Automatic Transmission Failure.

pokerface_me · 14-05-2014 9:41am #1

Hi looking for some advice on what is wrong with my car. Its a Ford Galaxy 2003 2.3 petrol Auto. Yesterday driving home from work when stopped in traffic put the car into Neutral and when ready to pull away put it into drive and nothing happened. It just revved like it was still in neutral. Eventually after turning engine on and off got it into drive and struggled home. Happened every time i stopped for lights traffic etc.

Now its parked at my house and reverse is not engaging or any other gear. Sometimes it will after numerous attempts but is very sluggish and i don't trust it to take it out on the road. Its only got 70k on clock and serviced every 7k. No marks on driveway from leakage and no prior trouble.

Any ideas would be great and if someone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.

Henry Ford III · 14-05-2014 9:50am

Change the transmission fluid and filter.

cabb8ge · 14-05-2014 9:52am

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Change the transmission fluid and filter.

total waste of time when transmission issues are as described

pokerface_me · 14-05-2014 10:01am

Thanks for reply guys could it really be just that. It will shift into gear no problem but won't move. As i said all advice welcome as i'm probably going to have to get her towed to a garage or get someone out to look at it.

I'm fearing worst case scenario here as i know its mega bucks to replace the gearbox or transmission, and my decision will be is it worth doing versus value of car.

jimgoose · 14-05-2014 10:05am

Can you "feel" it shifting into gear when you move the lever?

pokerface_me · 14-05-2014 10:07am

jimgoose wrote: »

Can you "feel" it shifting into gear when you move the lever?

Sometimes you might feel like a little thump when it does engage, but other than that no you feel nothing.

jimgoose · 14-05-2014 10:26am

pokerface_me wrote: »

Sometimes you might feel like a little thump when it does engage, but other than that no you feel nothing.

Mmm. Well, I'd say the best thing to do is have a diagnostic scan run and check the ATF level and condition. Hopefully you'll be able to avoid expensive transmission work.

Eric Cartman · 14-05-2014 11:48am

OP have you been putting it into neutral every time your stopped at lights and such ?

If so you may have caused a problem, your reccomended to leave it in drive even while stopped so fluids can circulate through all the channels and lubricate the gears properly.

Hopefully its only low fluid but the way your driving it could potentially have caused a premature failure

pokerface_me · 14-05-2014 12:02pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

OP have you been putting it into neutral every time your stopped at lights and such ?

If so you may have caused a problem, your reccomended to leave it in drive even while stopped so fluids can circulate through all the channels and lubricate the gears properly.

Hopefully its only low fluid but the way your driving it could potentially have caused a premature failure

No not at all only time i'd do it is when stopped in heavy traffic and your sitting for 5mins at a time. Normally would leave in drive with foot on the brake. Have a mechanic coming out this afternoon, will let you know how i get on, just praying its something not to expensive. Thanks

biko · 14-05-2014 1:29pm

cabb8ge wrote: »

total waste of time when transmission issues are as described

Can you elaborate on what OP should do instead?

OP, the 2.3 version may (or not) have an ATF level dipstick. If uncertain check with a local mech if the can help, perhaps there is someone who specialises in gearboxes locally.

deandean · 14-05-2014 1:45pm

There's an excellent guy but he's on the Northside: Automatic Transmissions Limited off Richmond Road, Dublin 3. Suggest you give him (or another auto tranny specialist if you can find one closer) a call, he'll probably know off the top of his head what type of tranny is in that car and what the common problems are. If you're very lucky it might be just that the selector cable needs adjustment.

MidlandsM · 14-05-2014 1:48pm

Autotrans is my recommendation. Experts in this area. Ford auto boxes of this era give issues. Nothing unusual in what you are experiencing.

Henry Ford III · 14-05-2014 3:09pm

cabb8ge wrote: »

total waste of time when transmission issues are as described

I wouldn't agree. It's a process of elimination and a fluid and filter change is cheap.

Eric Cartman · 14-05-2014 3:16pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I wouldn't agree. It's a process of elimination and a fluid and filter change is cheap.

+1 also lets you see if any mettalic bits come out in the old fluid/filter to indicate just how fcuked you are.

alias no.9 · 14-05-2014 3:18pm

If it's the same Jatco 5 speed auto fitted to the Sharan and Alhambra, they're ****e. The only car I've ever sent to the great bean can company in the sky was an Alhambra with a failed autobox.

dantastic · 14-05-2014 3:48pm

To check the oil level in an auto box run the car to temperature and then with the engine running and the gear box in park the level should read full. Top up as necessary if it isn't. You should not change oil in an auto box unless absolutely necessary.

Over the years the clutches in the auto box have worn down. The debris from the clutches are stuck in deposits in the gear box. If you put in fresh oil these deposits will start to break down and in no time the selector will get clogged. Once this had happened there's little point trying to clean out the system. It's either a full rebuild or you've to get a new (old) gearbox.

It usually takes about 3 weeks for the **** to hit the fan after a recommended "flush".

Henry Ford III · 14-05-2014 4:27pm

dantastic wrote: »

To check the oil level in an auto box run the car to temperature and then with the engine running and the gear box in park the level should read full. Top up as necessary if it isn't. You should not change oil in an auto box unless absolutely necessary.

Over the years the clutches in the auto box have worn down. The debris from the clutches are stuck in deposits in the gear box. If you put in fresh oil these deposits will start to break down and in no time the selector will get clogged. Once this had happened there's little point trying to clean out the system. It's either a full rebuild or you've to get a new (old) gearbox.

It usually takes about 3 weeks for the **** to hit the fan after a recommended "flush".

Ed did exactly what I suggested on Porsche Boxter S, and it fixed the auto box.

MidlandsM · 14-05-2014 4:41pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Ed did exactly what I suggested on Porsche Boxter S, and it fixed the auto box.

...and u believe that sh1t on wheeler dealers? ,good lord :eek:

cabb8ge · 14-05-2014 4:48pm

biko wrote: »

Can you elaborate on what OP should do instead?....

Not waste time or money changing fluid was good advice imo.
Autobox complex, need specialist attention.

cabb8ge · 14-05-2014 4:49pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

...and u believe that sh1t on wheeler dealers? ,good lord :eek:

.... unreel

visual · 14-05-2014 4:55pm

It was more common on older cars to change fluid and filter then the manufacturers claimed it was sealed for life. It got them out of warranty period so it wasn't their concern after that.

Regular Fluid and filter changes is good for automatics flush and fill probably not on an old transmission that fluid never been changed.

Garages don't like changing the fluid because there is a risk it might make it worse and don't want to be held responsible plus most mechanics aren't familiar with autos

auto specialist would be best bet for advice and repair.

To me as total amateur I be inclined to think low fluid level or TPS fault

Henry Ford III · 14-05-2014 5:06pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

...and u believe that sh1t on wheeler dealers? ,good lord :eek:

Yes actually. Why would they lie?

MidlandsM · 14-05-2014 5:16pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Yes actually. Why would they lie?

Lol.....wd is a load of olde fabricated staged bollox at times. An oil change fixed the porsches gearbox issue....a load of ****...same as buying it for a grand. Shure the engine in a 3.2 s is worth well over a couple of grand from a porsche breaker....total bs

Henry Ford III · 14-05-2014 6:24pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

Lol.....wd is a load of olde fabricated staged bollox at times. An oil change fixed the porsches gearbox issue....a load of ****...same as buying it for a grand. Shure the engine in a 3.2 s is worth well over a couple of grand from a porsche breaker....total bs

A matter of opinion. Can you back up any of your assertions?

veetwin · 14-05-2014 6:33pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

Lol.....wd is a load of olde fabricated staged bollox at times. An oil change fixed the porsches gearbox issue....a load of ****...same as buying it for a grand. Shure the engine in a 3.2 s is worth well over a couple of grand from a porsche breaker....total bs

Don't know about this. Plenty Boxters on autotrader for £3.5-4k and that's for ones in good condition. The one Mike bought had been idle for 4 years, was in poor condition with an undisclosed amount of mileage and a seemingly knackered auto box. Either way it needed a huge amount of money and labour to make it roadworthy and saleable. It's not a huge stretch of the imagination to believe the previous owner wouldn't have accepted something close to a grand to get rid of it.

MidlandsM · 14-05-2014 6:57pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

A matter of opinion. Can you back up any of your assertions?

Yes

veetwin wrote: »

It's not a huge stretch of the imagination to believe the previous owner wouldn't have accepted something close to a grand to get rid of it.

It is :rolleyes:

veetwin · 14-05-2014 7:17pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

Yes

It is :rolleyes:

Great arguments there bud. Very well articulated.

Henry Ford III · 14-05-2014 7:20pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

Yes

Go ahead then. Provide proof that the gearbox flush and new filter didn't fix the tiptronic boxon the WD Porsche Boxter S.

MidlandsM · 14-05-2014 7:27pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Go ahead then. Provide proof that the gearbox flush and new filter didn't fix the tiptronic boxon the WD Porsche Boxter S.

Ermmmmmmm, because my cousin in the uk works in attaboy

Henry Ford III · 14-05-2014 7:34pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

Ermmmmmmm, because my cousin in the uk works in attaboy

Forgive my ignorance but what exactly does that proove?

Guy:Incognito · 14-05-2014 8:07pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

Ermmmmmmm, because my cousin in the uk works in attaboy

That's not exactly proof though is it. I could just as easily say that Edd is my brother and its all factual.

Spook_ie · 14-05-2014 9:55pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

That's not exactly proof though is it. I could just as easily say that Edd is my brother and its all factual.

Couldn't ask your brother Ed what might be wrong with a Galaxy Autobox could you?

If it's the Jaytech box it's also fitted to the Rovers and has a common fault of solenoids going open/short circuit Autotranz in Walkinstown have fixed mine

jca · 14-05-2014 9:57pm

Spook_ie wrote: »

Couldn't ask your brother Ed what might be wrong with a Galaxy Autobox could you?

If it's the Jaytech box it's also fitted to the Rovers and has a common fault of solenoids going open/short circuit Autotranz in Walkinstown have fixed mine

:D

MidlandsM · 15-05-2014 9:14am

veetwin wrote: »

Great arguments there bud. Very well articulated.

hehe :pac: , thanks for that, but I'm not your "bud" - as for articulating my arguments - I'm not arguing - just making known what I know in relation to the tv show WD, and boxsters, and auto gearboxes amazingly fixing themselves after the Wheeler Dealer Ed China "nice easy fix" -

I now also have the time to properly reply - I did not have the time yesterday evening.

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Go ahead then. Provide proof that the gearbox flush and new filter didn't fix the tiptronic boxon the WD Porsche Boxter S.

MidlandsM wrote: »

Ermmmmmmm, because my cousin in the uk works in attaboy

Well, I don't expect you nor do I care if you believe me or not Henry, but I have the inside track on WD production stuff for tv, so take it or leave it, I don't really care.

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance but what exactly does that proove?

wha?

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

That's not exactly proof though is it. I could just as easily say that Edd is my brother and its all factual.

As above.

now, re; wheeler dealers - like come on - and MB buying that Boxster s for 1k. It never happened. He paid more than that.

Like come on, some of the nievety shown here beggers belief, expecially from "petrol heads". Anyone with half a brain cell would not believe all the staged car and mechanical storylines portrayed in WD. Like the seller of the Boxster S was a member of an online community, and thats where MB saw the car for sale iirc. Boxster owners on forums like boxa.net etc, are and will be only too well aware of the ims issue with their engines, and the fact that the engine can and will sh!t itself at anytime if the ims is not uprated, making shyte of the engine. Therefore secondhand engines are sought after, and command good money. A breaker will offer a lot more than 1k for a boxster s, for the engine alone the can charge well over £2500 - then all the rest of the car could easily fetch another 2 or 3k, with the Boxster s sharing many parts with a 911, many parts can be sold off at a premium for the 911.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xboxster+s+engine&_nkw=boxster+s+engine&_sacat=0&_from=R40

so, any porschehead will know he would get more than 1k for his porker :rolleyes:

..all this guff of MB bagging himself a Boxster S for 1k. Horsesh1t..!

and EC with his nice easy fix on the gearbox. Unbelievable Horsesh1t!

Add all of that to the questionable car mechanical issues they encounter, the staged sales, the phantom buyers, the fact that they never seem to loose their shirt on a car, Mikes Wig, everything - you take WD with a large pinch of automotive salt, and sprinkle that very salt over yer popcorn, because thats all it is.

Its popcorn Telly - for the masses, who are clueless, and don't care, they just want entertaining for an hour.

It just a pity some round here buy into the horsemanure thats fed to them, and then in return look clueless themselves, when really they know better!

Henry Ford III · 15-05-2014 9:23am

You've delivered more opinion MidlandsM and not an iota of proof.

jimgoose · 15-05-2014 9:26am

Anyone remember the Jag XK WD had that was showing the CEL, hence some terrifyingly unfathomable fault within the hulking V8 gubbins?? The Eddmeister General used a £10 OBD-II scanner (I have the same one) to diagnose a faulty throttle body, which was replaced for £100 courtesy of the Bay of Gee. Class. :cool:

MidlandsM · 15-05-2014 9:30am

Henry Ford III wrote: »

You've delivered more opinion MidlandsM and not an iota of proof.

ha ......you're just sore because you look like one of the clueless on here .....get back to your popcorn!

ba_barabus · 15-05-2014 9:32am

To be fair while MidlandsM is doing a great job of grinding everyones gears I'm inclinded to agree with him. I have an insider friend who says it's great fictional TV. Also the amount of work done on the cars and not shown is pretty incredible as can be seen when they get listed for sale. It's a TV show selling to the public so everything has to be right and done correctly. It's a lot more expensive than it appears so most of the cars are proper bargains although I do recall a brown Porsche coming to Ireland that sh!t it's engine soon after getting here.

I still enjoy the motoring based entertainment show however in the same way I enjoy TopGear.

Henry Ford III · 15-05-2014 9:34am

MidlandsM wrote: »

ha ......you're just sore because you look like one of the clueless on here .....get back to your popcorn!

Not at all. You've totally failed to back up your assertions however.

Come on where's the beef?

jimgoose · 15-05-2014 9:39am

ba_barabus wrote: »

To be fair while MidlandsM is doing a great job of grinding everyones gears I'm inclinded to agree with him. I have an insider friend who says it's great fictional TV. Also the amount of work done on the cars and not shown is pretty incredible as can be seen when they get listed for sale. It's a TV show selling to the public so everything has to be right and done correctly. It's a lot more expensive than it appears so most of the cars are proper bargains although I do recall a brown Porsche coming to Ireland that sh!t it's engine soon after getting here.

I still enjoy the motoring based entertainment show however in the same way I enjoy TopGear.

I'll buy that, up to a point. What I would say is that the profit is basically Edd.

ba_barabus · 15-05-2014 9:40am

jimgoose wrote: »

I'll buy that, up to a point. What I would say is that the profit is basically Edd.

Yep!

I worked it out on the Morgan before (very roughly) and the profit pretty much paid for his labour. Then again when extra work and everything is added in there isn't really ever a profit. The idea is sound that you are supposed to be doing this at home and if you go back to the original series of it there is some great hints and tips but it's gone a bit flashy now and aspirational with the cars.

And while we're talking about the cars, why not BUY ONE

http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/wheeler-dealers/buy-the-cars/

MidlandsM · 15-05-2014 9:43am

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Not at all. You've totally failed to back up your assertions however.

Come on where's the beef?

in my burger.......;)

enjoy your popcorn........lol

:D:D:D:D

jimgoose · 15-05-2014 9:43am

ba_barabus wrote: »

...And while we're talking about the cars, why not BUY ONE

http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/wheeler-dealers/buy-the-cars/

Some kit there, bah! :cool:

Henry Ford III · 15-05-2014 9:50am

MidlandsM wrote: »

in my burger.......;)

enjoy your popcorn........lol :D:D:D:D

Caught spoofing then MidlandsM. Oh well better luck next time.

MidlandsM · 15-05-2014 9:53am

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Caught spoofing then MidlandsM. Oh well better luck next time.

ohhh, the irony of you suggesting someone is a spoofer...:D

Henry, to be fair, you don't have a clue.

Henry Ford III · 15-05-2014 9:59am

MidlandsM wrote: »

ohhh, the irony of you suggesting someone is a spoofer...:D

Henry, to be fair, you don't have a clue.

It's you that have been unable back up your claims, not me.

cabb8ge · 15-05-2014 10:39am

Henry Ford III wrote: »

You've delivered more opinion MidlandsM and not an iota of proof.

Can you prove Boxster was bought for £1000?
Can you prove transmission fluid change fixed problems?

Henry Ford III · 15-05-2014 10:45am

cabb8ge wrote: »

Can you prove Boxster was bought for £1000?
Can you prove transmission fluid change fixed problems?

I'm happy with the content of the tv programme. Prima facie wouldn't you agree?

jimgoose · 15-05-2014 10:49am

cabb8ge wrote: »

Can you prove Boxster was bought for £1000?
Can you prove transmission fluid change fixed problems?

Bit hard to "prove" any of that without some sort of Tribunal, but I'm prepared to buy it on the basis that many people would be thrown into a panic over something like a Porsche displaying some hideous unfathomable problem with a Tiptronic transmission. I.e, "Oh Cheeses, must get rid of this before it explodes and get diesel Volkswagen, NOW!!". Same with the old Jag with the CEL light on. And fresh, modern synthetic ATF and a new filter has been known to do a tired old 'box a power of good!

cabb8ge · 15-05-2014 10:58am

I think program is largely loose on facts etc to make entertainment, some swallow the hook and the line, some do not. Your alleged proof is what was on the TV.

jimgoose · 15-05-2014 11:00am

cabb8ge wrote: »

I think program is largely loose on facts etc to make entertainment, some swallow the hook and the line, some do not. Your alleged proof is what was on the TV.

Well, I think it's reasonably clear to anyone who is awake that Edd puts a shit-load of time and effort into the less glamorous end of it. You wouldn't necessarily want to sit through that stuff in front of the TV! :pac:

Automatic Transmission Failure.

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