Automatic Gear Box Problem

Hey guys,

I have a 2008 year model Jimny, 1.3 automatic gear, i just faced a problem with the gearbox, while i was driving it the gear suddenly was disconnected and the car wouldn't move as if it's on the N, i tried shifting the gear from D to others but it's all the same, i towed it to a mechanic and then he changed a part of the gearbox and after 5 month the problem happened again, the mechanic said he just cleaned the gear box oil filter and did some other maintenance to it and it worked good but he mentioned that this problem will happen again unless i get a new gearbox.

can anybody please advise what is this problem is about and what is the causes ? when i asked him about the causes he said that this is a normal problem particularly in the Jimny, which doesn't make sense to me!!

any advise whether i should get a new gearbox or not ?

The gearbox contains a lot of clutches that wear. The worn clutch material gets into the oil. Eventually the debris blocks up the filter. Then the oil pump cannot pump enough fluid around to engage the clutches, and work the torque converter so you get no drive.

Swapping the filter and changing the fluid works as a short term solution.
Eventually the wear gets to the point that you have no drive, and a new gearbox is required. You will also need to flush out (cheap compromise) or replace the transmission oil cooler and pipes.

The harder you work the gearbox, oversize tyres, towing driving through mud, continual traffic jams stop/starting the sooner it wears out.

Yes it is normal, depends on usage, nothing lasts forever.....

facade wrote: The gearbox contains a lot of clutches that wear. The worn clutch material gets into the oil. Eventually the debris blocks up the filter. Then the oil pump cannot pump enough fluid around to engage the clutches, and work the torque converter so you get no drive.

Swapping the filter and changing the fluid works as a short term solution.
Eventually the wear gets to the point that you have no drive, and a new gearbox is required. You will also need to flush out (cheap compromise) or replace the transmission oil cooler and pipes.

The harder you work the gearbox, oversize tyres, towing driving through mud, continual traffic jams stop/starting the sooner it wears out.

Yes it is normal, depends on usage, nothing lasts forever.....

An 08 with a knackered gearbox? Unless its done some serious mileage, there's an issue

Definitely not normal in such a young Jimny. I had similar symptoms in my 2002 about 2 years ago after some deep water wading. It would take a while to actually go into drive (would feel like it's in neutral) after putting the gear lever into drive when cold. A change of fluid and filter has cured it since then. I now replace the fluid every service just to be on the safe side. I may well need a new box eventually but changing the fluid is a lot cheaper. I suspect a more serious issue, but for the cost of some fluid, you've got nothing to lose by changing the fluid again to see if it 'fixes' it for a while.

Yah exactly !! my jimny only have a 62,000 km on meter, that's why i don't consider it normal ! however the scenario that "Facade" mentioned is exactly what happened !

now the problem is that in Egypt we have no service for Jimnys ! any help how much would the Automatic gearbox costs ?