Gearbox falling apart ?

[Dowie]

Just got my 4.2 2005 wagon and havea problem what i think is the gearbox.
A lot of times after changing gears and at lower revs the car sounds like is about to spit out every single gear out,
There is something rattling at lower revs feels like its coming from gearbox .
Any clues ? Car is under 200k could it be clutch ?

Glen

[Cuppa]

Sounds normal to me. I describe it as a ‘graunching sound’ at low revs, which disappears as soon as revs pick up a little. They (TD42’s) all do it. When I bought mine I had an RACV check done which came back saying the car had gearbox problems. I then had it checked by a 4wd transmission specialist who smiled, reassured me that it was a Patrol thing & told me there was nothing wrong with the transmission. Recently my wife did a 4wd training course in my car, & whilst out with the instructor he commented “Ahh that vibration/noise reminds me of the Patrol I used to have, I miss it”.

[dom14]

Sounds normal to me. I describe it as a ‘graunching sound’ at low revs, which disappears as soon as revs pick up a little. They (TD42’s) all do it. When I bought mine I had an RACV check done which came back saying the car had gearbox problems. I then had it checked by a 4wd transmission specialist who smiled, reassured me that it was a Patrol thing & told me there was nothing wrong with the transmission. Recently my wife did a 4wd training course in my car, & whilst out with the instructor he commented “Ahh that vibration/noise reminds me of the Patrol I used to have, I miss it”.

Yeah, the grinding noise at low revs and lower gears. I remember posting a thread years ago with much anxiety about it.
It's still grinding on first or second gear when taking off around 1500-1800 rpm. Mine's an RB30. The gearbox & clutch is as good as ever.

[Dowie]

Thanks fellas.
Dom i dont think this is a grinding sound like not gear grinding. This is much more of a rattle or something is loose sound. It is very very loud especially when cold and beung lazy on gear changes by not santing to rev motor while still cold.
Surely this cant be normal albeit it beuing common. If so its ridiculous.
When searching for a 4x4 i hads bunch of options including a 200 cruiser and general consensus is to stay clear of the 3 Ls . But ending up with a 4.2 which wasnt cheap and for it to do this is very annoying.
Had anybidy successfully fixed it ?

[garett]

rev it more.... but no i haven't bothered getting rid of the td42 rumble she's been doing it for 20 odd years that i know of, mine is a gq but it sounds like it hasn't changed. i did put extractors on, now i don't hear it as much.

[Cuppa]

But ending up with a 4.2 which wasnt cheap and for it to do this is very annoying.


Yeah I felt like that but I eventually came to accept it is what it is. Try thinking of it as ’the Nissan Growl’ signifying you are in the presence of the toughest stock transmission on the market! LOL.

[nissannewby]

Does it have a suspension lift?

[dom14]

Does it have a suspension lift?

What does the suspension lift do to produce a grunting noise as above?!

[dom14]

Thanks fellas.
Dom i dont think this is a grinding sound like not gear grinding. This is much more of a rattle or something is loose sound. It is very very loud especially when cold and beung lazy on gear changes by not santing to rev motor while still cold.
Surely this cant be normal albeit it beuing common. If so its ridiculous.
When searching for a 4x4 i hads bunch of options including a 200 cruiser and general consensus is to stay clear of the 3 Ls . But ending up with a 4.2 which wasnt cheap and for it to do this is very annoying.
Had anybidy successfully fixed it ?

Hmmmm.......I can't say mine is rattle kinda noise. It's definitely more of a grunting/grinding kinda noise.
It may worth taking it to a tranny specialist and get him to hear it. It's better to be safe than sorry at the end of the day.
4.2 stock diesels are good units from what I've heard here so far. Yours must be turbo if it's 2005, I guess?

[nissannewby]

What does the suspension lift do to produce a grunting noise as above?!

Can alter pinion angle. This can then amplify the sound.

[dom14]

Can alter pinion angle. This can then amplify the sound.

I'm guessing that's probably why many of us hear the grunting noise more, 'cos most of us get the suspension lifted.

[Hodge]

Welcome to my world dowie.
As far as I know a lot of 4.2's have this issue. I've only ever met one bloke who claims he has fixed his by adjusting the pinion. This was also suggested to me by nissannewby. Also on that note, regarding 4.2's take heed of what this bloke says.

Read my post here about the supposed pinion angle fix. (http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?34340-Hodge-s-new-4-2&p=684586&viewfull=1#post684586)

However... Mine has been doing it since picking it up from Adelaide @ 90,000. And it was stock as rock! No bigger wheels, no lift kit, NOTHING. And mine has been the worst I and others have ever heard. And still is.
Car now has a lift kit, larger wheels, fresh oils all around and it made a difference worth jack shit.

When I picked it up and got to Adelaide hills, I shit my pants thinking is this thing gonna last to Melbourne I thought the clutch was rooted... Thought I bought a dud.

My clutch is suspected of being stuffed, which will be changed soon, so I don't know whether that may or may not fix it. Time will tell.

[mudski]

Turn your music up Eric! Lol.

[Dowie]

Thanks for the responses.
It seems it is very common , albeit "normal". The car is going to nissan for a airbag recall soon and i might ask them.

Hoge. You say you clutch is caput ? How many mileages does your car have.
I got my clutch adjusted at last service.

[macca]

Mine is a 4.2 as well Dowie,

It made that noise from the first time I drove it with 135000klm on the clock, at 206000klm the clutch was replaced with an OEM part and the noise was gone it is slowly coming back after another 30000klm.

The noise is generated by the springs rattling in the clutch plate.

The old clutch they had a fair bit of play, the new one they were tight but over time they compress and the rattle returns.

Nothing to worry about, you just have to learn to love it unfortunately!

[Wizard52]

The 4.2 "gearbox growl" is there from new. I know as I asked the service manager when I bought mine new back in 2006. At the first service you could just hear it and he said the it will only get worse and he was spot on. He has worked for Nissan for ever so he knows his stuff and his favorite vehicle is the 4.2 Patrol. He said it was something to do with the way the gears are cut to make them so strong. The quieter cruiser boxes are not so strong.
My son's GQ ute has over 500k and the growl is very noisy as he uses auto transmission fluid in it but it would be quieter if he used Castrol 75 or 80 gearbox oil as recommended by local workshop.
Edit. Sorry auto transmission fluid is in transfer case and not gearbox. Castrol in gearbox as it should be

[Hodge]

Hoge. You say you clutch is caput ? How many mileages does your car have.
I got my clutch adjusted at last service.

Mine is at 105,000 now. I believe my clutch is rooted as it engages very close to leg "almost" lifted all the way (closest to seat).
How did you get it adjusted? I was under the impression the clutch is non adjustable. Do you mean the clutch hydraulics bled or something ?

By the way You will learn to live with the growl. I have even though mine is very loud. I live at the end of a court and every little noise echoes. So you can imagine this loud early in the morning, especially when cold. Sounds like somebody is rolling a 50 gallon steel drum full of metal bits down my street.

[Dowie]

Thought idpop in and update this. The car went in fora new clutch and it has been a nightmare . But good result in the end .
New exedy clutch went in. Noise didnt go away. On our way to bairnsdale the hydraulic s of the clutch let go. Came home on a tow truck.
Car went back in for a warranty fix and while they had it also done a shaft bearing as suggested by a young apprentice who also has a 4.2 . I went with it and it paid off. No more noise.
However he did mention that he will be very surprised if it doesnt return to usual growl before 10k was done. It is just what these cars do.