Celerio Transfer Case Causing Rough Gear Shifts & Slips

Had similar symptoms with a 2016 Suzuki Swift. The rough shifting and slipping turned out to be a serious issue involving both the transfer case and worn gears. The transfer fluid was severely contaminated, causing extensive gear wear inside the transfer case. Initial diagnosis showed metal particles in the transfer fluid, indicating internal component damage. The repair required a complete transfer case teardown, revealing multiple defective gears that needed replacement. The gear grinding had created significant wear patterns on the gear teeth. The key warning signs to watch for: Grinding noise during gear changes, Difficulty engaging specific gears, Vibration through the gear lever, Dark or metallic-looking transfer fluid Recommend getting a transfer fluid analysis before major repairs. This test shows the exact level of metal contamination and helps prevent unnecessary work. If metallic particles are present, the entire system needs inspection. The repair is quite involved since the transfer case must be removed and disassembled. Make sure any shop provides detailed documentation of parts replaced and fluid specifications used. Waiting too long risks total transfer case failure and potential damage to connected components. Best to address gear wear issues promptly when symptoms first appear.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Swift transfer case issues. The symptoms you described match what mine is doing. After reading about the contaminated transfer fluid and gear wear you encountered, I am even more concerned about my Celerio. Do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the complete repair? Also curious if youve had any lingering issues since getting it fixed? I want to budget properly and make sure I find a shop that will do the job right the first time, especially after my previous disappointing repair attempt with the transfer case oil service.

Good news, had the transfer case repaired a few weeks ago and it resolved all the issues completely. The total repair cost came to 330€, which covered replacing the defective gears in the transfer case and a complete transfer fluid change. The fresh transfer case oil made an immediate difference in shift quality. The grinding noise disappeared and gear changes are now smooth again. No lingering problems since the repair. A few tips from my experience: Request to see the old contaminated transfer fluid, Ask for photos of any worn gear components, Get a written guarantee for the work, Ensure they use the correct grade of transfer case oil The key was finding a shop that specializes in gear oil and transfer case repairs. They identified the exact source of the metal contamination and fixed it properly, unlike my previous repair attempts that only changed the transfer fluid without addressing the underlying gear wear. Really worth getting it done right to prevent further mechanical wear. The transfer case oil analysis they performed showed significant metal content, confirming the defective gears needed replacement rather than just a fluid change.

Finally got my Celerio fixed last week after finding a transmission specialist. The mechanic showed me the contaminated transfer fluid they drained, it was full of metal particles, just like you described. The total damage came to 420€ since they had to replace several worn gears along with doing a complete oil change. The repair process took longer than expected, about 3 days total. But they documented everything with photos of the worn components and gave me a 12-month warranty on the work. The difference in performance is dramatic, no more gear grinding or rough shifts. Really glad I caught this before the transfer case failed completely. The oil leakage they found inside could have caused major damage if left unchecked. Already put about 500km on it since the repair and shifting feels like new. Definitely worth spending the extra money to get it done right this time.