Bongo Fury

I've done about 1500 km in my Bongo since I bought it 2 months ago from JAL. Prior to the Bongo, I've had no experience of automatic transmissions. Regardless of whether the engine is hot or cold there is a slight jerk when it changes from first to second on a light to moderate throttle. If I accelerate hard the change is smooth. Changes between other gears are always smooth. The vehicle has done 65,000 km. I've no idea if or when the AT fluid and filter were last changed.

Even though the jerk is only slight, I doubt it's going to get any better on it's own. I've read on websites that automatic transmissions may jerk if worn. The vehicle is still under warranty, but I don't fancy having to complete the 250 mile round trip twice to drop it off and pick it up if I don't have to. I'm not mechanically minded and would not feel confident changing the fluid from the instructions in the fact sheet. Apart from that my driveway is a steep hill.

What should I do? If I take it to a local automatic transmission specialist what should I expect to pay for an AT service? Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi Dennis, we have a V6, had it for bout 9 months now i find i have the same little jerk like its quickly going up a gear (from first gear only), i queried this when i had it under warranty and i was told it was normal, nothing to worry about and to be honest my autobox is as smooth as a babies bum , not changed a bit in the time ive had it. Others might have another angle on this but im quite contented with mine.

Hope this helps

Iz

Mine's a diesel but it too almost always gives a little kick on the first change. Never had an automatic before so assumed it was quite normal. Box generally has worked superbly for the 25k odd miles I've done in it.

It'll be interesting to see if we all have substandard autoboxes!

Had a number of automatics in the past and, like our V6 also, they've all had little jerky bits somewhere in their acceleration curves - throttle position and load dependent. Reckon it's normal, unless severe, or unless it worsens.

Recommended oil changes at 24,000 miles - makes a difference..........................
! to 2 change can be worse in cold weather - adjusting the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) can also help

dandywarhol wrote:Recommended oil changes at 24,000 miles - makes a difference..........................
! to 2 change can be worse in cold weather - adjusting the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) can also help

Just to clarify, by 'oil' you mean automatic transmission fluid (ATF)?

Ought to get mine done (or do it myself), but Mike at Wheelquick is of the view that if it looks fine and works fine then no need to touch it

mikeonb4c wrote:

dandywarhol wrote:Recommended oil changes at 24,000 miles - makes a difference..........................
! to 2 change can be worse in cold weather - adjusting the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) can also help

Just to clarify, by 'oil' you mean automatic transmission fluid (ATF)?

Ought to get mine done (or do it myself), but Mike at Wheelquick is of the view that if it looks fine and works fine then no need to touch it

First Car, Shrewsbury, says the same.

mikeonb4c wrote: Ought to get mine done (or do it myself), but Mike at Wheelquick is of the view that if it looks fine and works fine then no need to touch it

Mine looked fine but, as I didn't know it's history, I changed it anyway - just changed the fluid using a Pela pump. It made one heck of a difference to the changes Next time I'll do the filter as well.

Mine looked fine, but it made a hell of a difference & the crap that came out, especially in the filter . Service intervals are recommended for a reason IMO.

francophile1947 wrote: >
>
Mine looked fine but, as I didn't know it's history, I changed it anyway - just changed the fluid using a Pela pump. It made one heck of a difference to the changes Next time I'll do the filter as well.

OK, on that evidence, we'll have to decide whether to make a change of ATF, mainly based on our own judgements of how "normal" little ratio change jerks are - i.e., how much we'll personally tolerate. We've had our auto Nissan Note from very nearly new (ex Motability, 750 miles on the clock), and that had/has a wee jerk between 1 and 2, throttle position and load dependent, there from the start, not worsening, and very similar to the one in our V6 Bongo - so, my advice is don't get paranoid unless any reasonable "jerk" is clearly worsening, and as long as the fluid is clean.

Think I heard somewhere that gaskets for the ATF filter are like hens teeth to get, so you could end up having to either fabricate one or re-use the old one, and possibly wishing you had left well alone if it then leaks.

Ron Miel wrote: Think I heard somewhere that gaskets for the ATF filter are like hens teeth to get, so you could end up having to either fabricate one or re-use the old one, and possibly wishing you had left well alone if it then leaks.

Yup - its another one of those DIY jobs that makes be endgy. Fine if the old gasket taps off OK etc. etc. and if I get a still day when wind is unlikely to blow grit into the system etc. etc. but........

I agree with you Ron - doesn't merit getting paranoid over even if it 'ought' to be done (Francos point noted though - out of interest does the 24k recommended fluid change also recommend removing cover and cleaning filter?)

mikeonb4c wrote:

Ron Miel wrote: Think I heard somewhere that gaskets for the ATF filter are like hens teeth to get, so you could end up having to either fabricate one or re-use the old one, and possibly wishing you had left well alone if it then leaks.

Yup - its another one of those DIY jobs that makes be endgy. Fine if the old gasket taps off OK etc. etc. and if I get a still day when wind is unlikely to blow grit into the system etc. etc. but........

I agree with you Ron - doesn't merit getting paranoid over even if it 'ought' to be done (Francos point noted though - out of interest does the 24k recommended fluid change also recommend removing cover and cleaning filter?)

I've done 2 & have spoken to several people that have done theirs with no problems with the old gasket, in the unlikely even that you'll need a new one, they are always being sold on ebay, so I don't think they are that rare TBH, more bongo mythology But if you really don't want to do it, that's your choice, I just like to know that my bongo is running as well as it possibly can & will hopefully do so for many years to come by looking after it.
There is no way of knowing if the fluid is clean, mine looked & smelled perfect on the dipstick, but it was black & claggy in the sump & the filter was half gunged up.

I'm sure Mike at Wheelquick knows his stuff and he may well be an auto trans specialist but if Mazda recommend the oil is changed (and the filter IMO) at regular intervals then the transmission will last longer. I'd like to wager that the 'boxes which have failed haven't had oil changes as per the book
If these 'boxes are used by Nissan engined London cabs then that's a testiment to their reliability.................

As for the 1 to 2 change - it will always be the one with the slight kick - its got the biggest jump between ratios - just look at the change in revs when you get into second - it's the biggest jump If the filter is gummed up then the tiny valves in the gearbox will take a fraction longer to shift and will result in a delayed upshift.

Hi there,

Found some details on the settings and how to adjust your TPS here:

http://929.sentia.ru/english.htm

Chapter 30 is the one you need.

I have a V6 and don't have the issue you describe, however I did have a faulty TPS a while back and that made the gearchanges bad in terms of "clutch" slip between gears.

The TPS is adjustable, when I replaced mine I just marked the old ones position and replaced, however when it's warmer I will use this guide to check it's set properly.

Hope this helps.

Andy

I just wanted to say thanks for all the useful comments provided. My first step will be to change the AT fluid and clean the filter. I'll see if its better after that. Cheers.