Auto Gearbox Help :(

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chriswood6725

Member
Posts
87
Hi All,

I have a 1997 4.6 V8 with 200,000k (rebuild engine but original gearbox)

Recently been having slight vibration, mainly when pulling away uphill (light throttle) - figure this is likely to the the torque converter, does this sound about right?

The main problem I have is, I reversed off my drive yesterday and there was a big bang as the car locked up. I got a few errors on the dash "ABS FAULT, Transmission Fault" - so i restarted it and it all seemed ok..

I Confirmed I still had all the gears (P, R, N, D) and went for a gentle drive. It was all OK until shifting into 3rd when it would hesitate and then the revs jump to about 2,000rpm and then "clunk" into the next gear??

I'm thinking that I need a new gearbox - what do you reckon?

Many thanks for any advice!

Chris
 
Hi kevwill,

I've always kept an eye on the level, but with the engine off... I've just read the level should be checked while engine is running??

When I do that, there is literally no oil registering on the dipstick!!

Guess I'll be needing some of that then, do you know how much they hold?

Can't believe what a schoolboy error Ive made, although quite relieved it maybe a simple fix...
 
chriswood6725 said:
Hi kevwill,

I've always kept an eye on the level, but with the engine off... I've just read the level should be checked while engine is running??

When I do that, there is literally no oil registering on the dipstick!!

Guess I'll be needing some of that then, do you know how much they hold?

Can't believe what a schoolboy error Ive made, although quite relieved it maybe a simple fix...
Click to expand...

Drain and refill with fresh oil and stick some Lucas in it. The hesitation into 3rd is a sticky valve block.
 
Search the threads on this - there's loads of good info about what best to do. Well worth it, your gearbox is probably fine, just needs some TLC ! Good luck:search:
 
Thanks for the help, just a quick update

It took 2.5L of oil to register halfway up the Min-Max level.....

The car already seems much happier, but still has some hesitation when changing to 4th gear (previously said it was 3rd, which was wrong).

Lucas oil and new filter should turn up tomorrow, so will change it then. Local motor factors have 4.5L of ATF DII @ £12.50 - Looking at previous posts, this is fine for the box?

Thanks again

Chris
 
chriswood6725 said:
Thanks for the help, just a quick update

It took 2.5L of oil to register halfway up the Min-Max level.....

The car already seems much happier, but still has some hesitation when changing to 4th gear (previously said it was 3rd, which was wrong).

Lucas oil and new filter should turn up tomorrow, so will change it then. Local motor factors have 4.5L of ATF DII @ £12.50 - Looking at previous posts, this is fine for the box?

Thanks again

Chris
Click to expand...

Maybe you would be best getting the oil warm draining and filling, run for a week then drain, fit filter and Lucas. Hope you are not getting confused with fourth and torque lock which happens around 50 MPH.
 
Last edited:
Quick update for all...

Changed the oil, filter and added 1L of Lucas oil. While the early gear changes are now silky smooth, it still slips into 4th.
If im gentle with the throttle, 4th gear change is hardly noticable. However, once in 4th and using kick down it will slip again into 3rd and then into 2nd?

Ive done around 200 miles since the service, my theory was to do a full (gentle) 500 miles and then drop the oil, filter and add another 1L of Lucas oil and keep my fingers crossed.

What do you guys think / recommend?

Thanks
 
chriswood6725 said:
Quick update for all...

Changed the oil, filter and added 1L of Lucas oil. While the early gear changes are now silky smooth, it still slips into 4th.
If im gentle with the throttle, 4th gear change is hardly noticable. However, once in 4th and using kick down it will slip again into 3rd and then into 2nd?

Ive done around 200 miles since the service, my theory was to do a full (gentle) 500 miles and then drop the oil, filter and add another 1L of Lucas oil and keep my fingers crossed.

What do you guys think / recommend?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Did you fill using the correct proceedure? Engine cold and idling, move slowly through the gears and back to neutral, check level.
If you use kick down, of course it will downshift either to third or second depending on road speed.
What do you mean by "it slips into 4th"? Torque convertor does not lock until about 50mph so torque convertor slip will be normal below that speed.
The full effect of Lucas may not be felt for 500 miles or so and some long runs.
 
If I use kick down the revs will rise sharply (almost hit the limiter) and then it will slam into gear, before I had gearbox problems the kick down it would rev a bit, select a lower gear and then get going.

4th gear is always a bit of a problem, that the revs rise and it "drops" into gear - not smooth, like it should be? Just to clarify, the TC does lock up at around 45mph for me.

I will keep putting the miles through it to see if lucas will start working. Also I did go through the correct refill procedure of checking when cold and engine running

Thanks again

Chris
 
chriswood6725 said:
If I use kick down the revs will rise sharply (almost hit the limiter) and then it will slam into gear, before I had gearbox problems the kick down it would rev a bit, select a lower gear and then get going.

4th gear is always a bit of a problem, that the revs rise and it "drops" into gear - not smooth, like it should be? Just to clarify, the TC does lock up at around 45mph for me.

I will keep putting the miles through it to see if lucas will start working. Also I did go through the correct refill procedure of checking when cold and engine running

Thanks again

Chris
Click to expand...
That's typical of a sticky valve block, took about 1K miles and 2 oil changes + 2 lots of Lucas to sort mine. No slip now, just the ocassional hard shift.
While mine was bad, I used the stick to control the shifts to stop it over reving and knackering the clutches.
 
That's reassuring to hear thanks

Will stick with it, how long should I give it before anether oil and filter change (500 miles)?

Cheers again

Chris
 
chriswood6725 said:
That's reassuring to hear thanks

Will stick with it, how long should I give it before anether oil and filter change (500 miles)?

Cheers again

Chris
Click to expand...
I did mine at about 1000 mile intervals for the first changes. After the third change, done after 5K miles, it is near perfect.:)
Expensive but easier than a box change.
 
So another update for anyone interested...

600 miles later and still no change - Ive been trawling through old posts and realise ive added Lucas oil stabilizer to my f*ing gearbox not the Lucas transmission fix?!

Ive ordered the corrtect stuff and will put it in next week, can anyone tell me if it's ok to mix these products and if I could have done any harm running the oil stabilizer around the gearbox?

Many thanks (i feel like an idiot)

Chris
 
chriswood6725 said:
So another update for anyone interested...

600 miles later and still no change - Ive been trawling through old posts and realise ive added Lucas oil stabilizer to my f*ing gearbox not the Lucas transmission fix?!

Ive ordered the corrtect stuff and will put it in next week, can anyone tell me if it's ok to mix these products and if I could have done any harm running the oil stabilizer around the gearbox?

Many thanks (i feel like an idiot)

Chris
Click to expand...
:eek: Oil stabilizer is for engine oil is it not? If so, I think you should drain the ATF and re-fill adding the correct Lucas Transmission Fix.
 
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