Symptoms of a dodgy auto

**land864** · 15th January 2016, 10:24 PM

I don't want to scare myself over the weekend but our new D2A goes to A and B autos on Monday for a diagnosis and service.

I think our new car may have a busted auto but am optimistic that it just might need a service.

The 2 symptoms are;

1. Bit of vibration in drive, at idle , when stopped
2. Delay of about 7 seconds when reverse is selected when first started up in the morning
3. If throttle is applied when cold , the auto does take up in reverse.

Other than that , the up change and kick down are fine , there is no obvious slip I can notice , no shudder at all when driving , after it has been driven for a while , there is no hesitation in reverse engaging when initially selected.
The fluid that came out of it was nice and clean( but the PO was a mechanic with access to cheap/free trans fluid and so changed it often)

It's done 245,000 , the previous owner has had it for 12 months and admits to not changing the filter , just the fluid.

It was traded at MLR I'd say with 230,000kms on it.
Those owners probably skipped a service , so it's probably been 25,000 + kms since a filter was changed .

Any one else had these symptoms or know of what symptoms a dodgy ZF will put out.

**discorevy** · 15th January 2016, 10:53 PM

Hi
Your vibration at idle may be engine mount related
The cold delay into reverse is more likely to be either blocked filter or clutch frictions, be nice if it was just the blocked filter, but the trans place will confirm with their diagnostic tool

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 16th January 2016, 06:57 AM

cold delay is a good sign it needs a topup,,
There is a set procedure to filling these things.

As said, check engine mounts for compression/collapse

**justinc** · 16th January 2016, 07:23 AM

It is definitely in the km range for excessive wear/ requiring an overhaul . However the reverse delay can also be caused by a draining back of fluid overnight. This is due to wear or an air leak in the pump area, or a split/ leaking valve body seperator plate gasket, leak at the filter to valve body o ring, or a pump housing to main case leak. It is allowing the torque converter to drain back over time ie overnight.

Jc

**Tinggu** · 17th January 2016, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by justinc

........... However the reverse delay can also be caused by a draining back of fluid overnight. This is due to wear or an air leak in the pump area, or a split/ leaking valve body seperator plate gasket, leak at the filter to valve body o ring, or a pump housing to main case leak. It is allowing the torque converter to drain back over time ie overnight.
Jc

Ours has the same delay from cold start but all changes are sweet and well topped up with new filter. I'm hoping I can leave it be and just live with it..........yes?

schuy1 · 17th January 2016, 08:39 PM

Mine has the same thing with the delay in taking up drive. It has been rebuilt, 35000k ago, Ashcroft TC ,Oil is full. However the thing is its totally random, I can leave it in the shed for a week, start it up, slot into reverse and away we go! 100 yards away stop at the gate and it can do it! a few seconds to take up drive, forward or reverse. Or a minute!Drive 200 kms, do the shopping for an hour and same thing,or maybe not for the rest of the day. only seems to do it if you stop the engine, as long as its running does not seem to worry. I suspect an O ring has not seated properly somewhere as the shifts and operation is spot on once you are moving.
However having helped remove an auto last weekend I am in no hurry to repeat the op! :O That was a demon infested box if I ever saw 1! :/ So If its working ok once it takes up drive and the oils and filter is clean I would not worry too much . If the oil is shiny or black I would be sus of it.

**land864** · 18th January 2016, 08:44 AM

Thanks Guys

It's at A and B Autos now for a diagnostic and service. Here's hoping.

I'm pretty sure it needs a filter as a minimum.

As you say , if the reverse delay is the only thing, I'm happy to leave it until it fails to proceed

Pete

**land864** · 18th January 2016, 11:36 AM

May have dodged a bullett

A&B Autos rang at 9.30 to say that they found no fault codes in relation to the auto in a diagnostic test

Couple of other ones re injector etc . They will give me the print out

As it was warm , they couldn't replicate the delay in reverse engaging. They offered to keep it overnight but we agreed that they should just do the full service and we'd see how it goes.

They were going to call if the filter and pan were full of metal bits. No call so far

I'll see if the very mild vibration in Drive, when stopped is still there.

Got a feeling that might be an engine mount issue. P.O did offer to provide labor if I bought parts

Everything is crossed

**land864** · 19th January 2016, 10:17 PM

UPDATE

A and B have reported that all auto internals are good.

No faults recorded

Clutch packs and everything in good order

New filter fitted. Old one was not full of metal bits

New tras fluir fitted. No burning , no blackness etc( It was changed a week ago though)

But blow me down , the tech lowered it on the hoist , parked it and had a wee pre the road test.

When he went to reverse out , no reverse thrust and no forward drive.

Put it in Park , turned it off and restarted. All good on the drive front.

They did offer to keep it overnight and evaluate when cold but that doesn't work for me.

They reckon it might be something electrical.

This morning it was slow to engage in R but with a few revs it took up.

Went fine all day . Reverse no problem on at least 2 occasions

Tonight I was shuffling cars around, drove out into street to back up ( after it had sat for an hour or more) and no reverse

Shifted selector back and oath , still no go. Forward or back

Turned car off and on / All good

I will do my own tests over the next few weeks and see if I can detect a pattern.

It might be running a bit rough when this happens or it just might be my imagination

schuy1 · 20th January 2016, 09:54 PM

Hmm, its a strange 1 thats for sure. Thats the thing with our cars, They dont believe in letting our brains turn to mush!:O Always thinking of new things to amuse us , like I Spy for the kids on a long trip!

Just a thought, it could be related to the XYZ (no its not a swear filter dodge) switch. It resides on the side of the auto box and translates the Gearshift positions for the auto ECU to tell the box what to do. They can get dirt and water in them or just wear. The electrical cables can also chafe where they go over the back of the transfer case . Not a easy thing to see or get to though.
Cheers Scott

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