hello all,

On a recent trip to the Gilf & Karkur tahl I suffered some temperature problems with my auto box (A442F).
This only happened in very extreme situations on long slogs through soft sand, generally the ambient air temperatures were in excess of 40c, and often any breeze was from behind.
I wasnt travelling fast enough to get lock up in top gear.
As the ATF temperature rose, the easiest way of dropping it again was to drive in low box for a while, this dropped the atf temp quite quickly as I assume the box locked up and the fluid cooled, but it was a bit of a pain doing this regularly.
The fluid was new, mesh filter clear and additional coolers are fitted, I think it was just the combination of long stretches of soft sand and high air temperatures, in other words, pretty extreme conditions.
I have been looking at the wholesale automatics 3rd & 4th gear lock up kit, has any body any experience of this or fitted one, (costs??) any info greatly appreciated so I can get things sorted before my next trip.

Am I right in thinking that this will overcome the problem by locking the box up in 3rd, and therefore reducing slippage?

The car is a '94 landcruiser 80 VX diesel with A442F auto box

Hello

I am in Egypt in a 1991 VX 80 like on the A442F and have trouble with the ATF temp light coming on. The gearbox is not working properly from 3rd upwards. The oil condition is okay and at the moment adjusting the TV cable is not helping.

I have the Wholesale Automatics valve chest fitted and the whole gearbox was rebuilt about 10k km ago. I also have an extra Kenlowe ATF cooler fitted.

I have an Allisport intercooler fitted, the ARB winch bumper and winch. Is this preventing enough wind from passing through? I should think I am not the only person with this setup. Whilst the Intercooler has improved economy, I am suspicious that is may be slowing down the air-flow pass the radiators.

This is a real problem as the temp outside is only 25C and Africa will only get hotter! We were on our way to SA for the World Cup but now I'm not so sure that we will make it. Boo hoo for me eh?

The man that rebuilt the gearbox says that it sounds like a valve chest or governor problem.

So this is my experience of the Wholesale kit. Nothing is certain other than this is a real pain in the aerse as it worked fine for 6k km. Within the first 100km in Tunisia the gears stopped functioning as they should. We have driven to Marsa Matrouth with endless fiddling and pulling over to cool and now I do not know what to do.

Should have bought a Land Rover....

t

Have put a link to your post on TLOC, hope you get some helpful response

Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club (UK) :: View topic - Auto Box Problem In Egypt any help??

Andy

Hello,

1. Does the problem occur in high range only or both high and low?
2. Do you have an extra ATF cooler fitted?
3. Have you positively eliminated false readings from the temp gauge?

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Roman (UK)

I had a Wholesale Automatics valve body in my 80 which performed flawlessly. That 80 has gone and I swapped the valve body onto my wife's 80 just this weekend.

When you say 3rd upwards isn't working right, can you explain that a bit more? Is overdrive engaging and is it just torque converter lock up that isn't working? Problems with torque converter lockup very quickly lead to overheating.

If the torque converter isn't locking up there are a number of things you can test but I don't want to write all that up if in fact it's more than that.

Are there any other warning lights flashing at you? Does the OD light go on and off ok when you press the OD button? Do you even have an OD button?

Hello,
Thanks for the replies. As for the questions..

1.Does the problem occur in high range only or both high and low?

I've not had the chance to check if the problem occurs in low range. I should check for sure but have been reluctant to get too involved in anything away from roads just in case.

2. Do you have an extra ATF cooler fitted?

Yes. It is located left hand side behind an ARB bumper halfway in the gap there. It should see quite a bit of wind there, possibly more than the standard cooler.

3. Have you positively eliminated false readings from the temp gauge?

No, and I am a little suspicious of the sensor. I am suspicious of all temp sensors as the engine gauge always reads slightly less than half. The colour of the gearbox oil does seem to be getting worse.

The ambient temp has a big effect on the light coming on. One day at 20C is okay next at 25C no good. More than 50mph and the problem quickly gets worse. I have had a little joy slacking the TV cable right off but not had the warmer temps since. Inside the car you can really feel the heat from the gearbox when running for any length of time.

We are now in Cairo and hope to have some time to research and maybe find a Auto specialist but I am not 100% happy that we have done enough to determine the problem. I may go for an ATF change and head back out to see what happens? Come back if it looks no better?

I have written to Rodney at Wholesale Automatics but have had no response as yet. It was always a long shot doing so but he might have something.

Thanks again,

tom

You know there is a big new Toyota dealer/workshop out on the Ring Road in Cairo now?
Would they help at all?

Hello,

This new Toyota place is getting a reputation.. I hope that I can add to the good reports with an amazing obvious trip changing and cheap fix after visiting tomorrow.

Thanks for the pointer.

t

Hi,

> More than 50mph and the problem quickly gets worse.

This seems to be due to torque converter not locking up. At this temperature the temp should always drop, not rise, provided the TC is locked.
Is your TC manually lockable?

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Roman (UK)

Not much help I know but for future users........I was in the market for an LC 80 but wanted a manual one because IMHO they are more reliable on long trips/heat ect. After searching for quite awhile it appeared I would have to plump for an automatic, so I contacted Wholesale Automatics for some advice and got nothing back! I tried again, and nothing! I wanted some more info about the reliability of the extreme valve body and how to improve the automatics chance of survival in high temperatures and nothing!

Sat it out and found a manual 4 weeks later, BTW still no reply from them, perhaps they did not get my emails?

regards

Dave

Are manuals really more reliable :confused1:

You may find driving in high range 2nd helps or if you have the overdrive button on the side of the shift lever, take the o/d off.

High range 2nd certainly helped me on the one occasion my a/t got a little hot.

Jeremy

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pigapitcha

http://www.jljphotography.co.uk

I am not an expert on toyota autos, but generally speaking , autos generate heat in two ways, normally thru torque converter slippage, which is normal, but this is eliminated when it is locked up (but only usually available in higher gears). That is why you should lock down into lower gear and slow down to get it to cool, lower gear gives less slippage in the torque converter. The other is thru band slippage (not meant to happen) so not good.
Another thing is there is a heat exchanger in the radiator, that helps the auto get to working temp quicker, and also helps cool it in high ambient, or working hard. Even manual L/C get hot if operating hard in sand etc, in high ambient (35+) if the aircon is on as the condensor sits in front of the radiator. So turning off the aircon also helps keep the temp of engine and trans lower. As mentioned fitting an extra trans cooler can help, but you need it either infront of all the rads so air gets drawn thru by engine fan, or fit it with its own electric fan, as usually its at low speed when you need it most (eg pulling hard, mud, sand etc) . Another good idea is to go to a full synthetic trans oil (eg Redline) as normal mineral will cook very quickly and causes quick build of varnish which results in valve body probs etc. You can see just by checking your trans oil if it does not look a nice pink but brown or caramel type colour . HTSH

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Current : 2007 Mowag Bucher Duro 6x6 Motorhome , 2006 Sedici 4x4, 2007 Range Rover supercharged

Apart from anything else, sitting with windows shut and aircon on will dehydrate you in record time. Waste of fuel, heat and body fluid. Think how dreadful you feel after a long flight...

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pigapitcha

http://www.jljphotography.co.uk

In a word.....YES!

regards

Dave