Auto Box Troubles

[genkin]

I just gave my S1 Stage a quick boost down some twisties towards the end of a long drive.

As usual when going hard i had 'Overdrive' switched off and 'Power' switched on. I think i also had the gear selector sitting in 2nd.

Anyway, at the bottom of the hill I put it back into 'D' and resumed regular driving (highway speeds, 100kph)

Whenever I put my foot down to accelerate in 3rd, the engine reved up but the gearbox didn't engage! (keep in mind O/D was still off)

I tried to switch back to 2nd, that pulled fine.

I put it back into 'D' and turned O/D on, and Power off. But still the same thing, where it would normally switch back to 3rd from O/D it just reved and didn't engage.

For the next 10mins on the way home I tried several different combinations, but still couldn't get 3rd to engage.

I also noticed when I parked the car in my driveway, the idle was pulsing from about 500-1000rpm.

Any suggestions???

[[mez]]

I've only ever had that happen once in my 32. (not shift into overdrive and sit at like 3,500rpm at 100. After a bit of a thrash.

Pulled over and shut it off - restarted and it was fine. Hasn't happened since.

When was the last time you got it serviced / replaced trans fluid?

[genkin]

I haven't started the car up since it happened. (few hours ago)

I've only had the car for a couple of weeks and all fluids were replaced at compliance.

It only has 2500km to go till 100,000km. so I was planning on waiting until then for a service.

[Stinky Rooster]

Iwould book in for a trans service AND fluid flush ASAP. 1st and second in these boxes are standard bands, but 3rd is a wet clutch and it sounds like the clutch pack isn't engaging properly (just like a clutch in a manual doesn't engage or slips just before packing it in) This may not be due to the clutch being stuffed though, it may be due to a fluid pressure problem due to blockage or a sticky solenoid. Either way, a trans fluid flush and service will either fix it or give you a lot better idea what is wrong if it doesn't .

[Tangles]

in the next few weeks I'll be taking my stag to MV Autos (SA, Blackwood) for a full trans service, flush 'n new fluid, and a stage 2 shift kit.

cant wait.

hitting (and holding) onto the limiter in first...... stupid highflow turbo

[genkin]

The problem's still happening.

I'll try to get it sorted on Monday.

[jippa]

hey mate. had the exact same problem at round the same ks too. diagnosis was the shift solenoid is not engaging clutch packs properly. first and third gear use the same solenoid but you wont notice it in first till it gets really bad because of the tourque. the first sign of my problem was hitting the limmiter when third was changing under hard revs and it started to happen in first.. tip when fixing is go for a shift kit because its better for your clutch packs when the shifts are firm because of les slipage.

[pixel8r]

Get it serviced professionally as soon as possible. I dont just mean a fluid change, I mean someone who will open it up and check it out.

I've had an auto trans die on me before (lost all gears one by one within about a week, starting with 4th and working down). Much cheaper if it can be fixed early...

I've had the odd time when my stagea will free-rev but each time its been because the gear lever didn't click into the D position properly.

Hopefully its only a minor problem for you...

[genkin]

I took it down to MV Autos today. Mike seems to be very knowledgable about Stageas.

Turns out my clutch has gone. So we are going to replace that and install a shift kit next week.

[Stinky Rooster]

Bugger! Oh well, all the best with it dude

[webng]

I took it down to MV Autos today. Mike seems to be very knowledgable about Stageas.

Turns out my clutch has gone. So we are going to replace that and install a shift kit next week.

Nice, I've been wondering whether or not to get the shift kit, how much all up to have it installed?

Those of you with the kit, how much more pronounced is the gear change? Last thing I want is a clunk between gears.

[chook]

I got mine done, mildest shift kit, 'stage 1' i think, slight jerk from 1st to 2nd, other gears are smooth and very quick. Plenty of topics talking about MVs shift kits with prices. Sent mine to MV, he modified it, sent it back around 3 days later, installed myself, quite a messy job, best given to a workshop to install.

Edited July 2, 2007 by chook

[webng]

I got mine done, mildest shift kit, 'stage 1' i think, slight jerk from 1st to 2nd, other gears are smooth and very quick. Plenty of topics talking about MVs shift kits with prices. Sent mine to MV, he modified it, sent it back around 3 days later, installed myself, quite a messy job, best given to a workshop to install.

Yeah, being in Adelaide myself... and I definitely don't trust myself to do it anyways!

Is the jerk from 1st to 2nd noticeable even whilst accelerating "normally"?

[Enterthestagea]

Same prob with me the other day too. Lost first and fourth, then got first back and lost third. Then lost all except 2nd. Go figure, anyways, heaps of metal in box caused from moisture inside it somewhere. Prob from sitting in Japan, slight signs of rust on the tin where it should of been shiny. $2.5K to recondition, but I rang around and fluked a 2/h unit they guaranteed to work. Fitted it and its all good now. Defintely did not fit it myself, I would rather change the motor "again" before I attempt that. Now I have got a spare motor and box. Both needing a recond. One day they'll get the attention they need.

[Stinky Rooster]

The boxes are out there and pretty cheap really, you just have to know where to look. The last one I sourced for a mate set him back a grand total of $120 leaving him with the old one to recon at his lesuire.

One thing I would really like to find out is, how much difference between the skyline auto and the stagea box is there? I have looked at both and I think it would be reasonable to assume that the transfer case will bolt onto the skyline box, but not having actually tried it, I am not sure.

Any takers to give it a go? Autos from skylines are really cheap due to everyone wanting a manual so it may be a good source of cheap parts that are allready here in Oz.

[Enterthestagea]

Very close yes, but not exactly the same. The clutch packs and torque convertor are the same, but the 4WD uses a bigger output shaft. I am thinking the same as you, just need to source a 2wd auto and have a workshop fit the internals to my buggered unit. 4WD uses the bigger output shaft where the transfer case bolts on apparently. I only know this from the auto shop that swapped my units over. F.Y.I. Nissan Patrol use a similar box RE403A 4WD and also the Mazda 20B cosmo thingy which is 2WD. Hence a little bit of background knowledge thank god.

[Duncan]

no idea about the autos but the manual internals between rwd and awd are very similar, same gears, synchros, bearings etc

[pixel8r]

Yeah, being in Adelaide myself... and I definitely don't trust myself to do it anyways!

Is the jerk from 1st to 2nd noticeable even whilst accelerating "normally"?

Its not very noticeable at all...but you will be aware of it. Its not uncomfortable at all and I'd 100% recommend it.

I'm from adelaide too so I just dropped the car off in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon. Cost me only a couple hundred more than just a transmission service...well worth it!

The gearchange is less jerky than driving a manual in my opinion (nothing wrong with manuals, dont get me wrong - i'm just using it as a comparison).

Edited July 3, 2007 by pixel8r