Au Xr6 Vct Auto Problems

XR66XY · 16-01-2007, 06:49 PM

When I Drive For The First Time Of The Day My Auto Slips Badley In First. But When It Has Warmed Up It Is Fine . The Shift Feels Good In All Gears And Once It's Been Driven That Day It's Fine No Problems. I've Been Told It's The Seals In The Auto Going Hard. That When It's Warm They Get Soft So It Drives Ok. I Have Changed Oil & Filter And It's Still The Same Just A Bit Better Shift. Been Told That The Only Fix Is A $1400 Rebuild ( Including Converter ). Has Anyone Had This Prob Or Know If What I've Been Told Is Right???

Dark Horse · 16-01-2007, 07:24 PM

What oil are you using?

XR66XY · 16-01-2007, 08:31 PM

Gen Ford Oil It Did It With The Old And New Oil

mik · 16-01-2007, 09:39 PM

are you sure its got enough oil in it?

blacklabel · 18-01-2007, 07:47 PM

My first post/reply since joining this excellent forum, so gidday everybody from the shaky isles

Your auto problems are exactly the same as mine.I have a 98 AU Futura whose auto has been doing the same things-only mine has been totally losing drive for up 10 seconds before finding gear when first driven,or cold-morning-irregardless of time of day.Once I've done a few km's and it's warm,it seems ok.

I have had mine in the shop twice now.First time for a full service on the tranny, and the second time to re-flush and replace again the 95 fluid,as it was still pretty grubby.The shifts were a lot better-but still drive problem when cold, or just taking off.
It is going back in again next tuesday, to have the No5 solenoid on the tranny replaced,as the tech swears this is what the problem is, as that solenoid controls the low gear change/-revs. (or so he tells me!).

So I will get this done and then report back on whether the problems are solved.I'm sure you will be keen to know the results,as it may save you a few bucks.
I'm looking at $100 plus for the solenoid, plus another $100 odd for fitting etc...

On the downside, everybody from the tranny specialists in town,to my own techy who services my au,keep telling me to save my pennies as after 248,000 kms,without a problem- I may be looking at having to recondition if the solenoid doesn't fix the fault.

So look for my follow up reply next tuesday,XR66XY, and we will both be a bit wiser!

GK · 18-01-2007, 10:19 PM

Welcome Blacklabel,

$200 for the solenoid and fitting seems ok to me.

Where are you located, what's the name of the place that's doing the work?

GK

JC · 19-01-2007, 01:28 AM

Most autos are built to run trouble free for about 250,000km, so a rebuild after 248,000 is not unbelievable.

My first impression/thought was low fluid as I had similar problems in my AU XR6 VCT and a fuid top up and service fixed the issue (mine was only evident in reverse though).

blacklabel · 20-01-2007, 04:17 PM

Well, I can't see you getting your au sorted at "Ingo's" like me- as I'm in Whangaparaoa- Auckland,New Zealand...hehehe

Approx $100 for the solenoid and half hour to remove tranny pan,fit and test.They will hook it up to the computer to see if this is the culprit.

And yes JC, you are right, I should be pretty happy with 248,000km plus without any problems with the tranny until now.
Only bummer is that over here, a rebuild or reconditioned tranny or even an exchange unit,will still set you back between $1200-$2000
...I've already started saving..!

XR66XY · 22-01-2007, 10:09 PM

Thanks Blacklabel Looking Forward To See How You Go.when I Change The Oil And Topped It Up I Started It Ran It In Gear For I Bit Than Checked When It Was Running.so I Think The Leavel Is Ok.

XR66XY · 22-01-2007, 10:13 PM

Oh I Forgot My Sexy Xr Has Only 180000 Km So I Feel It's A Bit Early For A Rebuild Yet. The Wife Drives It Every Day So It Only Gets Driven Like Its Stolen Once About Evry Two Weeks If I'm Lucky And Very Good.

GK · 22-01-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacklabel

Well, I can't see you getting your au sorted at "Ingo's" like me- as I'm in Whangaparaoa- Auckland,New Zealand...hehehe

Fair enough! LOL!

GK

blacklabel · 25-01-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR66XY

Oh I Forgot My Sexy Xr Has Only 180000 Km So I Feel It's A Bit Early For A Rebuild Yet. The Wife Drives It Every Day So It Only Gets Driven Like Its Stolen Once About Evry Two Weeks If I'm Lucky And Very Good.

Ok, I have some good news for you XR66XY !!
My auto shop (Ingos) next to where I work have finally replaced the No5 Solenoid in my transmission,as I said they were going to do,in an earlier reply.

Absolutely unbelieveable difference.Problem totally solved!!
No more,"random" loss of drive, when cold or first few kms driven-no more slippage in the low gear shifts,and it feels incredibly smooth and I know now I won't have to cough up $1500-$2000 for a total rebuild.
And if this has solved my problems at 249,000kms, then you should be pretty safe for a while yet at 180,000!
I also got them to replace the fluid at the same time,even though it was pretty good, and put on a new pan gasket too.

So if you still have the same symptoms as you mentioned earlier, then odds on, it's the same thing.
I'm in Auckland,NZ- and the solenoid cost $118.00 plus gst, and it only took an hour and a bit to fit and test.
My total bill was just over $200.

Hope this helps.
Good luck!

:

Dark Horse · 25-01-2007, 09:11 PM

Some taxi's get to 350,000 to 400,000 out of their auto's before needing replacement. That's with a regular fluid change (every 30-40 thou k's).

**Mechan1k** · 26-01-2007, 08:02 AM

I paid $2000 for a replacement rebuilt/strengthened auto ... for a basic reconditioned box it's arouns the $1500 mark ... so the prices you have been told are pretty spot on.

Norton · 26-01-2007, 09:33 AM

I had the solonoids replaced in my wifes AU2 due to this problem.

Car had done 160,000 and was still under extended warranty so no cost. I have been told by a auto expert that this is a common fault. Everything else in the auto was looking very good after 160,000 and he would expect at least 250,000 to 350,000 out of a standard auto before a rebuild (depends on how you drive it).

Norton

bigrod · 26-01-2007, 11:17 AM

My au 1999 XR6 did that, slipped when cold. topped up the fluid and all has been good. the autos like fluid, even if they are down just a little they don't like it and slip. i would try topping it up to the max and see how you go before looking at other things at this point.

Rod

GK · 26-01-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norton

I had the solonoids replaced in my wifes AU2 due to this problem.
Norton

Can you describe the problems you were having in detail please? That is of course unless they were exactly the same as previously mentioned!

Cheers,

GK

XR66XY · 26-01-2007, 05:11 PM

Thank You Very Much Blacklable I Would Buy A Drink If I Could. I'll Book Her In Asap To Do It. And Will Let You All Know How It Goes. Gk It Is Just As We Said Up The Top . We Would Lose All Drive In First Only When Cold For About5 To 10 Seconds In First Only And Not Just From The First Take Off. But Only In The First 2 Mins Of Driving. But All Good When Warmed Up.