Auto transmission failure 😡😡

[Warwick89]

Anyone familiar with FNQ will know of the gillies range, short 19km hill climb (blacktop) out of cairns onto the Atherton tablelands.
So unluckily for me this range has very minimal areas to pull off not that it matters when the transmission decides to take the coolant out of the radiator 😡😡.

Anyway I start the car in the morning and plug in my bran new "engine data scan" and away we go south out of cairns for 30kms until we hit the mountain, around the first bend and I am watching the ECT rise to about 93deg don't think much of it in fact I think it's not a to bad at all considering the 1800kg trailer I'm now towing up a mountain side. Couple more corners come and go and the temp is the same, all good right? Well not exactly. So the trusty patrol starts to lose all momentum, revs rise, it's this moment where I start to shit myself because I have a car right up the backside. Something grabs and the car shoots forward and gains some more altitude, another 50m, 100m, 250m. I start calming down thinking to myself that it was weird while reassuring the girlfriend all is good. OMFG happens again only this time the is no grab before the car is rolling backwards and mr tailgater gets a scared look lol. I pull the handbrake on jump out and walk around the car, and OH NO LHF wheel arch looks like someone tipped ice coffee over it. So luckily the road maintenance guys are just around the corner and hear the UHF call and come down and give me a tow around the corner a safer area. 2hrs later RACQ is there to put the patrol on the back of a truck :(

Now the car is still under extended warranty so the mechanics stripping the car to give a detailed list to the insurer. Only problem is I'm not to sure what he should be doing but to me I would think he would have to pull the transmission out to check it but from speaking to him it doesn't sound like that's what their doing. They are a very highly recommended 4x4 service centre up here so I would like to believe their doing the right thing.

Anyone have any suggestions on what they should be checking?

[4bye4]

Not good mate. I also hav3 an auto so please keep posted what the outcome and reason is. Sorry I can't help with any ideas though. Is the oil in the front wheel arch from trans fluit through the breather?

[Warwick89]

Appears to be from the breather yes. Also checked the dipstick and it was coated in some very milky ice coffee looking fluid.


Warwick

[4bye4]

I'm not an expert in transmission, but milky is classic water in the oil. If you noticed probs with the temp just before, I recon you have got radiator water into the transmission oil cooler and that has got into the trans. If you are lucky, fixing the radiator and a good flush or two of the trans might get it going. When this happens in the pumps we work on here, if the pump get contaminated and is stopped after a short time it doesn't get damaged. Its only when if the pump is kept running after the contamination that damage occurs.

[jff45]

The trans needs to be removed and stripped down. Flushing it in situ might give the impression that it's Ok but it's destined to have a short service life.
You mentioned it has already slipped badly so there's no way it can be fixed properly with a flush.

[Rock Trol]

This is a very common occurrence on late model Ford Falcons. Happened to a mates BA a few years back. Had to get transmission rebuilt. He also fitted external oil cooler and bypassed the one in the new radiator.
Your insurance will have to pay for new radiator and transmission overhaul.

[garett]

yeah the coolant apparently makes the glue on the bands let go. yep i've bypassed so many ba/bf falcon coolers its not funny. external cooler is the way to go especially if your towing. you'd be lucky if that trans would work after a flush most likely needs replacing / overhaul.

[TheOtherMatt]

If you google search "ZF Milkshake" you will find a tonne of info with very similar symptoms to what you describe - not a good prognosis if it is!
ALSO coming from a dealership Service Manager background double check your Extended Warranty - hopefully it is a genuine NISSAN policy, the aftermarket dealership added ones are not worth the paper they are written on.
M@

[FNQGU]

Have a chat with Allan's Auto's in Lyon's Street. He knows his stuff and would give you a good idea. He would be the one in Cairns where I would get any work done.

[threedogs]

They need to be serviced every year according to my auto guy.
he also advised not to manualize it being a daily driver,
Hose didn't come off the cooler did it?

[NissanGQ4.2]

I've moved this thread into the gearboxes sub category

Cheers

Toddie

[Warwick89]

So after many days the only information I have is that:
1. The radiator has been pulled and pressure tested and is completely fine and nil leak in cooler.
2. Everyone I've spoken to has the same opinion that the only other possible way it could happen would be submersion in a water crossing.

On that note the closest the patrol has come to water in the last few months is a high pressure hose. Could this do something?

[Warwick89]

Have a chat with Allan's Auto's in Lyon's Street. He knows his stuff and would give you a good idea. He would be the one in Cairns where I would get any work done.

Cheers mate will go have a chat with him next week. Car is still in at Cape York auto

[Warwick89]

They need to be serviced every year according to my auto guy.
he also advised not to manualize it being a daily driver,
Hose didn't come off the cooler did it?

3dogs what do you mean by the middle line?

[NissanGQ4.2]

So after many days the only information I have is that:
1. The radiator has been pulled and pressure tested and is completely fine and nil leak in cooler.
2. Everyone I've spoken to has the same opinion that the only other possible way it could happen would be submersion in a water crossing.

On that note the closest the patrol has come to water in the last few months is a high pressure hose. Could this do something?

Very possible, high pressure washing can cause lots of problems if one is not careful, I'm lead 2 believe the breathers are mounted inside the LH guard on GU's, did you pressure wash anywhere near where your gearbox breather is located?

[Warwick89]

Very possible, high pressure washing can cause lots of problems if one is not careful, I'm lead 2 believe the breathers are mounted inside the LH guard on GU's, did you pressure wash anywhere near where your gearbox breather is located?

Unfortunately yes although the breather is enclosed inside the guard I feel you may be right. Hopefully get the truck back tomorrow and advice so far is to keep an eye on it.

[Warwick89]

so ive been away working and the missus jumped into the car to go for a drive (first time since i had got it back its been driven more then 5km's) and it happens again in exactly the same spot on the mountain, this time without the camper on the back. she rang cape york automotive and they advised to let it cool down and limp it into them, after they had it for a few days they asked her to come in and get the car because they "dont do auto's" so take it somewhere else LMFAO last time i will be taking it there, Considering the were more then happy to take $1600 the first time.


Have a chat with Allan's Auto's in Lyon's Street. He knows his stuff and would give you a good idea. He would be the one in Cairns where I would get any work done.


have it booked into allans tomorrow FNQGU so hopefully some good news soon.

Warwick

[FNQGU]

Good luck mate. Interesting scenario.