Big battles ahead - should I stay or should I go?

[vectorsc]

I am in an interesting spot with my Montero G2.5.

About the truck:
Good body condition - no damage or rust.
No frame damage or driveline damage.
250k on the clock
Interior is in good condition for this old of a truck - but it isn't great condition or like new by any means.
Engine appears to have no issues other than using a bit of oil (1 quart per oil change pretty much).
This is Montero Gen II number 5, so I know this car well.


However, I have some sort of front end vibration i have not been able to sort out, 4wd blinking light issues, and the transmission is done I think. And the brakes are somewhat weak even with new calipers and master cylinder...pads...disks....hoses.

Options -

a. Get a newer different truck and let this one go. Sniffle.
b. Get a Montero 2.5 with fewer miles and shift my parts. Then say goodnight to this one.
c. Get a new transmission and keep it alive and rolling. Install the snorkel I got for it and the timing belt kit. Try to figure out the frontend again.

 

[michel77]

Looks like you have it sorted to your liking and usage, getting a different truck will always be the most expensive option. I was in a similar spot with my LandCruiser, knew there was some maintenance coming up and felt I didn't have the motivation and was ready for a change.
If you want a change, go for it. Otherwise, stick with what you know.

Me, I'm joining you Monty-folk soon and am pretty stoked!

 

[Smksignals]

I am in the exact same predicament as you with the same 3 options, but with a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ive been mulling over those 3 options for about 2-3 weeks now and finally made a decision.

I choose option C. Car is in the shop right now with the transmission being rebuilt. I've already done a lot of stuff to the rig and really didn't want to see it go.

With all that being said if I have one more major problem I'm $#!t canning this car and hunting down a Montero Gen II or Gen II.5.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[BushPig]

Being the process of finding a Gen2-2.5 Montero, I will say it's getting pretty hard to find a decent one that doesn't need quite a bit of money dropped into it. All the really nice ones with reasonable mileage, good records, etc are coming in at $5k, minimum. Some are up around $10k. So you'd probably be better off reviving yours.

 

[eurosonic]

you know everything that good and bad with your truck. You wont know what can be wrong with the another one until you buy it. Keep it, fix it, wheel it.

 

[fowldarr]

If you stay there will be trouble...if you go it will be double

 

[vectorsc]

I - think I'll stay. Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I think I've partially nailed down the transmission thing - the torque converter isn't locking up. I changed the ATF last night and that immediately resulted in better shifting and such. God the old fluid was NASTY.

I cleaned the NSS real good and reseated the connector on the TPS. Any other tips or personal experience with TC lockup failure?

 

[billygoats]

I - think I'll stay. Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I think I've partially nailed down the transmission thing - the torque converter isn't locking up. I changed the ATF last night and that immediately resulted in better shifting and such. God the old fluid was NASTY.

I cleaned the NSS real good and reseated the connector on the TPS. Any other tips or personal experience with TC lockup failure?

Did you drop the tranny pan and change/clean the metal screen filter? I hear it can get blocked with fine contaminents resulting in very poor flow, which can overheat the tranny and tq converter.

 

[vectorsc]

No - I didn't. However, shifts are good and tranny temp seems excellent. Only issue I'm able to discern is TQ lockup.

 

[vectorsc]

Replaced TPS, cleaned the engine temp switch connection. No help - will test engine temp sensor tonight and attempt to get at the transmission temp sensor as well.

 

[vectorsc]

We'll I got two codes. 49 and 54. Can't find a good reference for these.


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[vectorsc]

Sorry if it seems that I"m talking to myself here - just going through this so other searchers can learn from my experience.

Found the codes in question 49 - Torque Converter Lockup Malfunction and 54 - 4th (overdrive brake) gear slipping. Code 49 is trying to tell me that my TQ lockup isn't working at all, but the transmission has different codes (47 and 48) for short/open circuits on the solenoid. This indicates either a hydraulic issue with the Lockup Solenoid or torque converter failure. 54 is bad though - it's saying that the brake for the overdrive is most likely failing - this could be low hydraulic pressure in the system from a clogged filter causing both or the clutch disks for overdrive are hosed.

Overdrive seems to work in all other gears but 3rd, so it could be a fluid volume issue.

 

[vectorsc]

Captains log - Code 54 means "transmission on fire". I'm pretty sure it was trying to tell me that the overdrive clutch pack was toasted. I'm going to take it all apart and report as to what was wrong if I can find it.

 

[IncorpoRatedX]

it's an AW4 trans right?

If so, finding a replacement and replacing it will be very easy. Jeeps, toyotas, even lexus uses the AW4, robust as hell, long living if you do maintenance on them.

Keep the rig, replacement trans could be had for like $150-200 from a rolled jeep if it's AW4 anyhow.

front end wobble; rebuild the front end, could be a CV shaft or something, our front suspensions are very stable, front end wobble is a big sign that something has gone crazy, usually a CV joint or idler arm, i've also had the retaining clip on the outer end of the CV shaft come loose and cause the CV axle to slip in/out of the hub, this will cause some weird vibration/noise

 

[thedjjack]

Buy the front half of Pajero and swap newer front end and diesel swap....with low mileage drivetrain....