Decided to buy a newer Jimny, just one problem

When I changed my oil it was quieter strait away but the shifting took a few days. Still a bit notchy when cold but after a few minutes of driving its nice.

Well here's hoping

I've been using the more expensive fuel for a few weeks and tickover runs at about 700 now.

So to recap, I changed the clutch cable, I used comma fully synthetic GL4 MVMTF 75W 90 in the gearbox, the stuff that came out was the color of mud and there were some fine bits of metal, no big chunks, like fine iron filings.

The performance, ability to select first, has improved a lot, now fails to engage only once in around 10 minutes of city driving so apart from the occasional honk at the lights because I didn't set off within 100th of a second of the light turning green, I'm driving normally.

Now changing transfer box and front / rear diff oils in case it has the same cruddy substance

Looking for 5 good AT tyres at either 215 75 15, or 205 75 15

Glad to hear things are working out. Its always worth changing the gearbox/diffs every few years.

I thought I'd keep an eye out for a good used gearbox anyway but while looking I realsed there seems to be variations, how do I identify the gearbox to make sure I'm looking for the correct one?

I see some which are for 98 to 2005, mine is a 2005 but with the later interior and push button 4x4.

Another question, is it common practice to replace the gearbox rather than repair / rebuild ? This is a really quiet, smooth box apart from the issue with first, would it be worth having it looked at for a possible repair?

The repair would cost as much as swapping it.

There is another option, which is to change a lot more to earlier spec stuff, which is more reliable. Means changing the gearbox, t-box, intermediate prop and diffs. Various combinations can be cobbled together which alter gearing if running big tyres

Its a lot more work, but the parts costs works out about the same. E.g. a good used R72 box is circa £600 usually, the other option bits can be bought for less than that (used). The cost of rebuilding is similar if you allow for the labour to remove/send off and refit the existing box, but at least you know its a good one then!

That's what I was thinking re repair, I could buy a used box and it could have its own problems. It once took me 30 hours to change a gearbox in an old saab and the used one I bought was much worse than the one I took out.

I'll check prices of repairing the unit before going any further. For now though it's drivable.

The gearbox in a jimny is fairly easy to change if you sometime would need to change it. Not comparable to a Saab at all

Your car has the R72 gearbox. 2005 jimnys has more of the transmitted drivetrain torque in the gearbox and less in the transfer box because of the differences in the gear ratios. Also the chain in the transfer box is a bit wider than the earlier jimnys.
So earlier Jimnys do have more reliable gearboxes, but maybe a bit less reliable transferboxes.

I also have the 2005 car and i would just drive it until it fails and try to find a new used low milage gearbox if you need it.

great thanks, now I know what I'm looking for. I'll check repair price anyway as I'm curious and post it if anyone's interested though I'm guessing at least 800, meanwhile I have time to find a good used one, not in a hurry,

It was a saab 95 estate, i bit more simple than the later saabs but still took me 30 hours

I checked with Medway Transmissions in Chatham, after describing the sysmptons as accurately as I could they say its probably the synchromesh, they would take the box out, repair, and re fit for 420.

Does anyone have any experience with that company?

I don't want a scenario where having removed the gearbox the bill suddenly increases to zillions. They say 3 days to complete work. I'm tempted.