GU Gearbox Problem

[gu4800]

Hi all,

I've got a GU 4.8 manual wagon, and after the 40K service, it crunches between 3rd and 4th. Doesn't do it from cold start-up, but more after about 5 minutes of driving.

Now, could be the oil in the gearbox (use only top quality oils), but I also noticed a while back that it would often crunch when downshifting from 5th to 4th (before the 40K service and oil change).

So, I'm guessing that the 4th gear syncro is shagged, and the oil change has only highlighted the problem.

Good news - car is still under warranty (for another month) and it goes to the local local Nissan $tealership on Tuesday. They have told me it is booked in as a "retail job" until the technician decides it is a warranty issue and Nissan agree to foot the bill.

My main concern - they went further to say that even when diagnosed (ie, after the tech takes it for a drive and realises that 4th gear is shagged), the strip down is still "retail" until they get inside and prove it is the syncro. Either way, whatever the problem it is still a warranty claim and there is no way I am paying jack!

Anyone have any thoughts or experience on how a warranty claim works?
At what stage do they accept responsibility and let me off the hook?
If it's not the syncro, surely something else is wrong and it is still a warranty?
What else could it possibly be that wouldn't be covered by warranty?
Is the 4.8 petrol box the same as the 4.2 diesel box? (I know some 4.2's had issues with syncro's)

Any thoughts appreciated.

P.S. The car is non-dealer serviced (always with genuine parts though), and I won't settle for a "change the oil and she'll be right" given that the warranty runs out in 1 month and the 5th down to 4th gear change has been an issue (albeit minor) for some time.

[mickyd555]

would it have anything to do with the faulty 5th gear in some of the box's??? im not sure which box had that problem though

[rick130]

curious what lube (+ specs) is in the box ?

[InSanE]

it is a problem we have had with a few patrol's we found that after using GX80 grade gear oil on servicing that gear changes become stiff and notchy but it only happens on like 1 in 50 patrol's we have rectified the problems using a thinner grade oil or using a hydraulic gear oil like atf/dextron 3 can improve gear changing

[gu4800]

Well, good news and bad news ..........


Good news - 4th gear syncro is shagged, and the box will be stripped and repaired under warranty.

Bad news - it will take at least a week, because they are busy and the car was only booked in for today to diagnose the problem. The actual repair won't start until later this week (apparently the parts are already in Brisbane, so that's a plus).


Anything I should look out for? Could a shagged 4th gear syncro cause any other problems with the box?

Thanks

[gu4800]

Well, got the Patrol back today - gearbox all fixed (replaced 4th gear syncro). Took them 1 week. BUT ......

They:-
1) left greasy boot marks on the door trim, seat, and kick panel
2) scratched the centre console
3) instrument and console lights no longer work, either does the beeper that tells you that you left your lights on

So, car goes back next week for 2 more days to fix all the above. Buggers me what they did to short the interior lights, as far as I know the only thing "electical" they do is the reverse light switch on the box and disconnect the battery! It is like the car does not recognise that the lights are on, so it doesn't turn the interior lights on and that is way the beeper doesn't work either.

Anyway, my not problem. Oh, and this time I get a courtesy car (well, my wife does - it's her daily driver) until the car is fixed.