Technical question re: automatic transmission

This Side Up

This Side Up

This Side Up

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Joined
28 Feb 2009
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590
Hi guys.

I thought I would ask here before I ask a mechanic and (possibly) get bum-raped in the process..

My daily driver is a 1.6 Automatic. This car has had, in over 2 years of ownership, an intermittent issue when changing gears.

Whenever I am pulling away the transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd OK, however at about 28-30 MPH, it tries to shift into 3rd gear, and this produces a very noticable jerk accompanied by a rise in the revs for a fraction of a second.

I have noticed this when trying to drive economically.. lifting off the gas pedal early to coax an early upchange produces this effect. Doing the same whilst travelling at speed (i.e. moving from Kickdown to normal driving) produces the same effect but x100.

If I really feather the throttle, I can coax a smooth gearchange. However I am fairly sure that the transmission should be smooth regardless.

Question: what is causing this? How can I cure this? Would a full fluid change of the transmission solve this? How costly is this going to be?

This car has always done this in over 2 years and nearly 25k miles of driving. It hasn't got worse/better, I have just learnt to live with it. However seeing as I am coming to the point in which I may sell the car and get a new one, I want to try to iron out all the faults as far as possible.
 
Maybe.

Don't get me wrong, I am not expecting to see (well, feel) silky smooth gearchanges; however what is happening to my car feels like the engine is going to rip itself out of the engine bay when it happens at speed. The car definately bucks when this happens to the extent where I can really feel it in my neck.

Maybe this is a sign to get my vehicle to the scrappers, it is over 10 years old now..
 
Change the ATF, lots of car makers say the fluid is for life but its not. On our old omega it was a little jolty (sp?) changed the fluid which stopped this!
 
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Changing the ATF sounds a lot easier to swallow than the box rebuild. Yikes!

Is the ATF change an easy job or is it best to get a mechanic to attempt this? I take it this is que for bum-rape time wrt cost?
 
change the ATF, depending on the car and it's design it can take several changes to have the desired effect. my auto took three ATF changes to work it's magic,
going from rough changes to going in to limp mode and no first gear, to being silky smooth and has been for the last year and 8k or so miles
, get your self on to a car specific forum and check for special quirks and fixes for your perticular make.



bullit
 
This Side Up said:
Changing the ATF sounds a lot easier to swallow than the box rebuild. Yikes!

Is the ATF change an easy job or is it best to get a mechanic to attempt this? I take it this is que for bum-rape time wrt cost?
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ATF change isn't too hard, sometimes the box doesn't have a drain plug though. You are best dropping the oil pan off anyway and cleaning out the strainer. Trouble with ATF changing is that the torque converter holds a lot of fluid which won't drain out so to 'fully' change the fluid you either need to drain and fill with fresh loads of times or have it flushed by a specialist.

Tbh though, if it feels like the engine is going to be ripped out then there is a more serious problem that won't be fixed by a fluid change.
 
radderfire said:
What car is it anyway?
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1998 Fiat Brava.
Clarkey said:
ATF change isn't too hard, sometimes the box doesn't have a drain plug though. You are best dropping the oil pan off anyway and cleaning out the strainer. Trouble with ATF changing is that the torque converter holds a lot of fluid which won't drain out so to 'fully' change the fluid you either need to drain and fill with fresh loads of times or have it flushed by a specialist.

Tbh though, if it feels like the engine is going to be ripped out then there is a more serious problem that won't be fixed by a fluid change.
Click to expand...

Aye, as I suspected (unfortunately).

I'll try the ATF change anyway, can't hurt.. much. I'll ring around a few garages in the next few days to get timescales/prices. Anyone know how much this will (roughly) cost?
 
£90 for an omega as theres no plug so need gaskets when sump goes back on, also it has a double sump and holds ~8 litres. At a guess your would be a lot less.
 
Its possible you have an ECU specifically for your gearbox, I have one, and getting it reset the last time it went in for a service did a world of good. Gear changes are now quite literally seamless.
 
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