New Stagea Owner

[Xmetal]

Hi guys

Recently bought a MY97 RS Four V from J-Spec imports, Their service has been outstanding thus far.

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=10187

$10,800 landed and complied, the car is still sitting in Japan at this point but it should be getting put on a big boat soon enough.

The consultant sent me an email asking if i'd seen the 'small' oil leak coming from the gearbox...

My question is this: What are all the possble leak points on the gearbox apart from the front and rear seals and the drain plug? They think it may not get past Compliance/rego with it leaking so i'd like to get it cleared up before taking it to the compliance place.

Apart from that i'm chuffed with the purchase.

Thanks in advance for gearbox answers.

[yokotas13]

90% chance its just the rear seal where the driveshaft goes it, or your speed sensor

nothign else really leaks too much

both are easy to replace a seal on.

[ssshonky]

yeah I really need to get under the stagea and give it a good degrease.

I am not sure if the slight bit of oil I saw under there was gearbox oil or ( as I have found ) when you change the oil filter some oil drips down to near the crossmember under the car.. so .. who knows. the weather over here is not really lending itself towards working on cars.

Oh for a massive shed

[Xmetal]

Thanks guys

Something tells me it'll be a job to do before compliance, hoping it's only a small job where I can cart some tools, a jack and ramps down to Sydney to do it.

If not: Degrease and hope it doesn't leak too much!

[ssshonky]

might be a safe idea to check your auto fluid levels too.. dont want to muff the gearbox by driving it with low fluid

[Xmetal]

Just got photos back from J-Spec

It looks very messy but i'll post them up here for a second opinion...

pictures attached

[Stinky Rooster]

Well, to me it looks like the attessa actuator, which is part of the transfer case, not the gearbox. I am not 100% positive, but I think there may be an o-ring that seals the piston body to the housing. You can buy o-ring kits to make your own (I dunno how you would go buying a drop in replacement) or it could be the fluid supply to the actuator. Either way, you need to know that the attessa system is probably the most expensive part of a stagea to fix so you really don't want to muck around here. If I was you, I would make sure they check the fluid level before it leaves Japan and again as soon as it hits the docks here because the fastest way to fu(k up an attessa system is to drive the car without fluid. It will destroy the clutch packs in the transfer case before you can say "whats that funny burning smell"

Other than that, bloody nice buy for the price, and as someone who really doesn't like body kits as a rule, that front bar is HAWT!!

[munchstagea]

depending on the who the compliance workshop is they may fix it for you on request of if required for compliance. They will charge you nicely for it but it may save you a lot of stress and pain! Worth asking them up front I would say.

Very nice machine by the way!

Cheers

Luke

[Brycey]

looks fantastic ian

like Stinky Rooster said, looks like the attessa actuator.. doesn’t j-spec offer a service to get stuff like that fixed before its shipped? or at least a full mechanical inspection so you can narrow it down?

[Xmetal]

Yeah J-Spec offer an inspection but i'm not sure about getting it fixed over there...

Can some please elaborate on what would be the solution to fixing it? is it just a seal or do I have to replace a hose or worse?

[Stinky Rooster]

I tried....

Seriously, the actuator SHOULD be sealed with a o-ring around the outside of the body, just drop the 2 bolts you can see out, pull the actuator back, replace the o-ring, slap on a light smear of rubber grease (this bit is crutial if you don't want to f**k the o-ring getting it back in) and bolt it back up, making sure you keep equal torque on the bolt heads. If it is the hose that is leaking, you will have to take the whole hose off (its a compression fitting) which means the end you can see in the pic, and the other end which is up inside the right rear quater panel on the bottom of the resivior (I think, don't quote me on that) and take it to a hose specialist who will make a new end for it. It is only a quick 5 min job for someone with all the right gear. DO NOT try and use thread sealant or anything like that, it won't work, will make a mess and you run the risk of blowing the whole hose off.

If you want to get a second opinion, send a PM to Brad (overpowered) because I know he has had all this off his car and he knows a shitload more about it than I do.

[Xmetal]

O-ring or hose...I think i'll do both just to be sure but once i've determined what it is i'll get onto it straight away

Question: What fluid does the ATTESA use? is it a specialised hydraulic fluid or something you can buy off the shelf?

Edit: Jap inspection has been ruled out as the car is waiting to be loaded onto the next available ship.

Edited July 26, 2007 by Xmetal

[Duncan]

Just use ATF mate.

Interesting I have a similar actuator leak I haven't got around to fixing yet on my gtr

[Xmetal]

Just use ATF mate.

Interesting I have a similar actuator leak I haven't got around to fixing yet on my gtr

*sniff sniff*

DIY thread ahoy!

[joe26f]

looks good champ

[timheather]

Nice lookin stag mate... I actually checked out this one myself, but my missus wouldn't let me spend more than 10k on a new car.... so I bought the Dayz edition they had instead.... Service has been good for me too, except emails are a little slow to get replies to. Now the waiting.............

[sleepynight]

another new owner!!! I really like the look of that one, a mate of mine was interested but decided to go for a 180... scum i know :laughing-smiley-014:

welcome, yes enjoy the waiting... i know i am

[Xmetal]

another new owner!!! I really like the look of that one, a mate of mine was interested but decided to go for a 180... scum i know :laughing-smiley-014:

welcome, yes enjoy the waiting... i know i am

Couldn't handle the extra two cylinders huh? hehehe

180's are still a nice car though and very potent little machines. If I didn't have a drum kit and a mountain bike to cart around i'd have one.

[Xmetal]

Compliance update:

Turns out the Tiens, Wheels and front bar might not make it past compliance...*shakes fist at DoTaRs*

Does $3000 sound about right for a Compliance fee?

[ssshonky]

yeah.. they will more than likely have to come off

the tiens might be a real ball ache.. depending on if they can get stock shocks and springs to put back in

Compliance update:

Turns out the Tiens, Wheels and front bar might not make it past compliance...*shakes fist at DoTaRs*

Does $3000 sound about right for a Compliance fee?