Going out of gear while driving !!

T

Thomas V

New Member
Hello.
2 weeks ago I bought a 3500 '76 with automatic gearbox.

Untill a few days ago it ran well, but then suddenly it was weird.
I had just changed the battery og had driven about 10 km when it sort of wouldn't drive. No matter what gear I put it in ... no reaction ! The engine runs but the car won't.

When I turn it completely off and then start again, it runs like normal ... for about 2 minuttes - then it happens again !

Does anyone know of this kind of problem ? Is it mecanical or electrical ??
 
As Johns says, check level with engine running and after moving the selector through all positions at least twice. You need to fill the brake band servos, torque convertor etc to get a true reading. My 2000 auto has similar symptoms to yours if I fill it to the Hi level on the dipstick, add another 1/2 litre and it drives perfectly. I blame the dipstick being the wrong one in my case.
 
I have now cheched it with the motor running and as you said, it lowered the level quite a bit. So I filled it little by little with the ½ litre I had. But the problem is still there... when it gets hot! Shall I buy another and keep pouring ?
 
Thomas,
Yes, until you reach the cold level mark.
When I had my first Rover 3500 auto I noticed a "slip" in the drive on my way to work one morning and only just managed to get it home that day before the drive disappeared completely - A recon box and torque convertor solved my problems.
When it goes, it goes very quickly (in my experience).
Regards, John.
 
They do go quickly. The clutch plates and pands have very little material on them and if hydraulic pressure falls, due to low fluid level for example, they fail almost instantly. You can usually tell by smelling the fluid, it will smell burnt.
 
Hi Thomas
loss of drive as you descibe is normaly caused by a blocked oil filter strainer within the auto transmission.By turning the engine off, the oil returns through the oil pick up pipe and clears the filter. On resart and driving, the oil filter blocks it again.
The only way to clear it is to remove the oil pan from the bottom of the transmision and cleaning it out. The only down side is the particals within the auto box are from the linning materials (bands and plates) so its eventual failure within the near future is garanteed.
If you are unsure, you should entrust the auto box to someone with experiance in borg-warners
regards
Nick
 
Well said Nick!

If Nick's advice does not solve it, take it to a specialist.

Auto boxes are very complex and can be very difficult to rectify if faulty.

Do not just replace it straight away - after all, you dont actually know whats wrong with it yet do you?

Johnny.
 
Auto boxes aren't complicated, they are very logical and easy to work on despite the myths. They very rarely need much more than the 'soft' parts replacing unless they have been abused. The genuine Rover manual is an excellent reference on how to do it. The only thing that is impossible to do at home is the torque convertor and if the gearbox has suffered any failure then the torque convertor should be changed as it is impossible to flush out any debris and a repaired box will rapidly become contaminated.
 
So what you are saying, is that either way I'll soon have a faulty box ? So I must find a specialist in Borg Warner ... here in Denmark... !!

Okay, I can see I didn't bring enough money with me!!

Well I appreciate your advice.
Thank you.
 
Thomas.

Do not attempt to strip a box without completely knowing what you are doing.

I'm sorry necpwa, but being from the motor trade your last comment puzzles me. Why would there be such a thing as auto box specialists and in-house courses within dealerships if they were easy to repair?

Your knowledge may be a little better if not much better than the rest of us. Can’t say that everyone would agree with you on this one.

Thomas. Each and every person has their own idea of what’s best, but being a mechanic my advice is to speak to an auto box specialist. Not Borg Warner - just an independent specialist.

Johnny.

???
 
I have rebuilt around 200 auto boxes and I would much rather work on an auto than a manual. There really isn't anything complicated, it's a myth to keep specialists in work!
 
Each to their own!

Youre obviously very skilled.

I still stand by my last comment though - best left alone.

Cheers, John.

P.S. Necpwa? You dont fancy a trip to Denmark do you?

Just a thought! :D
 
I have been reading through this chain and was wondering what options Thomas has being in Denmark.

I have heard about manual boxes being changed out for SD1 5 speeds. But what about SD1 auto boxes.

They used a GM180. I believe that the GM stands for General Motors and would imagine there would be plenty of GM experts and scrap GM cars across the channel.

Has anyone done this or have any views. Hopefully Thomas wont have do this but I mention it as a possible option.

Arthuy
 
P6 uses a BW 35 box, there are different versions dependent on year. Early SD1 used BW 65, which essentially an updated 35, which I think will fit inside a P6 transmission tunnel. The GM 180 used on later SD1s is a different shape and a different animal, don't know if it would physically fit, but with the right bellhousing and torque convertor and propshaft, mechanically there is know reason for it not to work.
 
Hi again.

I actually found a Rover specialist ( I hope and think! ) and he will have a look at it for a reasonable price. So now I'll try to take it off and hope for the best.

Thomas V.

The box on the late models P6 (incl. mine) is the Borg Warner 65... just in case!
 
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