SMT leak, from gearbox or hydraulic?

[rajid]

Hello!

Fairly new to posting here

Just had my car checked over and there appears to be a leak from somewhere around the transmission area

I believe it may be a hydraulic fluid leak but I don't know (I'm not really a mechanic)

Can anyone provide any info on where to pickup the correct fluid for an SMT car?

and also are there any recommended specialists who can find the leak and fix it for my car

Based around North West London, and willing to travel a decent distance if it means getting the right person to check and fix its problems in one go!

I've seen a few old threads and some of them on other forums / facebook. But I don't know if the fluid recommendations are up to date.

I am looking for a source for the right SMT fluid, and also a recommendation for someone to carry out the work to get the car right for a near future roadtrip.

Thank you

[Carolyn]

Midlands and East Coast MR2;

https://www.facebook.com/p/Midlands-East-coast-MR2-roadsters-61564612102452/?locale=en_GB

[Gaz mr-s]

Toyota SMT fluid, (if you can get it) is stupid-expensive.  DOT3 or DOT4 brake fluid is what is used by the experienced. I had to fix one with the help of the dedicated SMT people on facebook, after it came back 'dead' from a garage on the south coast that had in theory fixed it.

There's a guy called Carl Gommersal in Yorkshire, who can supply used parts for them -f'book group.

[fawtytoo]

Just had my car checked over and there appears to be a leak from somewhere around the transmission area

I believe it may be a hydraulic fluid leak but I don't know (I'm not really a mechanic)

The gearbox is like any other gearbox and uses normal transmission fluid. The SMT bits are additive to the gearbox and has its own fluid, but use what @Gaz mr-s has suggested. Genuine Toyota SMT fluid is about £100+ per tin and isn't anything particularly special. Leaks are mostly likely from the GSA (Gear Shift Actuator) from the O-ring seals. @cyclehead on this forum is your top guy for SMT queries.

[Ardent]

@rajid

This is what the forum still does best.

Serious question, proper informative replies.

When it comes to repairs we start at the cheap end and work up. Could just be an o ring.

We can also help you spend £'000s on modifications. 

Edit.
Good to see another SMT on here.

[Joesson]

MR2 - Ben are out of stock!

[rajid]

Thanks guys

I've dropped a note to the cyclehead fella.
Hopefully he can help with some things.

In the meantime, if anyone knows of a garage that's closer to London than about 3hrs away, that could be very handy!

Just to be clear
I am not mechanically minded enough nor clue up or technical myself to carry out any work at home etc.

I just want to find the right person or people who can do this for me, and pay them for their time (and hopefully great knowledge and experience!)

Cheers

[rajid]

By the way, does anyone have the part number, barcode, or a link to the genuine Toyota fluid?

I am not confident on the brake fluid option, and can't be seen recommending it to any garage incase I then encounter issues relating to using that. For now id rather find the correct fluid if possible and try to keep it topped up (appears to be a soaking transmission area under the vehicle, but have never seen a patch or puddle where it's parked!)

Would like to try and top it up for now at the least, incase there is none/ not alot of fluid remaining in the reservoir.

[Joesson]

@rajid
As said Mr2 Ben are out of stock but there is a photo of the can,  I can't  label but maybe you can!
How about your local Toyota spares Dept. Or someone like Toyota on line.

https://www.mr2-ben.co.uk/products/711

[fawtytoo]

By the way, does anyone have the part number, barcode, or a link to the genuine Toyota fluid?

SMT Transmission Fluid:
Toyota part no. 08886-02206

[fawtytoo]

Some reading:
SMT maintenance

[fawtytoo]

In the meantime, if anyone knows of a garage that's closer to London than about 3hrs away, that could be very handy!

Most garages I know, including Toyota, won't touch the SMT. Dunno why. So I found a garage local to me that was willing to do maintenance providing I provided an "idiot sheet" for them to follow.

[fawtytoo]

Some videos by cyclehead on YouTube:
Paul Hibbs

[Ardent]

This whole smt thread has reignited an itch I need to scratch.

I have only experienced an smt for a very short time, as a passenger, when I met up with @Petrus. (Happy days)

But even in that short time I was hooked.
The smoothness of the shift etc etc lambo Ferrari tech in a cheap as chips little ole toyota.

Ooh the downshifts 

[fawtytoo]

The smoothness of the shift etc etc lambo Ferrari tech in a cheap as chips little ole toyota

Oh the downshift, the downshift!

[Gaz mr-s]

By the way, does anyone have the part number, barcode, or a link to the genuine Toyota fluid?

I am not confident on the brake fluid option,

Really peed-off at that response. Do your homework  I googled "what fluid should be used in a Toyota SMT mr2"

2 seconds later I'm seeing 'brake fluid'

FFS...........

[Ardent]

By the way, does anyone have the part number, barcode, or a link to the genuine Toyota fluid?

I am not confident on the brake fluid option, and can't be seen recommending it to any garage incase I then encounter issues relating to using that. For now id rather find the correct fluid if possible and try to keep it topped up (appears to be a soaking transmission area under the vehicle, but have never seen a patch or puddle where it's parked!)

Would like to try and top it up for now at the least, incase there is none/ not alot of fluid remaining in the reservoir.

08886-02206

[cyclehead]

Rajid, I can't get my inbox to allow private reply, so I'll reply to your questions here:.
If you're seeing drips under the transmission you can easily determine if they're from the SMT system, or from the gearbox.   The gearbox uses gear oil which is thick, slippery and has no taste.   Brake fluid (SMT fluid) is thin and tastes distinctly bitter.  I'll paste a video below.
I live in South Georgia, US.  If you've been driving your car hard or easy, the SMT system does not care.  Either way it just shift gears, no faster or slower, no stress.  Driving hard (or easy) doesn't matter to the SMT system.  If yours is shifting inconsistently then something is wrong.  The system is very consistent and does not have any operational or design flaws.  The only time it may act odd is immediately after starting the car for the first time in the morning.  If you haven't allowed sufficient time for the system to pressurize, it will flash the green light and refuse to shift.  That's the only "quirk" in the system. 

How to find GSA leaks:
https://youtu.be/miinrmJShLM?si=-qXUrz9pImgiEmbA

[cyclehead]

...
But even in that short time I was hooked.
The smoothness of the shift etc etc lambo Ferrari tech in a cheap as chips little ole toyota.

Ooh the downshifts 

I've driven a Lamborghini and a Maserati, both with the Magneti Marelli (Italian designed) version of the SMT system.   The Toyota system (designed by LuK in England) is MUCH smoother and well executed.   

[fawtytoo]

The Toyota system (designed by LuK in England) is MUCH smoother and well executed.

Wow! I'm going to ditto Jason when he said:

in a cheap as chips little ole toyota

[fawtytoo]

The Toyota system (designed by LuK in England)

But they don't have service parts for it, correct? Like sensors or o-rings?

[Carolyn]

But they don't have service parts for it, correct? Like sensors or o-rings?

You can get any size O ring in any polymer.

I doubt the sensors are only used in that system.

I know from my rocket engine building days, you can always find these kinds of parts from generalist suppliers.

[Gaz mr-s]

Paul & I believe one other American sells seal kits for the GSA & HPU.

[fawtytoo]

I doubt the sensors are only used in that system.

Paul doesn't seem to think so because he reconditions them.

[rajid]

Ok thanks for all the suggestions but my one problem is, I'm not confident to tackle the task myself. I'm located north west London, and I don't know anyone around here that wants to do the job of finding the leak and replacing the fluid for me. The car is still operating fine so I'd like to get ahead of the leak and fix it before it's run dry!!!

Anyone around here want to do the job?