2003 GX 470 with 102,000 miles. Badly leaking transfer case. Big bucks to repair. What caused this? Anybody ever have this problem? After repair should I just replace the vehicle with another one?

 

I have an RX300 that has had this problem since I first owned it (previous owner more than 5 years ago must have had it) as I found an accumulation on the underside.

It usually is the seal or one of the bolts not being tight enough. Sometimes, the fluid itself will shear after a while and get thin and seep out.

In my case, the leak is somewhere on the top and eventually it subsides. However, when I changed out from the OEM fluid to Royal Purple Max Gear last year, the drain revealed just about .9 L of old fluid (what there is supposed to be in mine). So I have hunch in my case, the fluid was that amount between .9 and 1.0 that (which is possible) that slowy leaked out).

I changed my fluid out at about 107,000 miles or so and much improved shifts (especially between 2nd and 3rd). Make sure you use a quality fluid like Royal Purple, Amsoil or Mobil 1 gear fluid not the OEM stuff.

My uncle and I have fixed a transfer case before on a Murano of one of my firends and the vehicle is functioning just fine. Eventually we will get around to mine when we have time.

 

Another shot. Where the leaking occurred is more noticeable from the frontside.

 

I recently had a tiny leak from the transfer case at 46,000 miles on a '04 GX. Transfer case was replaced under warranty.

~ Cap