Is it because of a damaged or failed auto box? Unless you can get all the exact donor parts, rebuilding an auto would be cheaper than getting someone else to do a manual conversion. “Cheaper” being a relative word.
Especially on a 4WD. Not sure whether the autos in the later model 3L interact with the fuel injection. Manual conversion may require ECU swap too. There may be other issues with that.
Interested to hear more on this from anyone with more experience of doing it.
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JJamie New Member
Number of posts : 7 Home City : Wales, UK Model and year : Toyota Hiace, 1997
3L, 4x4, LH119, Registration date : 2024-03-22
Yes, I need to replace the gear box. And have been struggling to source one.
So yes, I'd prefer it to be manual. However doesn't sound like it would be worth it. I don't anyone who would take on the job, let a lone the price. Considering ideas to keep it running well in the long run.
Thanks for your thoughts.
LH119V Hiace Master
Number of posts : 510 Home City : p Registration date : 2021-04-13
I’m strongly inclined to agree with Pete_nz on this. I think an auto rebuild will be the best option for the following reasons and options:
1 - I’m guessing but from experience I think the ratio of autos to manuals is something like 19:1 so sourcing a manual will be much harder than a replacement auto. Then, all these vehicles are rare. The only way you will get all the parts you likely need for a manual swap would be to get a complete vehicle. Unsure if you’d need a new flywheel, but you’ll need clutch, bell housing, gearbox, shifter and rods plus pedal and master and slave cylinder and piping. Likely you’ll also have to swap the brake master as without checking I think they are linked on the manual. The cooling system is different (though simpler on the manual). Unsure about the prop shafts. I think the transfer boxes are the same. Do you see where this is going?
2 - Swapped auto. Problem is that these are rare and all are ‘very low mileage’ according to the breakers. You actually stand a better chance of getting a replacement gearbox from Japan than locally but who will vouch for the history and servicing? It’s worth going to the big online breakers (some advertise on eBay, but better to go to them direct) and see how often they have the same gearbox as yours. Warranty will be the issue and I bet it’s actually roughly the same mileage as what you already have.
3 - Rebuilt auto. Unless the casing is cracked a rebuild will be much better than a swap. You don’t say what the issue is, but it’s likely to be worn brake belts, worn or failed solenoids or an issue with the torque converter, or some other dohicky. The first two of these are basic service items in auto boxes, especially if they haven’t had the ATF and filter done regularly. A decent gearbox rebuilder would do this work in a couple of days and you’d have back a much better box that changes correctly and locks up properly. As these autos start to go off they often hunt about and fail to lock, which exacerbates wear and then the problems arise. The one you have is probably original.
HTH!!
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Pete_nz Been here a while
Number of posts : 267 Home City : Wellington, New Zealand Model and year : '95 4WD Auto 3.0TD TripleMoonRoof Registration date : 2010-02-27
Subject: Re: ATM convert to Manual Wed Apr 10, 2024 10:10 am
Another option may be to get a transmission from another vehicle. The Aisin 30-40LE (your chassis plate may show it has A340E) is used in a crap-ton of vehicles, not just Toyotas. For example: The Isuzu Trooper and Bighorn of late 90s and early 2000s has the same 30-40LE …BUT - and here’s where it gets tricky - they can have slightly different valve bodies and, crucially, differently splined output shafts. Same internals otherwise.
I picked one up from a pull-it-yourself wrecker for the princely sum of $79. Took about 2 hrs to remove. My mechanic then did a complete swap of all the internals from that into my one. I think it cost me $700 including removal/refit into the van.
The nice thing about that era Isuzu is the 3.1 diesel has a tendency to crap itself (can’t recall if it’s injectors or head gasket) around 170,000kms so the transmissions should not be why they’re wrecked.
Pete_nz Been here a while
Number of posts : 267 Home City : Wellington, New Zealand Model and year : '95 4WD Auto 3.0TD TripleMoonRoof Registration date : 2010-02-27
Subject: Re: ATM convert to Manual Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:36 am
Pete_nz Been here a while
Number of posts : 267 Home City : Wellington, New Zealand Model and year : '95 4WD Auto 3.0TD TripleMoonRoof Registration date : 2010-02-27
Subject: Re: ATM convert to Manual Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:39 am
That was the leftovers. How the hell he kept track of things I don’t know.
Oh, my problem was a failed reverse gear which indicated worn band material or a one-way lock-up thingamie cog - I forget its name.
dubjub New Member
Number of posts : 4 Home City : Queensland Model and year : 1998 Super Custom KZH106W - 1kzte Auto Registration date : 2024-02-25
Subject: Re: ATM convert to Manual Sat Apr 13, 2024 10:39 am
Hi all That looks messy. Funnily enough, I am on the very same quest (sourcing a replacement ATM), due to a failed reverse gear.
I would prefer the AT over MT, and agree with others on the ease of replacing like for like.
I have a 98 KZH106 with A340F. as you mentioned, getting a similar is not straightforward, but not impossoble.
Problem with ours, is that the older version of the A34X gearboxes arent as common, and differ to newer. The newer ones (which i purchased a secondhand 30-40LE one by mistake) have no kickdown cable and extra solenoids on the valvebody which the ECU for old versions cannot run.
Question is, for $600 you can get a rebuild kit for yours, youve already done half the work, why not rebuild?
If you would prefer secondhand, im fairly certain the prado V6 1996 - 1999 will work. Bellhousing will need to be swapped over, and Tcase.
JJamie New Member
Number of posts : 7 Home City : Wales, UK Model and year : Toyota Hiace, 1997
3L, 4x4, LH119, Registration date : 2024-03-22
Subject: Re: ATM convert to Manual Sun Apr 21, 2024 2:58 pm
Thanks for your responses it has been helpful.
Yes the garage my van is currently at haven't given me a clear diagnosis. They have said they are not willing to rebuild as they are not sure they will find all the parts required. I think I may try another garage.
Sounds like a rebuild would be ideal though. Albeit other garages have said it will be expensive.
Where can I find a rebuild kit?
TRANS./AXLE A45DF Not too sure which other gear boxes will fit this. Also not sure whether this is the new or old kind.
Breakers have told me that this is the specific Part Number for the original gear box; 35000-2F160
Thanks again, learning curve for me.
Pete_nz Been here a while
Number of posts : 267 Home City : Wellington, New Zealand Model and year : '95 4WD Auto 3.0TD TripleMoonRoof Registration date : 2010-02-27
Subject: Re: ATM convert to Manual Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:39 pm
Rebuild kits are widely available online but yeah, the issue with that is a rebuild kit itself may not even fix the problem. The rebuild kit is just gasket, seals and general wearing-parts (clutches) service kit. A mechanical part in your 27 year old van’s trans may be broken.
A quick search and it looks like the A45 is particular to that van and no other manufacturers or vehicles.
g00se Been here a while
Number of posts : 278 Home City : UK Model and year : Hiace Super Custom 2WD 2.4L Petrol 2001
RZH101G Registration date : 2022-08-03
Subject: Re: ATM convert to Manual Mon Apr 22, 2024 7:36 am
if you can, get under the van and see if you can find the Aisin code on the side of the transmission (if there's a shield, you may need to remove that - or maybe get a phone camera and flash in a position where you can read it). I think it's be on the passengers side. It'll probably be a blue plate like this:
Aisin made the transmissions for Toyota and others. My A45DL is an Aisin 03-72L - and it's used in Mitsubishis and Volvos too. The code may help find other models that share parts. It may not guarantee that the bell housing etc will fit - but worth checking.
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LH119V Hiace Master
Number of posts : 510 Home City : p Registration date : 2021-04-13
You don’t really need a garage unless you can find a replacement gearbox that will be a relatively straight swap, but if you took the gearbox out yourself then I expect you can do a swap. Instead, you need an automatic transmission repair specialist. Garages are pretty good at replacing brakes and suspension and general wear items that wear out. Some of them are good at rebuilding engines, but few will tackle an automatic gearbox rebuild, an injector pump rebuild and maybe a differential rebuild. These (maybe apart from the diff) are generally best done by specialists. It’s unfortunate though that there aren’t that many good auto box rebuild specialists.
Also, as Pete_nz says, the rebuild kit will only have the necessary parts to take the gearbox apart and put it back together. As you don’t have a clear diagnosis and haven’t said what the symptoms are it’s a bit hard to say whether a rebuild kit would be all you need. It’s like trying to fix an engine with a head gasket kit. Yes, if the head gasket has failed and there’s nothing else wrong then a head gasket will fix it, but you’d be likely to need other work and a bunch of other parts if you’re taking the head off.
If you haven’t had a look at the longish first post in my show us yours section then I suggest you do. It will help you with your parts searches etc and cross-referencing across the Toyota range and has pointers to load of hopefully useful other bits and bobs, but as g00se points out AISIN made and makes parts for many Japanese and other OEs.
If you’ve not had a look at YT auto repair vids then this is a decent place to start.
It’s probably (quite likely) a different model to yours, but this shows why normal garages don’t / can’t tackle this type of work.
I’ve no recommendations on a company to do this, but I might contact:
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