gearbox issue

S byatt · Mar 3, 2018

hello
i bought a p38 a couple of months ago 2.5dse auto.
it drove fine and no issues a few wks ago it started loosing power going forward it selects the gear and has no noises or anything and has full power in reverse.
just has some power going forward but not enough to get any real pull, i have replaced the filter and replaced the oil with atf 3000 fluid and put just over 5 ltrs in while running and until it came out of fill hole . the problem is still the same just looking for a way to try figure out if its a problem in gear box not or is the oil correct. just want a bit of knowledge to try figure out the problem so know where i stand.
thanks

Orangebean · Mar 3, 2018

Trans fluid should be ATF Dexron 3. You'll have to flush the box now to remove the incorrect fluid.
Does it pull away normally when you select 1 rather than D?

S byatt · Mar 3, 2018

i don't think so i will have check that the oil i used says dextron 2 types was told it was this type from shop, is 5 ltrs enough to fill the box as well or is more needed.

Orangebean · Mar 3, 2018

Dexron 2D was also specified earlier on in the production run, so if ATF3000 is a true Dex2D then that should be OK.
Gearbox and transmission circuit capacity from dry is 9.7 litres, so the box must have been pretty empty if it took 5L to get it back where it should be. Depending how long it was running with only half the recommended fluid, that won't have done the internals any good.

S byatt · Mar 3, 2018

i first topped the oil up and it was ok but the problem happened again so i swapped filter the oil was milky when removed, but im wondering how low the oil is if max is over 9 ltrs and if there is enough in there still like i say reverse has full power. maybe it needs a flush and still old rubbish in there, how do you go about doing a full flush if i tried that. is there anything else i can check just to clear that issue. think the dextron 3 may be the way to go if this is maybe be a better oil use.
and thanks for help

Orangebean · Mar 3, 2018

You'll only usually get 4.5 to 5L out when you drain the system, even if you drop the sump. The rest will be sitting in the torque converter, cooling system etc.
Dex3 or Dex2D are both correct.

Ratae · Mar 3, 2018

The OP would have had to drain the box before dropping the sump to change the filter & would then have refilled it so unlikely he's been running 5 litres short. Approx 5 litres is correct for a fluid change as that's all you'll get out.
9 litres is from completely empty which is only the case when fitting a replacement box & torque converter. You can't drain the torque converter in situ.

Ashcroft give the refill procedure as:
non dipstick type autoboxes:
put transfer case in neutral remove oil filler level plug, front face of oil sump, fill until it overflows, start engine, quickly pump more oil in until it overflows move the gear stick up and down a few seconds in each gear whilst topping the oil level up, once level has stabilised, test drive and recheck oil level,

It being milky is a concern & I wonder if there has been water contamination - or has someone put EP gear oil in by mistake in the past.
Are the revs increasing & the speed of the vehicle isn't increasing or could this be a possibility:
I can pull off in position 1 on the shifter and reverse is OK but in 'D' it will either not pull off or will crawl off in 3rd, why?
One of the internal one way clutches has failed which means that when you try to pull off in 'D' it slips for a few seconds before the ECU recognises a fault then the ECU puts it into 'limp home' which is 3rd gear, then it pulls off, its not easy to just charge this part so usually the whole box is replaced, note this fault can be caused if the chain in the transfer case is jumping.
http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/4hp22/4e-faq-s.html

gearbox issue

S byatt

New Member

Orangebean

Active Member

S byatt

New Member

Orangebean

Active Member

S byatt

New Member

Orangebean

Active Member

Ratae

Well-Known Member

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