Archived Is my NV 4500 about to die????

[KaiasDaddy]

My dually has 190,000 miles on her and recently I'm hearing a lot of gear noise while the trans is in second and third gear. Also the other day I parked her on a pretty good hill in a parking lot, shut her off and put it in first gear. When I took my foot off the brake, she started to jerkingly roll backwards down the hill. Do these symptoms mean that it's time for a service other than fluid (can you really do any service to a manual trans??) or should I start saving up for a new transmission?

 

[GAmes]

I have gone thru 5 (or is it 6 ) transmissions. The longest lasting about 160k, the shortest 7k. Trust me, if it is making noise it will fail, and probably soon.

 

[Missouri Mule]

How is your clutch? How steep was the hill? Could be slipping if it is rolling.

Have you checked the fluid level?

From 96 service manual; "Noisy operation, Transmission noise is often a result of worn or damaged components. Chipped, broken gear or synchronizer teeth and brinnelled, spalled bearings all cause noise.

Abnormal wear and damage to internal components is frequently the end result of insufficient lubrication, non-recommended lubricants, improper operation. "

"Clutch Problems, Worn, damaged or misaligned clutch components can cause difficult shifting, gear clash and noise. A damaged pilot bearing can cause noise. "

 

[Joe Mc]

Bill - great response. KD if you plan on keeping your truck as long as GAmes did and it sounds like your clutch could be slipping, for some reason or orhter (could be wet?), you may wish to go for the new clutch, pilot bearing and resurface of the flywheel. Have you noticed any clutch slippage while towing or not? If the clutch is slipping and you choose to replace while the trans is out have it inspected. Is the noise only in 2nd & 3rd? or is it just "most noticable" or "quieter" in higher gears? Does it pop out of any gear? Try going along (unloaded) in each gear, at a fair pull, then quickly let off the go pedal to see if it pops into neutral. This would be an indication of worn syncros. Best bet is to have it checked out if you feel the clutch is slipping and go for the replacement. - MHO

 

[KaiasDaddy]

Thanks for the input guys! The clutch is fine... no slippage... it's still fairly new. I just checked my fluid and the level is fine, but the color and smell are making me wonder. The fluid is red and stinky - I can't describe it as burnt smelling like an automatic gets, but it's not far from it. I just changed the fluid and added a PTO filter ordered from Genos last Fall using Mobil One synthetic gear oil in the viscosity spec'd in the manual. I also just had a local transmission shop guy drive her last week to tell me what he thought it was. His deduction was that it needed fluid... which it didn't (he's an automatic guy that rarely works on manuals but I didn'tknow that until about half way through the test drive!) I'm only 2 weeks away from hauling a 30 foot carhauler 3200 miles. Any other suggestions!!!???

 

[dpuckett]

Mobil1 synthetic is a GL4/GL5 oil. You need a GL4 ONLY oil in the NV4500. I think Syntorq is the only one out there, though it seems I remember seeing on the forums that Amsoil sells a GL4 only oil as well. Something in the additive package of the GL5 eats up the synchros.



Daniel

 

[KaiasDaddy]

Thanks Daniel! I'm going to change the fluid to a GL4 before I go and cross my fingers. My 2005 2500 CTD 4X4 could probably pull the load, but her higher center of gravity and softer suspension would worry me more than hauling with a questionable transmission pulling such a big trailer.

 

[Flinty]

The seal between my trans and transfercase failed and all the trans fluid went into the transfercase while pulling my horses up a back country road. 2nd and 3rd gear made a hellacious noise. Limped it home and changed the seal and fluid, then changed the fluid again at 100mi, it was scary nasty stuff coming out of that trans. Changed again at 500mi, not so nasty. Changed again at 500mi and put SFR in with the oil, under load the bearings will howl. I have put 100k mi on those howling bearings. Know that this NV4500 trans is behind a built chev 350, no match for a cummins, but it's holding up just the same. Must've been a Wed. transmission. J.

 

[R C Cola]

transmission

You need to have a guy check this out before you tow that knows his stuff. Six States-numerous locations, Blumenthat-OK City and there are a few others, but you need knowledgable diagnosis. transmission out under load is not any fun. You can call Blumenthals and they will tell you as best they can over the phone. R C