[MattPayne]

I know this should be in one of the techie parts, but more people check this part, please feel free to move this thread if necessary...

Problem with my auto box!

just tried moving my car (bloody thing!) started up ok, but when you put the selecter into gear, the car just stalls... checked and topped up the AT fluid, but no difference.
if you put it in gear and press the gas pedal the car will drive and change gear, but will stall if you stop...

Any ideas guys???

the cars been running so well upto this!!! and i finally get the number plate notification this week!! damn i need to drive this car!

 

[dan0h]

Matt,

You know I'd help you out if I could (being only 10 minutes away) but I'm a little lost on Auto boxes, is it just in drive that it stalls or does it do it in all gears, ie. R and 3 2 etc?

 

[R34_GT-t]

The Automatic Transmission Fluid could be contaminated?

-Elliot

 

[paul palmer]

GTS

Matt,
I have an auto box and a friend of mine also, It could be the auto selector in the box, I don't want to panic you but get it checked out, my mates selector went the other day, he could only get 1 and 2 gear, the cost is going to be £1,200 to fix. not saying that's what the problem but beware.

PaulP.

 

[Mycroft]

Sounds like the 'idle-up' mechanism is shot, simple test is to switch on the A/C and see if that one works, if it does and you can't see anything wrong with the throttle(s) cabling then the next step is to adjust the revs on tick-over to 1000rpm and see if the car works then, if it does then it is the 'idle-up' system, usually the little box of tricks that os somewhere along the cable run, I am being vague 'cos i don't know the layout very well.

 

[paul palmer]

Help

Matt,
Hope you don't mind, just posted your problem on the Skylinesdownunder site, Will let you know hat response I get and pass it on, these guys really know anything Skyline related.

PaulP.

 

[paul palmer]

Help

Matt,
Could be just something simple like the Air flow meter!!!.


PaulP.

 

[paul palmer]

Help

Matt,
Just received this from the Skylinedownunder site:-

Hey

get underneath and check all the vacuum hoses on the tranny...then check the other end of the hoses...make sure their ok....don't know where i got this info from...but it's in me head and i remember doing it meself...


PaulP.

 

[MattPayne]

Mycroft, the A/C works ok, and the revs pick up when thats on.. the revs at idle are about 1000, but think thats just the choke on a little as the car hasnt been run for a while... - it usually idles at about 700rpm

Thanks for posting on the SDU fourm Paul, when i get back form this traning course today im gonna crawl under the car and check pipes!
what should i be looking at with the AFM??

 

[Mycroft]

Sorry, I should have said let the car warm through before doing the test. The idle-up still sounds favourite.

If you wish to test your ATF then try this, from the LSOC archive;
*******************************************
Fluid in good condition should be red like new fluid. Some discoloration with use is normal, but if the fluid is brown or smells like burnt toast, it is badly oxidized and is overdue for a change. Varnish on the dipstick is another indication of fluid neglect and the need for a change.

A quick way to test for worn transmission fluid is to do a "blotter" test. Place one or two drops of ATF from the transmission on a paper towel and wait 30 seconds. (don't guess use your watch) If the spot is widely dispersed and red or light brown in color, the fluid is in satisfactory condition. But if the spot does not spread out and is dark in color, the ATF is oxidized and should be changed.

The presence of visible dirt or debris in the fluid is bad news because it tells you there’s junk circulating inside the transmission that doesn’t belong there. The transmission should be flushed immediately, and the fluid and filter changed to prevent any further damage.

Mycroft, Newbury June 2000

 

[mattb]

It could be something as simple as the air being too humid. I have a real problem in summer when it is really warm. The car continually stalls for the first 5 minutes of driving everytime I bring it back down to idle. I find giving it a bit of revs in 1st and second helps. Perhaps the ECU then gets the idea that it won't be getting as much air as it expects.

My dad has the same problem in his citroen zsara.

Matt

 

[MattPayne]

oh dear...

i think ive properly broken it....

just realised that i wasnt checking the AT fluid level, but infact, my power steering was nicely full...

just found the AT dipstick wedged down the back of the engine... and guess what... fek all on the dipstick... 1 litre later the level is satisfactory...

but its still not disengaging gear, i think ive mashed/ground/welded the innards of the gearbox together...

im not used to autos or how they work... but i dont think its gonna be cheap to replace the clutch bit...

 

[Mycroft]

WHOA.

Do you know the correct way to check ATF?

 

[MattPayne]

warm engine... shift through the gears, put in park on level ground check level on dipstick...

used to have an auto renault, but it didnt have pwer steering... so when i found the power steering resivior and it had red at fluid in it, i (stupidly) assumed that was the AT fluid...

how much damage can one do if you run the transmission dry??

 

[Rich J]

Are 1st R33 was an auto and ended up getting it swapped for manual as after having 4k spend under warranty it was still not working.

Wouldn't change up or down until you switched the car off and started again, when you would drive along it would down change and redline etc.

Ne way they tried new things such as speed sensor, speedo converter, new auto box ecu, something to do with the valves or something in the auto box, auto selector, but to no avail it never worked. Even had some dude from Nissan technical look at it and he was stumped?

Not many ppl in this country have much experiance with the skyline box from what i gather, but was told janspeed did race them in this country with autobox and knew it well, but none of them work there ne more that know it

Hope u get to the end of it m8

 

[Mycroft]

Yep the engine must be ticking over.

It actually won't be dry as it probably holds around 8ltrs of fluid 5ltrs of which willl be in the TC.

So being down even a couple of ltrs won't destroy the box very quickly.

Did you do the blotter test, what state is the oil in?

If you ran really low then the fluid may froth and turn milky, this is just aeration, and it will return to the lovely cherry red colour after a few hours.

When it aerates it froths sufficiently to usually come out the dipstick tube, and drip the ATF on the floor.

 

[Jebu]

hi matt

I had *almost* the same kind of problem a few weeks ago, I just had my car repainted and then the auto box did the same thing on me... however I was still able to drive around bcoz I only had 1 gear.

I was told by the mechanic that the auto box will give you one gear to drive to safety if your gearbox is blown. now it might be a simple wiring problem that may also have caused this (as what happened to my car bcoz the paint guys didn't reconnect the wires properly)

what the mechanic did to my car was he disconnected and reconnected the auto box wiring near the fuse box, then he reset the autobox controller which is located under the right side panel on the driver's side.

my cars drives just fine now.

so most of the time, it is not a transmission fluid problem. just thought you should check out the controller first.

hope this helps

 

[MattPayne]

Had danoh round to have a looksee at me car.. and we did the blotter test with the ATF... the stuff out the car was decidedly browner than the bright pink of the new stuff, but both kinda spreadout in a similar manner... although over time the new fluid did seep further...

car is now parked round at my local garage, so ill get the 'box drained and refilled with fresh fluid

fingers crossed!!

 

[MattPayne]

still bust

Had the car at my local garage... they changed the AT fluid, the gearbox worked when the fluid was cold, then stuck in gear when it had warmed up...

they are trying to find me a decent auto specialist, anyone know of how much a secondhand auto box costs?? or is the skyline box used on any other cars??? the 300sx maybe?

this car is becoming a proper nightmare... im starting to not enjoy the thing being permanantly undriveable

ARRGGGGHHHHH why does every mechanical thing i buy break before i get to use it!

 

[dan0h]

Sh1t ... I'm sorry to hear that Matt, I was hoping that the ATF was going to be the problem... kinda weird about it working cold but not hot ... Does the Gearbox have an oil cooler?? If so, is it possible that it may have an airlock having been run low on ATF?

Dan (Not an Auto expert by any means)