[mighty_vites]

my vitara (SE420 J20A) has completely lost reverse gear, has started grinding in gears 12&3. 4th sounds fine and 5th is varried...
this happened when i was on the sand reversing, the car bounced 3 or 4 times in the ass end. i put the clutch in and when i tried to reverse again there was no backwards movement...
any advice (without the simple answer of 'rebuild it') would be helpful.
what parts can i be expecting to replace and what would be worth changing/replacing while im in there.
alternatively, does anybody know of a box that would suit?

[stockman]

Second hand box time
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Rebuild it! do all the bearings at the same time.

[want33s]

Just replace the gearbox. They are a hell of a lot cheaper than buying new gears and shafts etc.

[Rookie_zookie]

This happened to me once there was a rubber ring were the gear shift is the was bugged and I couldn get any gears is the part was like 20 bucks I would look at that first I gear box shop said my gear box was bugged u found out that was not the case

[oozuk]

By what you described it will be serious, and bearing related.
The reason i think this is that when the gearbox is in 4th the ratio is 1:1 and the input and main shaft is connected as one thus causing minimal torque loading on the gearbox bearings.
the fact that is noisy in 1,2,3,5 gears is because the torque path goes from the input shaft, through the counter shaft and back up into the main shaft onto any gear that is selected, this torque path creates large forces on the gearbox bearings and that's why there singing the sound of a crunchy gearbox to you, Also the fact that you've lost reverse indicates that you might of even had bearings collapse and the reverse idiler gear is no longer in contact with the main shaft.

Long story short, get another box as this one has had it's day

[mighty_vites]

so full bearing kit and clutch are to be expected with the cheance of miscellaneous

[Fatzook]

Fit a sierra box. They're Hella strong

[Scrawny]

I'd be stripping it for interest sake before just fitting a second handy. It certainly sounds terminal tho

[oozuk]

Fatzook wrote:

Fit a sierra box. They're Hella strong

[303zuke]

want33s wrote:

Just replace the gearbox. They are a hell of a lot cheaper than buying new gears and shafts etc.

Cheap box on the Gold Coast

[Fatzook]

303zuke wrote:

want33s wrote:

Just replace the gearbox. They are a hell of a lot cheaper than buying new gears and shafts etc.

Cheap box on the Gold Coast

I'm not entirely sure if the 1.6 gearbox is the same as the 2L. I know that the bellhousings are different ( although they are both removable) but its possible that the longer 2L bellhousing accompanies a longer input shaft. If this is the case, a 1.6L gearbox would have a input shaft that is too short.

[mighty_vites]

box came out very easily, there were some (very little) shavings in the oil. box has been sent to see the Dr. for a full overhaul..
flywheel will be machined through the week ready for the heavy duty clutch.
will have diagnosis in the next few days.