Harsh gear change 1st to 2nd

[root-n-5th]

Hello all,

I wonder if anyone can help me? It's not a major problem but one that grates on my mechanically sympathetic nature.

When I pull away slowly, or normally, the automatic gear change in my 1995 Bongo diesel is not as smooth as it could be. It's not of the hard mechanical clunk variety which I've had in other cars, but it isn't smooth and there is a noticeable jerk as it changes. It's on the soft-edged side of a harsh change but it is noticeable. It doesn't rev high before the change either. All other changes are smooth, and changing down from 2nd to 1st is fine. Strange thing is, if I pull way faster the gear change is smooth.

Any ideas? It doesn't feel to me like a major issue but I could be wrong.

Thanks!

[g8dhe]

Since my gearbox had a refurb last year I've had a similar sensation, nothing severe, but just feel a "kick" at times and as you say not noticeable when accelerating a little harder. I've put it down to the TPS needing a little nudge perhaps, but given that is so minor I haven't got round to trying to find which direction to nudge it in

[root-n-5th]

Glad it's not just me. Sorry to ask but what is the TPS?

[g8dhe]

Throttle Position Sensor, it feeds-back the position of the throttle to the ECU, its mounted on the throttle body and has a cable attached, accessed as i recall from the passenger side at the rear of the engine.

[mikeonb4c]

Mine has always given a little kick going from 1st to 2nd especially. I've got very used to it over nearly 13 years of ownership but have wondered if they're all like that or not.

[WebWiz]

Mine does it too.

Strangely though, if you accelerate hard it doesn't do it. I find the softer the acceleration, the harder the kick.

I do have flashing HOLD with diagnostic code for "Timing solenoid" which I'm about to replace with new solenoid pack this weekend.Hopefully it will cure it and I can report back successfully... Or not.

Does anyone have a 2.5TD with a smooth 1-2 change? I would love to know "What is normal"

[root-n-5th]

Thanks for the feedback. I test drove one with a very harsh change - a proper clunk that get awful. Didn’t buy it.

Be interesting to know how the solenoid pack does.

[Russell Jupp]

Mine does it too...possibly a little more noticeable for the first few 1st - 2nd gearchanges from cold.

[mikeonb4c]

Mine does it too...possibly a little more noticeable for the first few 1st - 2nd gearchanges from cold.

I agree. Thats where its most noticeable I think (though I've got so used to it I hardly notice!)

[Timandclaire]

I have the exact same issue..i was considering an atf change to see if that helped (fluid's a bit brown) now i'm beginning to wonder whether it would make any difference at all??

I had a couple of Bongo's pass through my hands circa 10yrs ago and vaguely recollect that they had similar mechanical feeling gearchanges as well.

[mikeonb4c]

I have the exact same issue..i was considering an atf change to see if that helped (fluid's a bit brown) now i'm beginning to wonder whether it would make any difference at all??

I had a couple of Bongo's pass through my hands circa 10yrs ago and vaguely recollect that they had similar mechanical feeling gearchanges as well.

Changing mine made no difference but, anyway, its something I've got used to. And since I aim anyway to spend most of my time on the open road, in top gear...........

[root-n-5th]

Bit of an update on this. Have driven the Bongo quite a lot over the last couple of weeks and the change from first to second seems to be a bit smoother. Could it be the warm weather, or is it just getting run in at 233k km?