Daihatsu Terios: CVT K410 Belt and Secondary Pulley Bearing Wear

The J200 Terios uses the Daihatsu K410 push-belt CVT. The K410's steel push-belt is clamped between primary and secondary conical pulleys, transmitting torque via friction. At higher mileages (typically 120,000–180,000 km), the secondary pulley's ball bearing develops wear flat spots due to the continuous axial load applied by the pulley's hydraulic piston. As the bearing degrades, the secondary pulley develops axial runout which causes the belt to track unevenly. This produces a characteristic whine that rises and falls with road speed independently of engine RPM. Simultaneously, the belt steel elements develop micro-cracks from metal fatigue and shed metallic particles that contaminate the CVT fluid, accelerating further wear. Overheating from towing or sustained hill climbing shortens K410 service life significantly.

• High-pitched whining noise that varies with vehicle speed but not engine RPM
• Shudder or judder during light-throttle acceleration from rest
• Delayed response when selecting Drive from Park on a warm transmission
• Slipping sensation or RPM flare without corresponding vehicle acceleration
• Metallic particles visible in CVT fluid during drain

1. 1

   Test drive and listen for whine under light throttle cruise.

2. 2

   Apply light load uphill and check for RPM flare.

3. 3

   Inspect for CVT fluid leaks at the bellhousing seam and dipstick tube.

4. 4

   If a workshop inspection is possible: Drain a small CVT fluid sample and inspect for metallic shimmer or dark discolouration indicating belt particle contamination.

5. 5

   Check for K410-specific fault codes via OBD-II scanner.

Parts involved: CVT belt and pulleys.

$2,500 to $6,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “Has the CVT fluid ever been changed, and at what mileage?”
• “Has the vehicle been used for towing or sustained mountain driving?”
• “Has there been any judder, shudder, or whining noise from the transmission?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.