Auto gear box question...

[AndysR]

Yes, car on a level surface, atf up to temperature, cycle through each gear for a few seconds and back to park, engine still running and its bang on the max mark on the dipstick.

Maybe Andy is right about the paranoia theory!

I've read so many horror stories about cars being effectively scrapped through auto box faults, I'd hate that to happen to me as its taken me three years to get the car as I want it, both mechanically and aesthetically!

Enough can't be said for the pros of regular oil changes preventative maintainence at its best if you ask me..

I am confident what you describe is normal, to the point that I'd film the behaviour of mine if it was taxed so you can compare with yours. I like the theory behind loss of fluid in the torque converter but if this was the case then when attempting to drive away after the car has been stood there would be a delay as pressure is built back up again, which i am guessing is not happening as you've not mentioned it.

[simpT5]

I have attached a quick video I made this morning...

http://s872.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=autobox2.mp4

[M-R-P]

Photobucket don't do videos very well mate, tends to just show a pic of the video...

[simpT5]

Photobucket don't do videos very well mate, tends to just show a pic of the video...

Stupid photobucket!!

Right, try again..........!!

[M-R-P]

Got it that time, don't own an auto myself but the father in law's lexus rx300 does that tho.

[Niles]

the 4th gear 'lock up' point is around 60mph, A quick guess is that when you are driving it around 60mph, the gearbox is switching lock up on, then you drop 'outside' the lock ups tolerance so the gearbox switches off lock up and costs you appx 500rpm.
Its basically a 5th gear (kind of) but its sensitive to the road speed on/off 'moment'.
I think is just that you seem to have a habit of hovering right on the lock up on off point. on...revs drop, back off the gas a bit, road speed drops...gearbox disengages lock up and engages 4th (no lock up) revs rise.
Kind of like cruising up a hill in 3rd, then you back off a bit coz your close to a car in front, the box will then drop to 4th thinking the 'pressure' is off. Then, you squeeze the car a bit and the car will drop back into 3rd, its basically right on the 'cross over point'.

Think that makes sense.

Either that or your torque converter is wearing. lol.

[simpT5]

the 4th gear 'lock up' point is around 60mph, A quick guess is that when you are driving it around 60mph, the gearbox is switching lock up on, then you drop 'outside' the lock ups tolerance so the gearbox switches off lock up and costs you appx 500rpm.
Its basically a 5th gear (kind of) but its sensitive to the road speed on/off 'moment'.
I think is just that you seem to have a habit of hovering right on the lock up on off point. on...revs drop, back off the gas a bit, road speed drops...gearbox disengages lock up and engages 4th (no lock up) revs rise.
Kind of like cruising up a hill in 3rd, then you back off a bit coz your close to a car in front, the box will then drop to 4th thinking the 'pressure' is off. Then, you squeeze the car a bit and the car will drop back into 3rd, its basically right on the 'cross over point'.

Think that makes sense.

Either that or your torque converter is wearing. lol.

Thanks for that, but it does it at any speed from 50mph up to...erm....70mph!

[wegal]

Change the atf fluid, dont just change it but flush the system. Then go and get the gearbox updates done, usually about £25 I think.

Problem should then go away. I flushed the ATF on mine recently as the gearbox was getting annoying, it was slow to respond and not all that smooth ( not bad, just not like new) changing the fluid solved all the problems, I didnt need the gearbox updates in the end.

Mine has done 75k on the same ATF. Changing it would be my first action.

[AndysR]

I have attached a quick video I made this morning...

http://s872.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=autobox2.mp4

Normal operation

Change the fluid though as it's well worth doing on a regular basis despite what Volvo advise

[merc85]

Normal operation

Change the fluid though as it's well worth doing on a regular basis despite what Volvo advise

Thats how my Box was after the fluid got hot despite a fluid change. But as andy says do a oil change to be on the safe side.

[simpT5]

Thanks allot for all your input lads, it's very much appreciated.

I'll change the atf when I get chance and report back!

What a great place this forum is, I don't usually post that often but I'm on here every day lurking about! It's nice that there are knowledgeable people willing to share it with others!

Cheers.

[M-R-P]

This forum and its members has helped me out no end. Even to the point of helping me decide not to scrap the big sweed. Some real diamonds here and I've been lucky enough to meet some of them too.
Keep us informed on your progress .

[simpT5]

Bit of an update...

Well I finnaly got around to changing the atf this afternoon, I ended up getting just short of 4 litres from the sump alone, then disconnected the top hose to the atf cooler and managed to get another 8 - 10 litres pumped out before the fluid coming out was pretty much the same cherry red colour as the stuff I was putting in! I used near enough 15 litres in total.

The fluid I got out was black as hell, even though it didn't look too bad on the dipstick, I bet it's never been changed!

Anyway, I'm glad to report that my gearbox is now silky smooth and all the probs seem to have gone away

[AndysR]

Good news

[t5 pete]

Brilliant thread so is it deffinatly dextron 3 we need to use in our boxes as 3 of our t5s have never been changed so going to do it

[t5 pete]

this stuff if so ill order a few barrels
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATF-DIII-D...item56368c52e4

[simpT5]

Brilliant thread so is it deffinatly dextron 3 we need to use in our boxes as 3 of our t5s have never been changed so going to do it

Yeah as long as your gearbox is an AW50-42 four speed then Dexron 3 is fine.

I can't stress what a difference it's made to the WHOLE operation of the gearbox, not just the probs I was having with the torque converter lockout.

It changes gear so much more smoothly now and kickdown is instant!

The one thing I forgot to mention before was I really did notice how much thinner the old black fluid I got out was, it was like pi$$ compared to the lovely thick cherry-ade that went in!

Defo a job worth doing, if only to prevent any problems in the future

[t5 pete]

brilliant cheers year i forgot to say there all phase 1 v70's