Hi All,

Having some issues with the 4spd auto in my TJ advance, and talking to a mate who's a mechanic, we're thinking it's going to need a new gearbox.

What I'm wondering, is if anyone has any reccomendations for an automatic transmission shop, or a good mechanic on the Central Coast (NSW).

Also if anyone's done manual conversions on these, roughly how much would that cost?

Thanks

Welcome to AMC.

What are the symptoms of the poorly gearbox that suggests it might need replacing?

Thanks mate

It seems to have trouble getting in to gear. Didn't show any signs of trouble until a couple of days ago when it dropped out of gear, and the neutral light started flashing. Now, it wont crawl at idle (just sits as though it's in neutral when in drive with the brakes off), and wont engage a gear until just over 2000 rpm. When it gets a gear it drops in pretty hard. Sounds kind of like someone driving a manual car with really bad clutch control. It does still change gear ok once it's moving, but if you coast in drive, it has trouble getting back in to gear. The transmission fluid is pink, and the levels look about right.

Mate that looked at it thinks it might be the clutch packs or torque converter that are gone, but said he'd be guessing without cracking in to it a bit. He's a dealership mechanic for another make, so probably hasn't had the need to strip a magna gearbox. Not too sure if there's anything special about them for that to make a difference though.

Hoping not to have to replace or rebuild th box, but I'm kiind of expecting the worst for the time being.

There was a very specific problem relating to a wave spring inside the transmission. It easily broke, and sent shards of the spring through the transmission itself and essentially rooting it. It is an expensive fix, and sounds like you have a nasty problem. Pulling it apart really is the only option to see whats really broken.

Bugger. Thought as much. Any word on a good place to take it? Even somewhere in Sydney could work out ok.

Hi All,

Having some issues with the 4spd auto in my TJ advance, and talking to a mate who's a mechanic, we're thinking it's going to need a new gearbox.

What I'm wondering, is if anyone has any reccomendations for an automatic transmission shop, or a good mechanic on the Central Coast (NSW).

Also if anyone's done manual conversions on these, roughly how much would that cost?

Thanks

PM Madmagna. He can give you a price for a manual conversion or could probably supply/freight another auto to your LOC at a reasonable price.

Cheers

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the late reply... Just thought I'd say thanks for the info.

It's going down to Mits Fix next week, and getting a manual conversion done :woot: So far Mal's been great to deal with so should be pretty awesome when I get it back.

It will feel like a totally different car, acceleration difference with manual is absolutely amazing.

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the late reply... Just thought I'd say thanks for the info.

It's going down to Mits Fix next week, and getting a manual conversion done :woot: So far Mal's been great to deal with so should be pretty awesome when I get it back.

what will the conversion cost? love to have my KH converted to manual

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the late reply... Just thought I'd say thanks for the info.

It's going down to Mits Fix next week, and getting a manual conversion done :woot: So far Mal's been great to deal with so should be pretty awesome when I get it back.

wow, that's quite the drive to get a transmission conversion! hope you make it there mate, coz it'd really suck to be stuck mid way to melb from the central coast...

wouldn't it have been easier with the earlier suggestion to freight the transmission to your local mechanic?

Local mechanics are a rip. Mal will do it a lot cheaper, and i'm guessing do a better job. It's on a truck to get down there. The total for transport and the work I'm getting done is less than getting it done local.

EDIT: you explained above :)

Cant wait to hear how it all goes.

I guess thats something for all us Auto Box owners to think about for when our trannies root themselves!

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the late reply/ reviving a dead thread... Just thought I'd give an update on this since I picked the car up.

Anyway, it pretty much went perfectly. There were a few issues in getting it down there, but Mal did an awesome job with it. The manual box makes it almost a completely different car to drive. I'd reccomend a manual conversion to anyone having auto transmission issues on a couple of condidions:

1) It goes without saying that Mal knows his shit. There's probably a fair bit of potential for this to go badly if it's done by a dodgy mecahnic, or someone who doesn't know these cars well. Be careful about who does it.

2) Moving cars with transmission issues is both expensive, and a pain in the arse.

With that being said, the only way you would tell that my car was auto looking at it would be if you noticed the two wiring harness plugs under the bonnet which used to plug in to the transmission. And the gear indicator on the dash.

All up, WELL worth it, if you're prepared for the above.

ETA: In case anyone's interested, the auto box had the oil pump fail, which is what killed it.

good to hear the update mate. You can always pick up another dash cluster around here for a manual no doubt, that would solve the PRND4321 thingy on the dash.

Was it a 3.0 box or a 3.5 box that was installed? I am hearing people seem to go or get the 3.0 litre box, not sure if the ratios are better in a 3.0 box or not.

BOosty

Hi, just wonderingh what was the total cost of the manual conversion?
cheers


Hi Guys,

Sorry for the late reply/ reviving a dead thread... Just thought I'd give an update on this since I picked the car up.

Anyway, it pretty much went perfectly. There were a few issues in getting it down there, but Mal did an awesome job with it. The manual box makes it almost a completely different car to drive. I'd reccomend a manual conversion to anyone having auto transmission issues on a couple of condidions:

1) It goes without saying that Mal knows his shit. There's probably a fair bit of potential for this to go badly if it's done by a dodgy mecahnic, or someone who doesn't know these cars well. Be careful about who does it.

2) Moving cars with transmission issues is both expensive, and a pain in the arse.

With that being said, the only way you would tell that my car was auto looking at it would be if you noticed the two wiring harness plugs under the bonnet which used to plug in to the transmission. And the gear indicator on the dash.

All up, WELL worth it, if you're prepared for the above.

ETA: In case anyone's interested, the auto box had the oil pump fail, which is what killed it.

I believe Mal lists his fee on this forum under MitsFix section, have a look. I have done a conversion locally didnt cost much more what Mal charges BUT it took roughly 2 weeks.....

Ok cool, thanks, will check it out


I believe Mal lists his fee on this forum under MitsFix section, have a look. I have done a conversion locally didnt cost much more what Mal charges BUT it took roughly 2 weeks.....

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the late reply... Just thought I'd say thanks for the info.

It's going down to Mits Fix next week, and getting a manual conversion done :woot: So far Mal's been great to deal with so should be pretty awesome when I get it back.

Good to hear you got home OK. I met you last Friday at Mal's as he was finishing the conversion. Those of us with AWD Magnas have to put up with our auto transmissions.