2000 Bongo 2.5 TD auto transmission Sticking between 1st and 2nd causing hold light flashing and restricted speed

[Bongo Beard]

Just got my first Bongo and as the subject says when pulling off from a standstill it struggles to change between 1st and 2nd taking a bit longer than the other gear changes and then the hold light starts flashing and the speed is restricted. So I pull over switch of the engine and then restart and some times I then get lucky and all is well. It isn't all bad as I have just got back from a 500+ mile trip from Plymouth via Redruth in Cornwall and I'm now home in Norfolk and when the hold light doesn't start flashing most of that journey was at 60, 70, and even 80 at times of overtaking. Your thoughts on how to cue this issue would be much appreciated.

[kton2002]

I would start with the simple (and possibly only thing you could do without taking to a garage) - which would be to change the ATF fluid. You could simply extract (using a pela / electric pump) the ATF thru the dipstick tube, measuring how much you take out. And then put the same quantity you extract back in of fresh Dexron 3 ATF. This may work, although i would suggest it would be better to get the sump dropped and a full flush / clear out, given the issue. But if you are looking for a relatively cheap and DIY approach to see if it helps, might be worth a shot.

[kton2002]

Would also be worth checking the ATF level too, before you do any refresh. It could be low. There are guides on how to do this but engine needs to be hot and a good 20/30 min run, and it is checked whilst the engine is running and in park.

[Bongo Beard]

Thankyou for the advice the atf oil change and filter cleaning is a good start and I can do that myself taking the sump off and then at least I will also find out if my auto box is the 3 or 5 solenoid do you know where I can get a new sump gasket in case mine splits while removing Regards Bongo Beard

[Bongo Beard]

Just looking for Dexron 3 and not sure whether to use semi or full synthetic and how much I need what do others put in.
Regards
Bongo Beard

[Bongo Beard]

Ok just got back from a 40 mile drive and when first starting off all the gears were changing smoothly then after about 15 miles setting off from a junction 1st to 2nd was a bit hesitant and went into hold flashing mode this happened another two times I then stopped for about 15 minutes and drove home and although there was some hesitation again between 1st and 2nd I found by accelerating a bit more it didn't go into hold flashing mode,
when I got home I left the engine running handbrake on and went through all the gears R D S and L and pushed the hold button in each bar R and then checked the trannie fluid and blimey it was about 1inch to 11/2 inches above the highest mark on the stick this seems wrong so for now I'm planning on drawing off say about a litre of trans oil what do you all think. Regards Bongo Beard

[g8dhe]

Yes having a high fluid level can be as bad as a low one.
Was this a personal buy or was it from a garage if the latter then that's a bit naughty to say the least!

[kton2002]

I have done the extract and refill method but only got just under 3 litres out, partly due to being parked on an incline but even when I jacked up the bongo and made it level hardly any more came out so going to do another extract and refill of 3 litres in a few months time so at least a fair bit of the old stuff has been renewed at that point.

Reading the level of atf is tricky, are you sure it is overfilled? Check the other side of the dipstick too as one side on mine looks higher than the other where it pulls the fluid out and onto the side of the dipstick tube , it can make it look over filled. Worth doing a few times and you start to get a feel for it by checking one side of the stick as it has a more prominent line of where the level is.

How does the fluid look? Clear? Put it on a bit of tissue and see what colour it looks like