sticks in gear ..hold light does not work

[myngs]

Hi experts..anyone help me please....our 2.0l petrol auto bongo...starts off and changes gear fine until around 40-50 mph and will not change ....roaring along the road 3000 revs....we try pulling over and then starting off again which sometimes sorts out the problem...sometimes we stop and move the gear lever through all the gears...then off we go and that works sometimes.....i also wondered if the hold button had been pressed by accident and thats when i noticed the light on the dash will not come on...although on one ocassion it did...confused ? so am i..........Is my gearbox on the way out.....or might i be able to get it fixed...if fixing might be an option ..anyone know good bongo garage around the warks area nearest to Stratford upon Avon ?.....thank you guys hope you have some advice ...regards Cliff

[mikeWalsall]

This guy as a good Bongo reputation ... but ...I don't know to what level of expertise he has on auto boxes ..

http://www.contractmechanics.co.uk/inde ... age480.htm

[rita]

Hi Cliff,have you checked the fluid level in the gear box?

[myngs]

Hi...no i have not checked fuid in gearbox..i had a full service last August would it cover that ? Think i'd better check with them...i would not know how to check myself or what to put in if low ?

[mikeWalsall]

Better to check the fluid warm after a run ..

With the engine ..running ..

Hand brake ..HARD .. on move the gear lever from 'P' to 'L' .. several times ... then leave the lever in 'P' ..

Remove the dipstick and check the level .. you may have to do it several times to get a accurate level indication ..

Ideally the fluid should look a transparent red .. if it is brown(ish) or smells burnt then it's time for a fluid change ..

The Dexon 3 fluid is topped ..(or filled) up, down the dipstick tube ..

[g8dhe]

And the dip stick is under the drivers seat, it angles backwards towards the gearbox.

[myngs]

Hi thank you everyone i'll try and do it ..though i'm not very good at mechanics etc....so the symptoms i described does it sound like fluid is the problem ?

[mikeWalsall]

Although an auto box does not 'use' fluid ... to me checking the auto box level is a routine job .. like tyres .. coolant .. oil .. washer bottle etc: .. and not left until a service is due ..

[hijimhere]

Is the box ok when warmed up?

[teenmal]

Hi thank you everyone i'll try and do it ..though i'm not very good at mechanics etc....so the symptoms i described does it sound like fluid is the problem ?

Hi,it sounds more like an electrical problem (solenoid etc),the fact that the hold warning light is not illuminating is a bit worrying(did the light ever work).Nevertheless Checking the fluid level is always worthwhile.

Good luck.

[myngs]

Hi..to answer the last two questions...it does seem to change gear better when warmed up...and yes the hold light did work before..so thats whats worrying me too

[windywatson]

Sounds to me that you may have an electrical fault that is occasionally puting the box into hold, hence not changing up etc. If the hold light is not working correctly you may not be aware that it is in hold. I'm no expert but it may be that the hold light not coming on and the not changing are both linked to electronic solanoid/swithch being intermitant.

Cheers