SM5 gearbox slipping

Hey, I'm having a weird issue with my 2016 Renault SM5, gasoline engine, at 124750 km. Lately, the gearbox has been slipping a bit, and the shifts aren't as clean as they used to be. I suspect it might be related to the transfer case oil. I've checked for any obvious leaks, but nothing visible. Could it be a simple oil change issue, or am I looking at something more serious?

4 comment(s)

Slipping and unclean shifts at that mileage? Sounds nasty. How often have you changed the gear oil? What does the old oil look like when you drain it – any metal shavings?

I haven't changed the gear oil in a while, honestly. Maybe that's the issue. But what if there are metal shavings? What does that indicate?

Metal shavings are bad news. Means mechanical wear, and possibly defective gears in the transfer case. If you find that, skip the oil change and get thee to a workshop. Those SM5 transfer cases aren't exactly bulletproof.

Thanks for the advice. I drained the oil, and you were right - it was full of metal particles. Looks like I'm heading to the shop. Quoted 330€ for the transfer case repair. Ouch!

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