Hiya all

I have a 3.9 classic auto

Hoping someone can shed some light on this that I have...

SOMETIMES when the engine is cold and I start up, it seems like the gears are only in 1st and 2nd and the revs go to over 3-4k and does not pick up alot of speed, the engine sounds like a fighter jet too!

It only lasts a minute or so and then all of a sudden the gears clunk and goes to normal driving

Someone told me this could be a feature such as an automatic choke so the engine can warm up quicker

I just feel the only way i can get it to go normal is to either wait for it to do it itself or revs the engine quite high for the gears to kick in

This ONLY happens on a cold start, never any other time

I am just conscious of burning lots of fuel in this time and possible damage to the engine or gears

It feels similar to when driving a manual and the clutch slipping (high revs low power)

Any advice would be great!

Sounds more like the autobox sticking - has it had an oil change recently?

carefull here. jon is right it will be the govenor sticking on the autobox when the oil is cold and therefore thicker the dirt in it will block it.

you should have a centrifugal govenor on your box , the dirt you have could well be from bits of broken up clutch packs etc over years of use. if you change the oil and or filter ther is a 50/50 chance that the detergent in the new oil will losen far more crap that you clean out in a change or 3 of the oil.

the result will be that first thing in the morning (and possibly every time) it wont change out of first at all till the oil is warmed up and you will have to have the box rebuilt. you may think that you can just change the govenor but after the £200 labour and £100 parts and a run on the motorway you will be back to square one.

I know because this happened to me and it ended up costing me about £1100 with all the messing about.

My honest advice to anyone with this style of box which is either old and or they are unsure of the service history of ie the frequency of oil and filter changes is to leave well alone untill it gives up completly and then have a new/recon one fitted, as there is a good chance they will end up at that point a lot sooner if the change the oil now.

its up to you and as I said it about a 50/50 chance- and thats being optimistic with you 4hp22 box and symptoms.

I hope this helps and sorry to be the bearer of bad news :doh:

it is govenor sticking which could be symptom of something worse,as fetts ,in which case leaving it wouldnt have made it last much longer,or could be worn govenor or in need of oil change ,change oil and try if its better not doing so isnt going to help for long if clutch wearing as they arent like normal clutch plates there either good or about to go you dont get longer by nursing them autos dont work that way

lol , my neighbours classic still hangs on first in the morning for as long as mine did james, but he didnt change the oil and that was 2 years ago and its still going strong.

I had my oil changed and it was fooked in a weekend!

run it till it blows and then swap it, it may never happen!!!

btw james is a mechanic so you cant trust him :hysterically_laughi

yours had other fault,hes probably just got worn govenor it does happen ive changed alot of govenors and fixed fault oil changes not a problem after, but govenor can also be tell tale for more serious fault and nothing to do with govenor so new govenor wouldnt fix it

exaclty, I dont think its worth the risk, £300 for a new govenor fitted and /or £1000 to £1500 for a new box

vs

live with a lil hang on first and 2nd first and 2nd for 1min in the morning

No brainer!!!

but its up to him of course.

OK, so basically leave as it is? lol

I checked the transmission fluid and it was pretty clear so not sure when it was changed and the level seemed OK too

I can live with it, it is a little annoying, however the sound of the engine stuck in that gear for odd minute of 2 sounds like a 747 before takeoff so its kinda cool lol

Like i said , I have been there and done it . mind you anything can happen- its a british car after all lol