Changing AU auto transmission fluid

[FGII-XR6]

I would go to a transmission specialist who knows what he is doing and does not wear a blue and white striped apron

Originally Posted by Denny

I got an email back from the trans specialists & it read,"bands are shim-set on manufacture & are not adjustable & a full-flush is extra".How much extra on top of the $210 they did not say!As far as I can see it should be a simple job to just drop the pan,change filter,0-ring & gasket & fill it up to level.Better than nothing & poss.do it again in 6 months.

[transolutions]

Originally Posted by Denny

Yes,they want $210 for the service here in Cairns,which probably isn't a full-flush.I'll see what the parts cost next week & call the auto specialists & see what they say will be done for $210.Then weigh it all up.Altho.it is a good feeling to do the job yourself.Like I fixed the cam-bolt leak & oil-switch thru the info that I got from youse fellas notes.

Geez thats prices I normally charge $120 with a flush new filter pan gasket and adjust bands if need be but I'm in Sydney them carines folk are charging threw the roof for a simple cheap transmission like the btr

[DRAGN6]

Hey Guys,
just after some professional advice here, as this entire thread has just been a really good read.

A LOT of the above members really know there stuff and would love any of their input.

Here it goes:
Recently swapped my BA Fairlane [740*** on clock] with a 2001 XR6 [303*** on clock]
The guy I did the swap with mentioned it having a slipping gearbox and I naturally thought "okay, Do a Trans Service ie: Flush, Filter & Fluid replacement etc".
Since owning it just over a week now, it hasn't been too bad really and have quite literally been only limping it around town here. I went to go out in it Yesterday and discovered that I had no reverse. I put it into 'Drive' and he moves forward, into reverse and NO reverse
I put it into reverse once more, built revs up a little [around 1500rpm] and I felt it grab, then heard a 'clunk'. Instantly, put it into park and shut him down.

Personally, I have a feeling it's not going to be the simple Flush etc as I was hoping it was going to be.
Haven't got the $$ to have it inspected yet, so thought that I would get some advice from you guys first. And since there are no real Trans Specialists in my town, it means taking the XR6 1.5hrs away, to my nearest repairer.

The simple question is this: Do I just do the Flush etc, check trans switch, all the usual things OR just rip this box out and get a new one??

I'd appreciate any feedback and apologise for the long description, but wanted to be thorough in describing my issue.

Cheers Guys,
Dave [Dragn6]

[transolutions]

Originally Posted by DRAGN6

Hey Guys,
just after some professional advice here, as this entire thread has just been a really good read.

A LOT of the above members really know there stuff and would love any of their input.

Here it goes:
Recently swapped my BA Fairlane [740*** on clock] with a 2001 XR6 [303*** on clock]
The guy I did the swap with mentioned it having a slipping gearbox and I naturally thought "okay, Do a Trans Service ie: Flush, Filter & Fluid replacement etc".
Since owning it just over a week now, it hasn't been too bad really and have quite literally been only limping it around town here. I went to go out in it Yesterday and discovered that I had no reverse. I put it into 'Drive' and he moves forward, into reverse and NO reverse
I put it into reverse once more, built revs up a little [around 1500rpm] and I felt it grab, then heard a 'clunk'. Instantly, put it into park and shut him down.

Personally, I have a feeling it's not going to be the simple Flush etc as I was hoping it was going to be.
Haven't got the $$ to have it inspected yet, so thought that I would get some advice from you guys first. And since there are no real Trans Specialists in my town, it means taking the XR6 1.5hrs away, to my nearest repairer.

The simple question is this: Do I just do the Flush etc, check trans switch, all the usual things OR just rip this box out and get a new one??

I'd appreciate any feedback and apologise for the long description, but wanted to be thorough in describing my issue.

Cheers Guys,
Dave [Dragn6]

Hey mate sorry to say sounds like it needs a rebuild what happens to these boxes they flake the clutch linings and they have a pressure solenoid issue and a few bushes move that stop or restrict oil flow. Pretty normal for a btr but not to costly compared to other transmissions.

[FGII-XR6]

A proper transmission service is more that oil and filter they inspect and adjust bands as required something that is best left to a specialist. by the sound of your oil it looks like your transmission is suffering from lack of proper maintenance and hasn't got long to live . once you get the burnt smell it is the beginning of the end

[Maka]

For piece of mind, if possible get the pro's to do it. The burnt smell could also be bands & or cluch plate material (the trans specialist will cut open & inspect the old filter for any friction material) they will know what to do adjustment wise to make the gearbox last longer.

Iirc the band adjustment on btr's arent very simple, burnt oil smell & colour indicates it hasnt been looked at for a while, your transmission probably needs expert tlc imo. Good luck with it!

cheers, Maka

[Maka]

Denny, taken from the link below (thanks FordMods)-

"On a EF - BF BTR trans, The band adjustments are done by selective shims,but the valvebody has to be removed & compressed air applied to the servo apply port & measure the distance when the band is fully applied."

That auto transmission joint should know better lol! Completely read the link for a better idea -

http://www.fordmods.com/gearbox-susp...nt-t74909.html

cheers, Maka

[redxm]

check the fluid level first

[Maka]

Hi DRAGN6, with 303kay on the clock & it showing obvious signs of trauma, replace the transmission, its at the end of its life (assuming its the stock box). Check your fluid level first to verify, if low top up & test, go from there. If its still doing it & your really keen, pull the pan & rip out the filter & cut it open - it could be full of clutch plate material like mine was- stuffed auto! If getting a reco get extended warranty as a priority. Good luck with it mate!

cheers,Maka

[DRAGN6]

Originally Posted by Maka

Hi DRAGN6, with 303kay on the clock & it showing obvious signs of trauma, replace the transmission, its at the end of its life (assuming its the stock box). Check your fluid level first to verify, if low top up & test, go from there. If its still doing it & your really keen, pull the pan & rip out the filter & cut it open - it could be full of clutch plate material like mine was- stuffed auto! If getting a reco get extended warranty as a priority. Good luck with it mate!

cheers,Maka

Hey Maka,
Mate, you're a top guy
You don't beat about the bush and tell it how it is. I really appreciate those traits in people '
My instinct just says to purely replace the box, so yes your opinion means much to me.
May I just throw this in the mix quickly and NOT intending to change the topic of this thread at all, but in doing trans, I will be inspecting the trans cooler etc. Since buying this XR6, the thermo fans run constant and not as 'Thermo Controlled' as they should. Temp sensor needs replacing, but motor doesn't get hot. In saying the ^^ above, this would also affect trans cooling etc, correct?
If so, then I'd suggest that I personally, get all that functioning properly, prior to the install of the new box.
Would I be on the right track there??

CHEERS for the input guys, greatly appreciated

[Maka]

Originally Posted by DRAGN6

Hey Maka,
Mate, you're a top guy
You don't beat about the bush and tell it how it is. I really appreciate those traits in people '
My instinct just says to purely replace the box, so yes your opinion means much to me.
May I just throw this in the mix quickly and NOT intending to change the topic of this thread at all, but in doing trans, I will be inspecting the trans cooler etc. Since buying this XR6, the thermo fans run constant and not as 'Thermo Controlled' as they should. Temp sensor needs replacing, but motor doesn't get hot. In saying the ^^ above, this would also affect trans cooling etc, correct?
If so, then I'd suggest that I personally, get all that functioning properly, prior to the install of the new box.
Would I be on the right track there??

CHEERS for the input guys, greatly appreciated

Thanks for the kind words mate! My original auto transmission suffered the no reverse syndrome also! I purchased a reco with extended warranty, run into some issues that stopped the transmission operating the way i like during the warranty period but because of the extended warranty & i'm a regular customer of the transmission shop, we worked together getting it right - now i have a near new transmission with new planetary gears etc & no 1st gear whine! Tamworth Auto Transmissions (selfish little plug lol!) looked after me awesomely!

Yes its a good idea to get your fans working properly, can you confirm the fans start operating when the temp needle hits the first line under the N of Normal (80c) on the temp gauge when stopped & the fans cutout above 20- 25 kmh when moving off? If you cant confirm, check & swap around your fan relays in the fuse box under the bonnet - you may have a faulty relay.

cheers, Maka

[DRAGN6]

Originally Posted by Maka

Thanks for the kind words mate! My original auto transmission suffered the no reverse syndrome also! I purchased a reco with extended warranty, run into some issues that stopped the transmission operating the way i like during the warranty period but because of the extended warranty & i'm a regular customer of the transmission shop, we worked together getting it right - now i have a near new transmission with new planetary gears etc & no 1st gear whine! Tamworth Auto Transmissions (selfish little plug lol!) looked after me awesomely!

Yes its a good idea to get your fans working properly, can you confirm the fans start operating when the temp needle hits the first line under the N of Normal (80c) on the temp gauge when stopped & the fans cutout above 20- 25 kmh when moving off? If you cant confirm, check & swap around your fan relays in the fuse box under the bonnet - you may have a faulty relay.

cheers, Maka

Hey Maka,
In all honesty, I haven't done the full inspection of relays etc as yet, as have only driven it about 5 times around town since owning it.
The guy I got the XR6 from, did inform me that the Temp Sensor was damaged by someone a few weeks back and I'm considering swapping it with the one from Dragn6, if they are compatible
Some things are compatible between the AU series and some things aren't lol. Swapping/buying new temp sensor is actually highest on my priorities list right now, just gotta find my damn Allen Keys

Once changed the Temp Sensor, then I will fire it up and see IF the needle starts to move at all

Cheers Maka

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Maka

Tamworth Auto Transmissions

Quite a few years ago we had a Verada that insisted on slipping into Limp Home mode. Anyhoo, $3000 later it was repaired and we left on the Fri afternoon to drive to Sydney.

Got to Armidale and the pos went into Limp Home mode again.

What to do?
Tow truck back to Bris for warranty repair didn't sound wonderful.

Booked into motel and on the Sat morning into yellow pages for auto guy in Armidale. At the time we couldn't find one but a mechanic told us that if we could get it down to Tamworth he'd ring his mate at Tamworth Auto Transmissions and get him to have a look at it for us.

Got it down there, well past their Saturday closing time, but the guy waited for us. Told him the story..... just rebuilt but exactly the same symptoms etc etc.

He had a bit of a fiddle around, got a spanner and screwdriver, removed something, cleaned it up and put it back on and voila! Good as new.

Turned out the contacts in the TPS were corroded and that's what caused the Limp Home issue.

Were we ripped off for an apparent $3000 "repair". All he said was to see if the problem recurred and we could make up our own mind about that.

All was good so I'd say we were :(

He wouldn't accept anything for staying back helping us out but I wrote to the local Tamworth paper when we home telling them about the incident and how happy we were with T.A.T.

[JC]

I had slipping reverse in our 1998 XR6 Auto a few years ago now, with similar symptoms to what you have described - topped up fluid, and all was good. So you might be lucky.

[DRAGN6]

Originally Posted by JC

I had slipping reverse in our 1998 XR6 Auto a few years ago now, with similar symptoms to what you have described - topped up fluid, and all was good. So you might be lucky.

Hey Mate,
sorry, missed your post
All goes well, then I could only hope that I am as lucky as you were.
I just didn't like the 'Clunk' that it made, when it did finally select reverse and haven't driven it since.

[aussiblue]

See http://www.ellery.com.au/pdf/Update%20EP.TRANF.pdf for band adjustment.

[DRAGN6]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

See http://www.ellery.com.au/pdf/Update%20EP.TRANF.pdf for band adjustment.

Cheers Mate,
I'll have a GOOD read of that shortly, manuals etc are always useful and in just reading the first part ............. Ohhhhhhhh jOY

Much appreciated, now to get my tooling and my CB250 home

[Maka]

No worries DRAGN6, i hope its something cheap & easy for you to fix! Good luck with it!

Cheers, Maka

[redxm]

+1 for another thumbs up for TATS
Opened up on a sunday for me to drop off dad's AU when it played up. Ended up being an electrical plug inside the box. It was fixed for under $100.

[DRAGN6]

Originally Posted by redxm

+1 for another thumbs up for TATS
Opened up on a sunday for me to drop off dad's AU when it played up. Ended up being an electrical plug inside the box. It was fixed for under $100.

GUYS!! Yas are making me want to get my car to Tamworth, but I'm in SA

I have actually heard from a couple of others here in SA, that Tamworth is the place to go, so yeah, IF I was up there, I'd be there
Gonna work on doing a FLUSH etc in 1.5 weeks and get what I can done in the mean time

Ohhh and to those that gave me feedback regarding the Temp Sensor, Turns out the idiot has removed it and put a grub screw or something in there instead. Finally found it and now dealing with that ...... annnnnnd, upon my inspections, have also found no trans cooler
Tow hitch and no trans cooler?? some people, I tell yas

[DRAGN6]

Hey Guys,
Finally got car jacked up 'Perfectly Level'!! Yes, Perfectly Level, went as far as testing the oil pan with a spirit level

You wouldn't believe it, but I received the opposite, to what I was expecting.
Instead of taking the filler plug out and it being low on fluid, removed filler plug almost all the way and fluid literally came gushing out at me
NOT what I was expecting, so yeah, looking forward to a hot shower

Nothing in my manual tells me what would cause this issue, but obviously, it's been overfilled, but, would being overfilled, cause the gearbox to slip, now lose reverse and wanna jump forward when in 'Park'??
It's simply gonna sit like it is until next week, when I get another mate to come and take a look. Gonna drain the fluid, remove filter etc and do a full inspection plus maybe flush, pending the inspection of gears etc

In all honesty, I think it's gonna come down to a new gearbox, but doing everything I can to avoid spending good $$ lol

Cheers Guys,
Dave

[FGII-XR6]

I'm assuming your car has a dipstick. not standard on the AU but some do have them fitted if the transmission has been out. the reason the got rid of the dipstick is people were overfilling causing problems. it is hard to overfill if there is no dipstick as it just runs out the hole.

Originally Posted by DRAGN6

Hey Guys,
Finally got car jacked up 'Perfectly Level'!! Yes, Perfectly Level, went as far as testing the oil pan with a spirit level

You wouldn't believe it, but I received the opposite, to what I was expecting.
Instead of taking the filler plug out and it being low on fluid, removed filler plug almost all the way and fluid literally came gushing out at me
NOT what I was expecting, so yeah, looking forward to a hot shower

Nothing in my manual tells me what would cause this issue, but obviously, it's been overfilled, but, would being overfilled, cause the gearbox to slip, now lose reverse and wanna jump forward when in 'Park'??
It's simply gonna sit like it is until next week, when I get another mate to come and take a look. Gonna drain the fluid, remove filter etc and do a full inspection plus maybe flush, pending the inspection of gears etc

In all honesty, I think it's gonna come down to a new gearbox, but doing everything I can to avoid spending good $$ lol

Cheers Guys,
Dave

[DRAGN6]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

I'm assuming your car has a dipstick. not standard on the AU but some do have them fitted if the transmission has been out. the reason the got rid of the dipstick is people were overfilling causing problems. it is hard to overfill if there is no dipstick as it just runs out the hole.

nah mate, no dippy
IF correct and my instinct is on the money, then what I think has happened, is that the filter has blocked so badly, giving fluid nowhere to go and simply built up in the pan.
In simple terms, no fluid cycling happening due to blocked filter.
Gonna drain and inspect today hopefully
I'm hoping that my GEARBOX issue is ALL being caused by a blocked filter, can honestly only hope

[mik]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

I'm assuming your car has a dipstick. not standard on the AU but some do have them fitted if the transmission has been out. the reason the got rid of the dipstick is people were overfilling causing problems. it is hard to overfill if there is no dipstick as it just runs out the hole.

and people were also putting the wrong oil them, which also can cause problems.

[TRAU BLAU]

oes anyone know much about the VSS{vehicle speed sender[sensor]**that hides up top of the extension of the box?I've got a slow but persistent leak coming from up there & am wondering if it's the old O ring worn again.Has anyone fixed one of these-as usual it's hard to get to.I may as well fix this before changing fluid.

[peterljohnson55]

You might want to think about the following as well, while you are under there...
- rear main engine seal
- rear welch plug
- rebush oil pump, m/c cover, fit seal

If the trans is out you should get a full reconditioning ... (new?) torque converter, clutches, bearings, bushes, because you don't want to have to go back there - just removing and replacing is many hours, and costly if commercially done.

[TRAU BLAU]

Originally Posted by peterljohnson55

You might want to think about the following as well, while you are under there...
- rear main engine seal
- rear welch plug
- rebush oil pump, m/c cover, fit seal

If the trans is out you should get a full reconditioning ... (new?) torque converter, clutches, bearings, bushes, because you don't want to have to go back there - just removing and replacing is many hours, and costly if commercially done.

Thanks for reply but what you're talking about is thousands of dollars worth mate.Yes I agree the rear extension seal should be replaced but where's the welch plug?I mean the BTR 93 is working ok it's just a persistent leak coming down from the top of the extension housing.I'll see what the experts want to charge.No the trans is not out;I drive it every day.

[Evgeni]

Originally Posted by Denny

Thanks for reply but what you're talking about is thousands of dollars worth mate.Yes I agree the rear extension seal should be replaced but where's the welch plug?I mean the BTR 93 is working ok it's just a persistent leak coming down from the top of the extension housing.I'll see what the experts want to charge.No the trans is not out;I drive it every day.

Its probably the actual speed transducer. These can leak - you can pick up one from Ford for about $80. I think they are cheaper online.

You can also get an extension housing service kit that contains the bush, rear seal and gasket. Can't remember if the bolts are 12point or spline drive, but either way, the socket is going be the cheapest thing you will buy. You will however need a press to get the bush out and obviously the spacers needed to press the bush out - if in fact it is leaking from the rear seal. Worst case scenario, take the extension housing off and take it to a transmission shop and see if they will change the bush over for you.

[DRAGN6]

Quick followup to my issue guys

Spent $250.00 having FLUSH etc done on my box, but found metal and other crap in the box, so it's beyond it's used by date sadly

NOW have a 5 speed ready to go, just picked up the Pedal Box and now just need the ring gear and cable, then should be set to go

I appreciate ALL the previous help and advice, but I've now chosen to convert to 5 speed manual and get the most of the performance from the XR6 that I can

I know that this isn't the thread for it, but IF anyone has any info/ cables / ring gear to achieve the conversion, then please inbox me.

Cheers,
Dave