Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.

Vitara Transfer Case - how far will it go without Oil?

Tech Talk for Suzuki owners.

Moderators: lay80n, sierrajim

Post Reply
Posts: 102
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Vitara Transfer Case - how far will it go without Oil?

Post by rodw »

Decided to check diffs and T/case oil today as I am off to City View over the weekend.

The Transfer Case was dry! :cry: I had he seals replaced in April by a Gearbox Shop, looks like they left the oil out! I've done 8,000km since then, but only one 4WD outing.

I'm only guessing, but I think in 2WD, the drive is straight though, so the lack of oil is probably not that much of an issue, but could it explain why a few weeks ago at Levuka (a week after 5 inches of rain), my 4 speed auto could not put enough power to the ground up a slippery, muddy hill to turn or spin the swampers?

Hmm. I wonder what damage that did to the auto which was reconditioned by the same mob in March?

Any thoughts/feedback appreciated. What appraoch should I take when I front the repairer?
RodW
2007 SR Diesel Dual cab
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:44 am
Location: Caboolture

Post by 89casper »

Answered on Zookers site ;)
S2's, Front And Rear Air Locked, 6 Point Cage, Simex ET's, RUF.

TJM BRENDALE
PH- (07) 3889 8555
Posts: 2297
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:23 pm
Location: Melbourne-Australia

Post by MightyMouse »

The auto's lubrication/fluid system is completely separate from the transfer so I can't see there being any possible auto damage.

However I wouldn't take your transfer case even for free.

IMO your going to have a fight on your hands, proving they left the oil out.

But good luck anyway.. :cry:
( usual disclaimers )

It seemed like a much better idea when I started it than it does now.
Posts: 102
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Post by rodw »

Thanks for the feedback guys.

You'd think if you dropped a litre of oil, there would be a few stains in the driveway...

MightyMouse, I'm sure its a perfectly good t'case :bad-words: , but once rebuilt, I wont' be giving it away, I was thinking that if the tranny was spinning and the t/case was not, the tranny might be a bit stressed... anyway, that scenario explains why I was making no headway...

Fight is OK, I have plenty of witnesses, 10 cars in the convoy, and I was holding most of them up...
RodW
2007 SR Diesel Dual cab
Posts: 2297
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:23 pm
Location: Melbourne-Australia

Post by MightyMouse »

You can get some cheap second hand tcases if you have a look around.

have you considered just doing a swap? A rebuild might be perfect, but if theres wear on the shafts etc could end up $$$

Without knowing you exact situation - its just a suggestion.
( usual disclaimers )

It seemed like a much better idea when I started it than it does now.
Posts: 7345
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:29 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by Gwagensteve »

As per Mightymouses comment - lots of Vitara transfers get discarded when people do Vitara conversions into sierras etc.

They are effectively worthless- I've seen them for $80 - and the last vitara gearbox bought commercially I am aware of came with a "free" transfer case - the wrecker didn't want the case back.

You could spend big $$$ on your case, or swap in a fresh 2nd hand case for next to nothing and know it was good.

I would be worried about accelerated gear wear if you have worn into the case hardening on the gears, the shafts will be toast..... a rebuild will be many times dearer than a replacement case.

Steve.
[quote="greg"] some say he is a man without happy dreams, or that he sees silver linings on clouds and wonders why they are not platinum... all we know, is he's called the stevie.[/quote]
Posts: 317
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:03 pm
Location: Brisbane

Re: Vitara Transfer Case - how far will it go without Oil?

Post by Danzo »

rodw wrote:Decided to check diffs and T/case oil today as I am off to City View over the weekend.

but could it explain why a few weeks ago at Levuka (a week after 5 inches of rain), my 4 speed auto could not put enough power to the ground up a slippery, muddy hill to turn or spin the swampers?

Hmm. I wonder what damage that did to the auto which was reconditioned by the same mob in March?

What appraoch should I take when I front the repairer?
I am asuming they put the proper oil in your auto then because if the same mob didnt put oil in your transfer who knows what they put in your auto for it to lose power like that :?: :?:
as for the repairer- have you put oil in the T/C since. If so--- your probably sh^t out of luck with them giving you some sort of compensation for there dogy work
I hate going to weddings because all the grandma's used to poke me in the ribs saying you're next, you're next. They've stopped doing it since I started doing it to them at funerals.
Posts: 5714
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2002 3:55 pm
Location: Perth WA.

Re: Vitara Transfer Case - how far will it go without Oil?

Post by nicbeer »

Danzo wrote:
rodw wrote:Decided to check diffs and T/case oil today as I am off to City View over the weekend.

but could it explain why a few weeks ago at Levuka (a week after 5 inches of rain), my 4 speed auto could not put enough power to the ground up a slippery, muddy hill to turn or spin the swampers?

Hmm. I wonder what damage that did to the auto which was reconditioned by the same mob in March?

What appraoch should I take when I front the repairer?
I am asuming they put the proper oil in your auto then because if the same mob didnt put oil in your transfer who knows what they put in your auto for it to lose power like that :?: :?:
as for the repairer- have you put oil in the T/C since. If so--- your probably sh^t out of luck with them giving you some sort of compensation for there dogy work
Some joined transfer/gearboxs i think run a common oil lubrication so maybe thats where they mucked up.
[url=http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?p=930942#930942&highlight=]Zook[/url]
U SUK Zook Built and Sold.
New rig is 97 80 DX. 2" list 33s
Posts: 2297
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:23 pm
Location: Melbourne-Australia

Post by MightyMouse »

Would be VERY surprised is any auto shared its fluid with a transfer case.

Certainly not an AW4.

Got any examples ?
( usual disclaimers )

It seemed like a much better idea when I started it than it does now.
Posts: 5714
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2002 3:55 pm
Location: Perth WA.

Post by nicbeer »

not totally sure but think some cruiser ones do or this may be due to the internal seals dieing and allowing it to leak through.

Not zook ones thou that i have heard.
[url=http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?p=930942#930942&highlight=]Zook[/url]
U SUK Zook Built and Sold.
New rig is 97 80 DX. 2" list 33s
Posts: 7345
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:29 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by Gwagensteve »

This is common with manuals but not with autos. ATF makes terrible gear (and even worse synchro) lubricant.

Steve.
[quote="greg"] some say he is a man without happy dreams, or that he sees silver linings on clouds and wonders why they are not platinum... all we know, is he's called the stevie.[/quote]
Posts: 5714
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2002 3:55 pm
Location: Perth WA.

Post by nicbeer »

Gwagensteve wrote:This is common with manuals but not with autos. ATF makes terrible gear (and even worse synchro) lubricant.

Steve.
ahhh thx for that. does make sense.
[url=http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?p=930942#930942&highlight=]Zook[/url]
U SUK Zook Built and Sold.
New rig is 97 80 DX. 2" list 33s
User avatar
Guy
Posts: 10366
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2002 8:43 am
Location: Wangaratta

Post by Guy »

MightyMouse wrote:Would be VERY surprised is any auto shared its fluid with a transfer case.

Certainly not an AW4.

Got any examples ?
I dont know of many that actually "share" Auto Trans fluid but I know of at least 3 or 4 T\cases that use ATF as their lubricant.
And with the number of dumb things I have seen mechanics do I dont doubt that they may have thought it would share fluid.
" If governments are involved in the covering up the knowledge of aliens, Then they are doing a much better job of it than they do of everything else "
Posts: 7345
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:29 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by Gwagensteve »

Only chain drive transfers. NP 231/241 series spring to mind- I think the full time versions specify Dexron. I'm not aware of any gear drive transfers that take ATF, or any that share fluid with the auto- autos are very finicky about fluid quality and level.

Steve.
[quote="greg"] some say he is a man without happy dreams, or that he sees silver linings on clouds and wonders why they are not platinum... all we know, is he's called the stevie.[/quote]
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests