Automatic Transmission Failure.

pokerface_me

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

Change the transmission fluid and filter.

cabb8ge

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Change the transmission fluid and filter.

total waste of time when transmission issues are as described

pokerface_me

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

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

pokerface_me

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MidlandsM wrote: »

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

.... unreel

visual

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

MidlandsM wrote: »

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

Yes actually. Why would they lie?

MidlandsM

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

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

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

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

MidlandsM wrote: »

Yes




It is :rolleyes:

Great arguments there bud. Very well articulated.

Henry Ford III

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

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

MidlandsM wrote: »

Ermmmmmmm, because my cousin in the uk works in attaboy

Forgive my ignorance but what exactly does that proove?

Guy:Incognito

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.