Transmission issue (Aussie 105 with 1FZ and A442F)

[LandCruiser105]

Seeking the wisdom of the mud brains trust...

When I pulled the trans oil pan last month for a routine clean and inspection I found brass fines in the pan. Definitely not magnetic. See pic.

Other mud posts have noted the brass trans oil pump bush can seize to the torque converter snout... Having pulled the tranny, that's not my issue. Bush is looking ok.

Another possibility is a bit of runout on the torque converter causing bush wear, but I am not seeing damage marks on the inside of the bush.

Another mud had a failing torque converter that produced brass fines, but my local torque rebuilders says there is no brass in my converter to cause this. (Is he right? I don't know).

The other possibility is a bush in the transmission, but other than the pump bush there doesn't seem to be much brass in there.

Anyone else with experience of brass fines in ATF pan? Thoughts on the above?

Cheers

Jon

 

[LandCruiser105]

Some further data - the tranny was shifting & TC lockup fine. Line pressures were OK, as were shift engagement times - all as per FSM. I ended up pulling the tranny as I wanted to do the rear main seal anyway (having sealed the pan arch previously). Plus, I want to catch this and correct it before it wrecks a good tranny...

 

[Kernal]

Which transmission is in your 105?
Has the transmission had any issues, service, or repairs previously?
Has it been run low on ATF or overheating (engine or transmission)??
How many miles on the transmission and is it the original?
Any long distance/heavy towing/abuse?
Any possiblity that the ATF has become contaminated ie: wrong fluid, water, etc?
How does the used ATF look (other than in the pan) clear, dark, milky and have you sent the ATF off for a fluid analysis?

 

[Kabanstva]

Which transmission is in your 105?
Has the transmission had any issues, service, or repairs previously?
Has it been run low on ATF or overheating (engine or transmission)??
How many miles on the transmission and is it the original?
Any long distance/heavy towing/abuse?
Any possiblity that the ATF has become contaminated ie: wrong fluid, water, etc?
How does the used ATF look (other than in the pan) clear, dark, milky and have you sent the ATF off for a fluid analysis?

It’s a A442F

 

[LandCruiser105]

Yes, A442F. No previous issues. Serviced regularly (oil changes every 25k miles and pan drop and clean every other change). Never taken off the car previously or repaired, and I have had it about 17 years. Not run low on ATF and hasn't overheated - temps are monitored by a separate digital gauge. Original tranny, now has 200k miles on it. It does tow a camper trailer but no heavy towing. No sign of ATF contamination - no milkiness etc. Fluid is darkened red, but is still translucent and spreads out on blot test. No metallic crap on magnets, just non-magnetic fines (glitter) in the pan, presumed to be brass/bronze. I've not sent off the ATF for analysis. Car has new aux oil cooler and radiator (both genuine T) as PM a couple of years ago.

The brass fines might be normal wear, but maybe not. Other than the pump bush there is not much brass in the tranny (and on inspection that bush looks OK). I am wondering where the glitter is coming from. Torque converter? Possibly..., there is a thread on mud about someone with the 1FZFE/A442F in 80 series who had brass coming from their torque converter, but a couple of torque converter rebuilders locally say no brass in there. I don't think Toyota changed the torque converter for the 1FZFE/A442 in my 105 series. So the only other source is the box itself - but if not the pump bush then where?

 

[Kernal]

From searching it does appear that the pump bushing is high on the list and someone (? Wholesale Automatics) recommended testing pressures and inspecting the torque convertor including runout on the snout??

@LandCruiser105 : The expert in your part of the world would be Rodney at Wholesale Automatics, have you run it by him?

rodney@automatictransmission.com.au

 

[LandCruiser105]

I emailed Rodney and he thinks the only way to know for sure where the brass is coming from is to rebuild it. Fair enough. Other than the shadetree a440 rebuild on mud, it doesn't look like many have pulled this box apart... Which is a good thing I guess.

I'll either send this off to Melbourne for rebuild or this may turn into an a442f rebuild thread!