Too much oil in autobox?

[Sparkie67]

Hi

Just bought a 3rd gen surf, with a known problem. The tprque converter is apparently on its way out and rumbles when driven.
I have checked the ATF and is nearly at the top of the hot marking when cold.
Could the over filling of the oil be causing this problem and not be the TC at all. The oil is a dull orange colour with a slight burnt smell to it.

Do I drop it and change it, see if it makes a difference, or wait till the TC gets changed.
Can it over pressurise and cause major problems.

Kind regards

Andy

[BUSHWHACKER]

Top of the hot section with engine running or off?

[Sparkie67]

Engine off, stood overnight. Just about to go for a run and see what it is like after it's warm.

Andy

[BUSHWHACKER]

You check the level with the engine running!

A cold engine (just started) should give a reading about half to three quarters in the cold section of the dipstick.
A hot engine (after at least ten miles or mixed driving) should give a reading of half to three quarters in the hot section.

At the top of the hot section with engine off/cold, there's too much fluid in the trans.

Torque converters don't rumble unless they're falling to bits, have you checked the propshaft joints for wear?

[Sparkie67]

Engine running, gearbox hot, level is about halfway in the hot section, so all seems ok there.
Going to garage to get it on ramps next Sat so can have a good look at prop joints.
Previous owner, his mechanic said it was TQ, he had the replacement which I have now. Just a case of how easy it is to fit!! Will know more next week when it's up in the air.
Only seems to make noise when under load, ok when cruising and free wheeling off throttle.

Andy

[Sparkie67]

Remove rear prop?

In a bid to locate the rumbling sound, I am planning on removing the rear shaft, then put the box into 4 wheel drive with centre diff locked to give me front wheel drive only.
That way I can check the prop and see if the rumbling vanishes, if not it points towards a gearbox / transfer box or torque converter issue.

If I run it with just front wheel drive for a while will it cause any other damage to the transfer box etc.

Kind regards

Andy

[Ambobeer]

Are you planning on fitting yourself?

Only reason I ask is, as you are in Huddersfield you could take it to Ronauto at the bottom of Crossland Moor, they are auto box specialists. They would probably give you a better idea what was wrong and what was needed to fix.

[Sparkie67]

HI Ambobeer

Was thinking about doing it with help from a friend who has a garage.
Going up Sat morn to lift it up and have a look underneath.
Going to make a decision from there, when we can see what's involved.

Need to eliminate propshaft first though, just in case that is dodgy. Had a quick pull and tug laid on my back but can't feel a lot.

Are you aware of any issues if I drop the shaft and just use front wheels with centre diff locked?

Heard of Ronauto but they never came to mind thinking about it.

Regards

Andy

[Ambobeer]

I'm sure Tony N has said on here that he's done the front wheel drive thing before in emergencies without issues.

Think they've changed their name incidently, I passed this morning and it now seems to be Huddersfield Automatics or summat like that.

[s car go]

Are you aware of any issues if I drop the shaft and just use front wheels with centre diff locked?

Running front wheel drive is fine,but take it easy because the handling is thrown,as the truck is designed RWD or AWD.
Worn UJ joints can appear fine to a visual and push/pull inspection!

Regards

Mark

[Sparkie67]

Driving home today, the vibration seems to get worse then subside. I still think the TC is on its way out. Drive steady from start and the knock increases with revs, but as the box shifts up the knock slows a little in relation to engine revs, then slowly picks up again.
Obviously the prop shaft would be constantly spinning faster so the knock wouldn't slow a little.

Anyway, still going to pull it off the eliminate from the equation.
Can anybody advise what the torque settings should be for putting it back on.

Thanks

[Sparkie67]

Vibration gone.

Good news, prop shaft and vibration, thumping rumbling sound vanished.

I can't feel any play in the joints, but the rear yoke felt a little stiff at it's extremeties. obviously never gets bent that far in use.

Not sure when it was all last greased, doesn't look relatively fresh, the sliding spline is very stiff to pull in and out also.

Will get garage to check for play in output flange and diff input flange when it's on the ramps at the weekend.

Checked the balancing weights and they are still attached, and I can't see any weld marks to indicate if any have come off.

Any views or advice would be most appreciated on what I'm looking for with the shaft.

Regards

Andy

[s car go]

Andy,

Just replace both UJ's. There're faily cheap,about £15 a piece if I remember correctly. I had a deep droning noise on my last Runner,that seemed to change with gears. Changed both UJ's and job done!!!

Regards

Mark

Tightening torque FT!!!

[BUSHWHACKER]

Tightening torque FT!!!

For the propshaft nuts? They're about 5 grunts each.

[Sparkie67]

Might sound a silly question, how do they come apart?

Also the big double UJ at the transfer end looks like a nightmare to strip down. Don't think roughtrax do a UJ for that end.

Thanks to all for the info so far.

Regards

Andy