I swapped the transmission fluid again yesterday and cleaned out the filter again, really thoroughly this time, loads more crap came out - a kind of light brown fiberous type material (again no sign of metal shards or anything to sinister)

 

I got caught out in the rain yesterday so didn't get to refill it till this morning so it was with trepidation that i refilled and started her up..........

 

All good, no whirring noise like before, so i gently took her for a little spin.......

 

All good, no foreign noises from the box and the changes are as smooth as they have ever been.....

 

Took her to work and probably did about 20 miles today....

 

All good, sounds sweet, pulling like a train, and one happy owner who feels as if they have accomplished something special, as i would never have tried anything like this before, I know it is a really simple fix to some, but i am not the most mechanically minded.

 

I would like to thank everyone here and over the road who gave me advice and guidance, you might well have saved me quite a pretty penny as i was close to buying a new box and swapping it out.

 

You have all helped put a MASSIVE smile on my face, and for that i am very grateful. :bow::bow:

Nice one fella, will see you at the weekend then!!

nice one mate. hope it works for you :dance:

Well done that man. Nice one mate.

Nice one fella, will see you at the weekend then!!

Indeed you will, would Sunday be ok mate? I'm playing golf on Saturday and there is a meet down in Alton on Sunday so i was going to do a round trip to you, down to Alto then back home.

Yeah no worries fella

Hope thats it sorted mate

Well i am gutted to say that i went to a meet in Alton yesterday and did about 150-200 mile round trip and thought that everything was hunky dory, till i got about 5 miles from home and i noticed a bit of a noise.

 

When i pulled off the motorway and to some lights, she didn't sound happy as i came to a halt, and likewise when pulling away, then no noise again, so i continued slowly back home, but as i pulled up outside the house she didn't sound happy again, and when i put the box into P she made a grinding/rattling type noise. So i went through the gears with my foot on the brake and she sounds fine in D, 1 & 2, but does not sound happy at all in P and N. Not so much a grinding noise as a grating type rattle.

 

I think that the box is clearly on the way out, so i think i am now going to bite the bullet and replace i think. Just not sure if to go manual or stay with the auto. I know everyone here will say go manual, but i like the autobox (till it started playing up) and also the missus won't drive a manual. Also there is the cost implication involved, and christmas round the corner... and the missus' 30th in 3 weeks.... and my very possible impending redundancy in the new year due to government cuts in youth provision....

 

Gutted really as i honestly thought i had cracked it this time. Not really sure what to do but just wanted to share with you guys. Maybe one last clean of the filter and fluid swap?

Sorry to hear that, any noise from the autobox is terminal.

 

Jeff TT

To replace it with a secondhand autobox without provenence will be a waste of money, time and effort. Most boxes are now well over 15 years old and on most cars neglected, i.e., no oil change, or box serviced.......ever, until that is 'it starts playing up'. Your best bet and most financially economical is a manual conversion.

I agree, manual conversion. Your still changing it with a 15 year old box though:lol: But you dont have the issues you have with an auto.

All that said though, like any second hand part, it can last or it won't.

 

If funds are tight, personally i'd take a gamble on a known "noise free" second hand box.

They should be sold these days for peanuts as no basta*d wants em.!

Once in your hand, clean out and filter/oil swap and then it's just the cost of a box swap, couple hundred bucks?

 

I'd keep an eye out now ready in case a known quiet box appears for sale and buy it in ready and prep it ready to be fitted once yours packs in.

Oh any garage could do the swap for you too.

 

Smithy

Bad news Pablito I thought you had it sorted this time.I love my auto box in the black zed when they work they are a pleasure especially in around towns or citys when you are changing gears all the time. The manual in the red zed does give you more control and is also great for fast driving but the choice is yours sounds like you like the auto and if you can get a good one that might be your route to go but it will have to be a good one mate

Thanks for the adcvice guys, I have a few enquiries out at the moment with regards to both manual and auto options. Clearly it will be cheaper to go auto, and funds are really tight and i do like the autobox so that might be the solution.... but as Grovver says manuals do not have the same issues as the auto boxes.

 

I think in this case it might just come down to cost as opposed to anything else, but at the same time, if it is just a temporary fix (ie autobox will go again) am i just throwing good money after bad?

 

I think i will just have to see what my enquiries come back with and then i can make a more assesed judgement of the situation.

 

ho hum... the joys of zed ownership eh!

Told ya if you can wait a little while until i do my manual conversion you can have the perfectly running autobox outta mine :)

Told ya if you can wait a little while until i do my manual conversion you can have the perfectly running autobox outta mine :)

 

Craig that is very generous of you, what sort of timeframe are we talking about do you think?

 

So much for me coming round in the next week or 2 and swapping those bits...

To be honest it depends how quickly I get my replacement engine finished as, Im planning on putting the manual conversion in at the same time as the new engine. its not going to be in the next few weeks lets put it that way, but hopefully before xmas

Ok mate, if you can keep me posted as to your progress that would be really cool, thanks again craig. :bow:

No worries chap ill keep ya in the loop :)

if you do fit another working auto dont forget to fit the t/converter from the working car as yours could be full of debri and there a basard to clean out even on the bench...also take off your rad and flush the oil cooler side out including pipes as doing this will increase the life of the new box 10 fold:yes:

if you do fit another working auto dont forget to fit the t/converter from the working car as yours could be full of debri and there a basard to clean out even on the bench...also take off your rad and flush the oil cooler side out including pipes as doing this will increase the life of the new box 10 fold:yes:

 

Good advice but I would forget the in-rad cooler and get a separate cooler.:yes:

Thanks guys - when removing the box is it then easy to remove the old torque converter or is that a whole new world of pain?

 

Likewise, i think a new cooler would be in order.