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AUTO GEARBOX PROBLEM - Ford Freda 2WD Diesel (1996)
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:21 pm
by Fredasfriend
PLEASE - HELP & ADVICE REQUIRED
Last year (September) I had a major service done on my vehicle by a local service dealer.
All went well for the first 30 miles afterwards, but then the auto gearbox started to malfunction.
The vehicle starts up fine. Tick-over ok and no fault in gear selection.
With drive selected it moves away smoothly in first gear and then into second; but then no further acceleration. I am lucky if the vehicle achieves 20mph !!
I checked the ATF levels and discovered that the indicated level was some distance above maximum!!
Having reduced the level in the box to mid-way between low and maximum I tested my vehicle again.
The seems to be no change or improvement.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Re: AUTO GEARBOX PROBLEM - Ford Freda 2WD Diesel (1996)
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:28 pm
by mikeonb4c
I'm confused. Have you hardly used it in a year. What does the servicing agent have to say? Are you saying engine revs well in 2nd gear but the autobox won't change up?
Re: AUTO GEARBOX PROBLEM - Ford Freda 2WD Diesel (1996)
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:38 pm
by francophile1947
Fredasfriend wrote:PLEASE - HELP & ADVICE REQUIRED
Last year (September) I had a major service done on my vehicle by the local Bongo service agent.
All went well for the first 30 miles afterwards, but then the auto gearbox started to malfunction.
The vehicle starts up fine. Tick-over ok and no fault in gear selection.
With drive selected it moves away smoothly in first gear and then into second; but then no further acceleration. I am lucky if the vehicle achieves 20mph !!
I checked the ATF levels and discovered that the indicated level was some distance above maximum!!
Having reduced the level in the box to mid-way between low and maximum I tested my vehicle again.
The seems to be no change or improvement.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Did you check the ATF level correctly? - see
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... ts/atf.pdf
Why didn't you query it when the fault was discovered over a year ago

Have you ever taken it back to the dealer who serviced it?
Have you checked the banjo filter on the fuel pump? - sometimes a new fuel filter cartridge can release loose fibres that can block the banjo filter. The same fault reduced my speed to less than 20mph.
Re: AUTO GEARBOX PROBLEM - Ford Freda 2WD Diesel (1996)
Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:03 am
by Fredasfriend
Yes, not used for over 12 months. To be honest was so fed up with situation just parked it on the front drive with the intent to sort things out later. Circumstances conspired against me and only now do I have time to hopefully get Freda back on the road. Despite the time lag , the local garage is prepared to investigate matters for me. I did mention the overfill of the gearbox to staff but they did not think this was relevant. Acceleration is brisk both in forward and reverse mode.
Re: AUTO GEARBOX PROBLEM - Ford Freda 2WD Diesel (1996)
Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:20 am
by Fredasfriend
John,
Yes I studied the Factsheet (updated 21 March 2011).
Have not looked at banjo filter, but will tomorrow.
Regards,
Mike.