HELP - broken down in Spain - think my transfer or torque converter has let go

Right, you couldn't make this up! Any help appreciated to diagnose the issue.

Truck is an auto.

No warning before, was at a junction and went to pull away, heard a crunch and grinding noise, and lost all drive. If I put the gearbox in P or N the grinding sound goes away. If I put it in any gear the grinding comes back. If I put the transfer in N I can then put the gearbox in any gear with no grinding.

I'm thinking either transfer box or torque converter have let go. What are people's thoughts...?

Getting recovery to a Toyota main dealer for diagnosis but would like to have a good idea first.

could be a front drive flange has worn. Do you have drive if you lock the centre diff?

Or could it be a CV......? Am I right in thinking that being an auto, drive is put through the transmission as soon as you put in any gear.... So my 'tests' above would give the same result. Sorry, this is me thinking it through as I write. I'll check and come back.

Jon Wildsmith said:

could be a front drive flange has worn. Do you have drive if you lock the centre diff?

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Just checked, symptoms the same with CDL locked. I guess that also discounts CV.

Just found new symptom, with gearbox in P but handbrake off, the truck will roll (is parked on an incline).

yes, drive goes through the box in any gear so when e.g. a CV breaks you get noises just idling in gear and not trying to drive away because everything is turning.

If locking the centre diff doesn't give you drive then must be transfer box or main gearbox. Can't think of a trivial cause of those symptoms at the moment

Lorin said:

Just found new symptom, with gearbox in P but handbrake off, the truck will roll (is parked on an incline).

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That is consistent with the other symptoms, P relies on all the bits being connected / not broken so no drive like this in an auto does usually mean P doesn't work.

Hi, sorry to hear you in trouble, and sorry to be the bearer of bad news, I've just had this symptom occur on our auto discovery it turns out it was the centre splines in the torque converter, the only thing we replaced was the unit itself, the spline on the gearbox end we're fine, that is, OK . Might be better to repatriated and get it sorted here , if I can help you have my number, I may call later anyway, Bill Westley

bugger!
at least you're on tarmac in Europe

might be better to get to a local 4WD or auto specialist?

goood luck mate

Thanks for the quick replies Jon. I really hoped it was a CV or drive flange for sec then! Oh well, will update with once Toyota have inspected.

You / they probably need to drop the transfer box to get any further with diagnosing it. Pure speculation but a sudden mechanical failure seems more likely in the transfer box than the main gearbox.

Cheers guys Unfortunately I've no way of finding a local 4wd specialist, so I guess Toyota main dealer is the best option. It would be nice if it could be repaired here but looks like recovery to the UK might be the only way. I'll update once I have any news.

Maybe drain some oil from the transfer box and see if there is any metal.

Some auto 80's that age had a large bolt on cover plate on the side of the passenger side of the transfer box where a PTO could be fitted. I can't remember if your new truck has one but if it did you could drain the oil as Charlie suggested and also remove that plate and see if the gears inside are turning with the engine running and main box in gear. I don't think not having any oil in the transfer box would hurt just for that. If the gears are turning then that means drive is getting to the transfer box. You'd still ultimately be looking at removing the transfer box to fix it though.

I had very similar whilst on the loading ramp of a ferry to Spain on way to maroc.........it was the transfer box.

good luck, Karl came to my rescue but at least mine went where I was able to get dragged off the ferry b4 it left uk.

I like you had no warning, and the old box is still on my workshop floor, I keep meaning to strip it to find what went wrong, it made a horrendous graunching noise when put into any gear, and no drive.

dont know about the feasibility of u finding a secondhand one there, or anybody getting one to you from uk

Andy

You could try low range just to get it off lane 7 lol.

Lorin said:

Cheers guys Unfortunately I've no way of finding a local 4wd specialist, so I guess Toyota main dealer is the best option. It would be nice if it could be repaired here but looks like recovery to the UK might be the only way. I'll update once I have any news.

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there's a lot of delivery companies in the Algarve working the Portugal-UK route
some of them collect in Spain and France on the way up
let me know if you want me to check feasibility and prices mate

cheers

toolsplus said:

there's a lot of delivery companies in the Algarve working the Portugal-UK route
some of them collect in Spain and France on the way up
let me know if you want me to check feasibility and prices mate

cheers

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That would be great if you could, or let me know the details and I can do it. I've had one quote from the UK company that do the AA european recoveries and they were £3,200. It may actually work out cheaper to just get it fixed, even if I have to fly back and drive it home. I should have quote for repair by tomorrow at 10am - Toyota main dealer are looking at it now.

Not sure where you are in Spain but if your anywhere near to 'Dave 2000' maybe he could assist, could be mistaken but I think he runs a garage.....

lc 120 said:

Not sure where you are in Spain but if your anywhere near to 'Dave 2000' maybe he could assist, could be mistaken but I think he runs a garage.....

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Nice one. I've pinged Dave a message