The chariot is due it's MOT next month and bar a nearside front bearing squeaking, I'm not expecting major issues.
So doing the MOT prep with all the service items, I checked the ATF. The gearbox is a Borg Warner 35 mated to a V8 Series 1.
It's gone a purple colour definitely not the cherry red of Type F) but it doesn't smell burnt but still 'sweet'. The fluid was changed four years ago by the previous owner (as much as you can) and it's always been a reasonable colour. Dropping a bit onto white card and then some clean fluid, the colour difference was quite stark.
Last year, I had a similar dilemma, my previous garage chemically tested a sample of ATF and it showed up no nasties. Other than an Wynns additive I put in (which was ok'd by the garage) nothing more than the odd top-up has been required.
I usually top it up as the cork seals weep, however, there was one spell where despite the dipstick reading (taken cold and warm as there are markings for both) the gearbox started doing strange things and it could well have been running low. I topped it (requiring a pint) and it was fine.
More recently, I've noticed it either holds 1st for too long or drops 1st straight to second (when poodling around). 2nd to 3rd upchange can be as expected or occasionally it will require me to lift off the throttle to engage 3rd, sometimes manual intervention is required shifting to D2 and then changing to D3 to make it happen.
Sometimes the change is hardly noticeable, sometimes it will shunt and there's no rhyme or reason to it in terms of throttle or speed. Once the gear is engaged though, it locks up nicely allowed for good progress, the engine doesn't need to wind out too much at all before serious progress is being made
And for the majority of the time, it's a well behaved smooth box.
I'm totally baffled.
Add to the mix that there is a whine at idle that's sounds louder than it has been.
My real worry is no gears and no traction on a Sunday afternoon cruise and the inherent costs of not getting to a mechanic.
I'd be happy with a straight replacement BW35 but am curious to know how difficult it is to convert to a 65?
How difficult are they to source? It is case of straight swap?
All advice greatly appreciated either on the suspected longevity of my current 'gearbox' or on recon/replace ideas.
Cheers in advance.
Just edited to add that last time I tried it, kickdown did engage quite nicely in 3rd at about 50mph. It changed up smoothly.
Edited By Rovertron on 1204565280
So doing the MOT prep with all the service items, I checked the ATF. The gearbox is a Borg Warner 35 mated to a V8 Series 1.
It's gone a purple colour definitely not the cherry red of Type F) but it doesn't smell burnt but still 'sweet'. The fluid was changed four years ago by the previous owner (as much as you can) and it's always been a reasonable colour. Dropping a bit onto white card and then some clean fluid, the colour difference was quite stark.
Last year, I had a similar dilemma, my previous garage chemically tested a sample of ATF and it showed up no nasties. Other than an Wynns additive I put in (which was ok'd by the garage) nothing more than the odd top-up has been required.
I usually top it up as the cork seals weep, however, there was one spell where despite the dipstick reading (taken cold and warm as there are markings for both) the gearbox started doing strange things and it could well have been running low. I topped it (requiring a pint) and it was fine.
More recently, I've noticed it either holds 1st for too long or drops 1st straight to second (when poodling around). 2nd to 3rd upchange can be as expected or occasionally it will require me to lift off the throttle to engage 3rd, sometimes manual intervention is required shifting to D2 and then changing to D3 to make it happen.
Sometimes the change is hardly noticeable, sometimes it will shunt and there's no rhyme or reason to it in terms of throttle or speed. Once the gear is engaged though, it locks up nicely allowed for good progress, the engine doesn't need to wind out too much at all before serious progress is being made
And for the majority of the time, it's a well behaved smooth box.
I'm totally baffled.
Add to the mix that there is a whine at idle that's sounds louder than it has been.
My real worry is no gears and no traction on a Sunday afternoon cruise and the inherent costs of not getting to a mechanic.
I'd be happy with a straight replacement BW35 but am curious to know how difficult it is to convert to a 65?
How difficult are they to source? It is case of straight swap?
All advice greatly appreciated either on the suspected longevity of my current 'gearbox' or on recon/replace ideas.
Cheers in advance.
Just edited to add that last time I tried it, kickdown did engage quite nicely in 3rd at about 50mph. It changed up smoothly.
Edited By Rovertron on 1204565280
