A/T oil leak

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Went to park in the garage and noticed a few drops of what looked like oil. Never seen this before so got under the Prado and found that there seem to be a small leak from under a black box like device behind the transfer case. I have attached a picture. Can anyone tell me if they have had an issue like this before? And is it something I should be concerned about? This is the first time i have seen it leaking. Just had the 180k service at Toyota and they did not mention anything.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

When you say just had it serviced how long ago exactly ??? this week, last week, last month ?? reason I ask is if it was in the last week maybe they changed the transfer case fluid, gearbox fluid and it is a bot of an over flow where they didnt wipe it down after refilling and spilt a bit ?? Been a grande this is actuator http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-Guard-(TG120) dont damage it, they are not cheap. If it is a leak take it back to toyota and tell them it was ok prior. I dont think there is any reason they would touch this box unless they need to remove it to service some thing ?? I doubt it. Or have you been off road since service and given it a knock ??? Cheers Steve

[mackayvx Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mackayvx]

Mate i have tecently fixed that problem. Your actuator O ring is leaking. Dont panick - its a 5$ seal and about 500 in labout to split the transfer case to replace it... did i say dont panick? Buy some Loctite 515and a kids small art brush, undo the actutor bolts and the unit will come away from the transfer case with only enough room to paint the oring with the 515... its tight but i did this with mine 12 months ago and its all good. thrre is no moving parts that need to seal on this oring so following this process is sweet as. Bugger taking the car in to split the transfet case when you can achieve the same thing yourself at home.

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Thanks Mackayvx, Im not all that familiar with the actuator. Which bolts do you remove to get to the O ring seal? Also if you remove the actuator will it not leak more oil?
Thanks for the help.

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

When you say just had it serviced how long ago exactly ??? this week, last week, last month ?? reason I ask is if it was in the last week maybe they changed the transfer case fluid, gearbox fluid and it is a bot of an over flow where they didnt wipe it down after refilling and spilt a bit ?? Been a grande this is actuator http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-Guard-(TG120) dont damage it, they are not cheap. If it is a leak take it back to toyota and tell them it was ok prior. I dont think there is any reason they would touch this box unless they need to remove it to service some thing ?? I doubt it. Or have you been off road since service and given it a knock ??? Cheers Steve

Have not been offroad and the service was done 1 month back. So dont think its somthing Toyota did.

[mackayvx Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mackayvx]

Gday ywork. if u arnt familiar or confident take it to a mechanic and ask them to do it. 'From memory' you will have to remove the actutor guard and there are 3 maybe 4 bolts that fix the actuator to the transfer case. Undo them and the unit will slide back about 30mm...and you will see the oring. Its a very easy repair mate.

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Thank will give it a go.Had a look today and I know which bolts you talking about.Looks very tight space wise.But if its going to save $500 then i will make the effort.Did you just give the Oring a coating of the 515 locktite and then put back the actuactor?

[mackayvx Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mackayvx]

Yep wipe any oil away and get the lil art brush and practice painting like a 5 year old. The beauty of the 515 is it wont go off until its in place and no oxygen can get to it so you dont have panick about it going off. my tube of it has has no lid on it for the last 12 months and its still gooey like new. seriously its the best 'up yours' you could ever give the toyota service dept.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

""'up yours' you could ever give the toyota service dept."" lol.............Cheers Steve

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Did as you advised removed the 3 bolds and pulled the actuator back far enough to give me enough space to get my small paint brush in the space to apply the 515. Gave the 0ring a good clean first then applied a good coating of Loctite 515. Put it all back and tightened the 3 bolts. All good for now, this was last week. Went for a drive on the beach to run the 4x4 in L and H range. Back home to check if the seal worked. Nope it’s still leaking, so off came the actuator for the second time, cleaned it up and put more 515. This time put a thick layer all around the 0ring. Put it all back together and next day went for another test drive on the beach. But to my disappointment it’s still leaking, a lot less but can see there is a leak. Perhaps will have to take it to Toyota

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Mate I wouldn't be rushing to Toyota to get it done, they will charge you roughly $150 an hour, where as an automatic transmission joint will be approx half that and would have seen the problem before, chances are you take it toyota and they send it out to them anyway. Been in Brisbane their would be a few tranny shops up there or even ask maybe a local 4wd shop who they use. Toyota willl screw you. Its only a seal not a transmission rebuild so possibly find even a good mechanic (maybe one you use) will be able to do the job as well..........Cheers Steve

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Thanks Steve thats a good idea,you right they will just see $$$ signs and end up costing alot.

[Philphy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Philphy]

Hi all,
I just had a go at fixing my leak from the actuator in my 2003 Grande.
After removing the thre bolts I gently pulled the actuator back and I came all the way off leaving just the shaft sticking out.
After a bit of swearing I decided to try and put it back together with a bit of goop as I didn't have a new o-ring. Changed between low and hi a few times went back and for and surprisingly everything worked normally. Went for a drive round the corner and had a go at testing out low up a washed out hill climb. Not a problem at all going up and down.
No the question is why did it slide off the shaft? The only thing I can think of is that I had the car in low range to drive up some fairly large ramps for some good room under the car.
Lets hope it stays working now too.
Thanks for the tips
Philip

[mackayvx Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mackayvx]

Hi all,
I just had a go at fixing my leak from the actuator in my 2003 Grande.
After removing the thre bolts I gently pulled the actuator back and I came all the way off leaving just the shaft sticking out.
After a bit of swearing I decided to try and put it back together with a bit of goop as I didn't have a new o-ring. Changed between low and hi a few times went back and for and surprisingly everything worked normally. Went for a drive round the corner and had a go at testing out low up a washed out hill climb. Not a problem at all going up and down.
No the question is why did it slide off the shaft? The only thing I can think of is that I had the car in low range to drive up some fairly large ramps for some good room under the car.
Lets hope it stays working now too.
Thanks for the tips
Philip

The actuator came off the shaft??? Dude that is strange... Maybe you should get a diagram off toyota and see if you can make sense of it!

[Philphy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Philphy]

Yeah seems strange. Been trying to find out what I can about how the actuator works and engages. What I found but not exactly positive is that the actuator picks up the signal from the shaft being moved into the actuator so it can let the ecu know that low has been selected. Now I could be completely wrong but haven't been able to get exact info about the operation and don't have the workshop manual but will need to source one soon.
I found a Toyota training manual for tranfer cases and had a go at deciphering the info
http://mr2.phpwerx.net/manuals/Toyot...fer%20Case.pdf
Philip