lives on pavement and have a combined total of 550k miles on them.
David

 

[pilotleston]

Hello David, thanks for the welcome. I live in Buenos Aires, but I am from the Northeast of the country, close to the Iguazu falls (that´s where the Land Cruiser is).

I have just realized that I didn´t offer all the details of my LC, here there are some of them:

Chassis: HDJ80-0002091
Model: HDJ80L-GNPEX
Engine: 1HD-T
Transmission: A442F

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

If the mech'ic is talking about the rear planetary gear that's failing then yeah, that's going to be expense. However, I've never heard of a planetary gear going bad, but I guess anything is possible.
I have heard of the rear output shaft breaking but for the most part, these tranny's are pretty solid.

Check out the Toyota EPC for a description of the part. You can get the program from Yankee Toys web site.


Have you towed with the 80 before? <<<<<edit: corrected, sorry it was a long day.

 

[pilotleston]

I will try to install the EPC ans see if it gives any more info.

I don´t understand what you mean by "Have you toed with the 80 before?". I´m not used to speak in English too much.

 

[a.mus.ed]

I think what Cruiser Jimmy meant to type was, "Have you towed with the 80 before?"

Welcome to Mud. From what you've posted so far your English is just fine. Read around enough and you'll find that there are plenty of posts from native speakers here that are just about as clear as...well, Mud.

 

[pilotleston]

Thanks for the cumpliment.

I have towed with the Cruiser, but not in a regular basis. I sometimes tow my brother´s boat (3000 pounds, 2 axle trailer) and I have traveled for 600 mi once with it also. Another time I towed my brother´s wrecked car for something like 800 mi (car above a 1 axle trailer).

I don´t think that it might be anything near extreme for this vehicle. It never felt as it would be "forced" by the towed load.

 

[pilotleston]

I have just confirmed using the EPC, the part is the "Gear assy, rear planetary".

 

[IdahoDoug]

I have been living and breathing 80 series LandCruisers and am on my 3rd one. I have never heard of a gear issue in the A442. Your mechanic is suspicious to me by saying "driving it in the city" causes a problem. The A442 transmission is a city bus transmission from the 30,000lb Coaster bus.

It is unkind of me to say this but I think your mechanic opened the transmission, could not find anything really wrong and decided to replace a large part in it merely to impress you and justify his work as large parts are easy to replace versus other complex smaller parts. Sorry for your troubles and I wish you had discovered this forum before spending $3000 on your transmission.....

DougM

 

[Tapage]

Hi dude .. Was in Cordoba couple of years ago ..

Actually I own a HDJ-80 as same as yours .. and would be posible something weir in the torque convertor, pero nothing else in those heavy trannys ..

Actuall, did you drive your Cruiser and feel something weird in your tranny or are you only trust in your mechainc word .?

Can you take a pic of this worn out part and post it here .. ?

Trustme .. If I need to buy a 1700 - 2000 USD part .. buy a new tranny.

 

[gnx7]

If your symptoms are that the transmission will not go into overdrive (OD).... then I had a similar issue on another FZJ80 I helped to fix. I changed out the solenoids in the pan and still nothing changed. It ended up being the OD sprag which wasn't allowing OD to engage. Cheap part around $125.... but labor was around $650 to R/R and install the new part from a local shop. I got out for relatively cheap overall.

 

[pilotleston]

Thanks for the help, guys. I talked to my dad who explained me better the "driving in the city" part. I have misundertood that part. He said (the mechanic) that, before opening the box, but after opening it, he changed the diagnostic. It is possibly the result of bad lubrication, probably for having changed oil in longer intervals than suggested or using inappropriate oil (before we bought it).

The mechanic is totally against paying that much on a part, he´s already trying to find another tranny. He is a very reliable person and mechanic, we have full confidence in him.

The vehicle is very far from here (1000 km) so I won´t be able to get any pics, at least soon (I wish I could).

I don´t use the vehicle much as I live far from my hometown and go just every 2 months more or less. My dad uses it daily (used to, at least...).


I will keep you updated, thanks!

 

[Tapage]

If your symptoms are that the transmission will not go into overdrive (OD).... then I had a similar issue on another FZJ80 I helped to fix. I changed out the solenoids in the pan and still nothing changed. It ended up being the OD sprag which wasn't allowing OD to engage. Cheap part around $125.... but labor was around $650 to R/R and install the new part from a local shop. I got out for relatively cheap overall.

Easy to change the solenoiid on the A442 .. ? easy access .. job . ?

 

[IdahoDoug]

So, I guess we're not to learn the symptoms?? What if it's a $3 part and you'll find out later......?

DougM

 

[pilotleston]

All I know is that it was making some noises. As I said, I don´t drive it often.

The vehicle is serviced in the workshop of a former chief mechanic of the Toyota dealer on a city from Paraguay (very close to my hometown in Argentina). Although it´s close, it´s not very easy to get a diagnostic from my own this way.

 

[MIGUELBLUE]

Hello, I am new to the forum but have been already reading some prior to writing.

I have a 1993 Land Cruiser VX model HDJ80L-GNPEX with almost 200,000 km (125,000 mi). It is normaly driven in the city and some in the country (normal country driving, not "off-road" sporty driving).

The mechanic that makes the maintenance procedures felt that the tranny was acting weird so he opened it. He found a very worn component (about to break). I don´t know the exact name of it in english, but the code is 35760-36020 (might have been superseeded by 36021) and the description is "GEAR ASSY, RR PLANET". The MSRP in the United States is around $1,700.

I cannot find that component here in Argentina (we have an important Toyota factory and assistance network, but Land Cruisers are not very common here). Toyota might be able to import the part, but it´d take around 60 days.

As the component is not available here and the price is not low at all, I am a bit concerned about the whole situation. I suspect that this item is not frequently changed, although the mechanic said that "it is common on these vehicles when driven in the city".

Any comment would be very much appreciated.

Hola Porteño, soy Miguel de España, tengo el mismo HDJ 80 que tu, un 12 V, el mio es del 93. Para mi los 93 y 94 son los mejores de todos los HDJ 80 fabricados.

Este es mi segundo 80, el primero un FJ 80 ( Gasolina 3FE del 1992 ), buena máquina, pero mucho mejor el 1-HDT.

Te voy a dar un consejo, haz como yo he hecho recientemente, ponte en contacto con Rodney de WHOLESALE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ( AUSTRALIA ), tiene cambios A442F EXTREMOS, es decir muy reforzados y con un aguante de par de 780 Nm, el convertidor de par es reforzado, la caja en sí también y la caja de válvulas es recalibrada. Yo llevo montada una de Rodney, él te la manda primero y luego tú le envias la vieja A442F.

No te compliques reparando la caja, yo perdí mucho tiempo y al final no lo dudé, le compré una EXTREME a Rodney. El tipo es muy serio, no tendrás problemas con él.

Este cambio EXTREME A442, no tiene nada que ver con el original, es muy superior, se nota que esta modificado, pero no es molesto en absoluto al manejar el 80.

Te paso el enlace de la caja automatica que compré.


Wholesale Automatic Transmissions


Saludos y desde España

Miguel

 

[pilotleston]

Hola Miguel, muchas gracias por la info. El problema es el costo en este caso. Aun no hemos decidido, pero estamos evaluando diferentes opciones.

Argentina cobra aproximadamente un 60% del valor de la pieza+flete como costo de importación, por lo que una caja como la que mencionas saldría tal vez más que la mitad de mi vehículo.

Ya me he comunicado con la gente de Wholesale y estamos evaluando las opciones.

 

[MIGUELBLUE]

Hola, a mi la broma me costó 4.500 € más 500 € de montaje incluido el ATF, en España también es cara la Aduana ( 500 € ), pero creeme la opción de WHOLESALE es la más inteligente. Yo soy un amante de la Serie 80, y si no hubiese sido por Rodney, me hubiera tenido que comprar un manual y desguazar el mio.

Haz el esfuerzo, vale la pena.

Por cierto, si te hablas con Rodney Via e-mail, dale recuerdos de mi parte ( Miguel desde España ), soy su primer cliente y no creo que sea el único. En España nos vuelven locos los Serie 80 y 100. De echo, hay varios Argentinos registrados en nuestro foro Español de Serie 80 - 100 y 105.

Saludos y

Miguel

 

[pilotleston]

Miguel, cual es el costo de la caja de Rodney en origen? Creo que vi un post tuyo aqui en este foro.

 

[MIGUELBLUE]

Please, Excuse me for talking in Spanish. I know that is an American Forum. The best 80 Series Forum off the world.

Regards

Miguel