The basics are;
Tj 4spd Auto - 109K on the Odo.
Transmission was flushed with Mitsu SP-III @ 70K
Transmission has always been a little sluggish when cold and very occasionally stuttered from a standstill after sitting for a while (at long lightsequences)

About 10 days (on a 30+ degree day) the transmission reacted quite violently on several occasions (hard down shifts, lurching, flaring). I checked the fluid level and it was at the bottom of hot (level was acceptable). so I filled it to the top of hot and car seemed okay afterwards.

But now, every morning when the car has been sitting for 5-6hrs, the transmission;
is difficult to physically engage D (with shifter),
has a 6 second lag from N to R, N to D
Flares through all gear changes
and hard shifts down.

Once the Transmission is up to temperature though, it is as smooth as silk and you wouldn't even think anything is wrong with it. quick change between N to R and N to D, no flaring, smooth shifting.

I flushed the transmission again at 108.5K and fluid was brown (after only 38K since last change)
Problem still exists.

Is it only a matter of time before the dreaded Mitsu-wobbles destroy another young transmission or do I just have to put up with this.

I spoke to a transmission specialist and I was told that there is nothing that can be done without spending $1,000's.

surely a second hand auto box cant cost that much, i know of one going for $100 on here, why not try a second hand box and if that goes bang as well youve only lost $100. if it doesnt youve saved $1k

i know when i did my manual conversion i gave mine away

sounds like a pretty sick tranny.
if i was you i would look at sourcing a second box, that is your cheaper option.
new and rebuild are very expensive.

exactly what i thought

ive seen a few people on here spend thousands on reconditioning an auto box and i never understood why

Other thing you could try is having the fluid flushed again. It may come good or may not. But worth it as a trans will cost 10x the price. Cheap fix if it works..:)

lol add a bottle of auto tranny reconditioner, to the new fluid.
i did it, when i did my flush.

i dont know, but isnt 38k a bit far for an auto transmission service??? i do mine at 25k inter's???

i dont know, but isnt 38k a bit far for an auto transmission service??? i do mine at 25k inter's???

i had mine for 40k and never serviced it. it never missed a beat, but im sure regular services cant hurt

i had mine for 40k and never serviced it. it never missed a beat, but im sure regular services cant hurt

suppose it depends on how you drive it to eh? i drive like i stole it!lol

suppose it depends on how you drive it to eh? i drive like i stole it!lol

maybe the 3rd gen boxes are built better too, i dunno, but if it stayed in i woulda serviced it

Try changing the FILTER,then do the conditioner and all other things as suggested by LOWRIDER.

Monster Inc, the 4-spd tippy from my KJ is available after my manual conversion if you're thinking of getting another box. 120K km on it when it was removed from my car in Nov 2008. Still shifted smooth as without any issues. PM me if you want to talk further :)

Could be numerious amounts of things,i had my transmission serviced about 1 year ago and my car has 182,000km's on the clock.
When mine was done,they flushed it with 5L's of transmission fluid before putting in the new filter and fluid,never had a problem with my gear box at all(touch wood:D )
The whole temperature situation could be something like a sensor but im not a mechanic so i cant say but you did mention it was playing up when cold then all sweet when warmed up.
Best to take to a specialist and leave the car there with them for the day and see what they have to say but make sure they wont rip you off and tell ya a bunch of lies cause alot of the times,they will be lazy and tell ya to get a new box,could be something simple!

Yuck. The transmission on my VN packed it in at 220 000 km... had to drive 150 km in second to get to a town (in SA) to have a 2nd hand one put in (it had 180 000 km on it and made it through to when we sold the car at 320 000 km).

Makes me glad I have a 2nd gen transmission cooler on my TJII now.

Good luck with the recon/swap over.

Firstly i would disconnect the battery and reset the computer.
Then i would program the tranny via the following instructions.

It actually works if you follow it as it says.

Give that a go before you go stressing about a new tranny.

Also, is the fluid nice and pink or going a little brown dirty? if not really pink, then i would get a full transmission flush. Will cost around $150.

109k is pretty premature if the gearbox were to give up. Especially if you have changed the Gearbox oil twice.

Try the reprogramming of the computer as suggested by FamilyWagon.

There is also a method to re-train N-R and N-D. I think the people at your last service did not do this or was not aware.

As for the cold start gear flaring, there is nothing you can do. It keeps happening to me from the day i bought my magna, but only the first gear change sequence (when cold) and never happens after that ever. This is not a severe enough problem to worry me.

If all fails, you just have to wait till the box seizes and start sourcing a second hand one soon so your mechanic does not rip you off.

When you fix the problem, (and if you have kids) buy your P-plater a cheap car so he/she does not wreck your gearbox. They are champions in that.

Thanks for all the posts.

My response to some of the posts;

The newer Transmission in the later TJ series F4A51K2B5B does not have an external Filter.

A full flush is 8.5L.

It's definently not a computer problem. Yesterday morning, it took 10 secs of mild accelerator to get enough fluid pressure into the torque converter to move the car forward. After that, it was a bit twitchy but again once warm it still feels like a new transmission.

Previous Fluid went from Red/pink to used engine oil colour in 38,000Km. I will monitor the fluid condition and see how quickly it burns again.

My gut feel is that the pump/torque converter is leaking fluid back into the sump of a night resulting in the temporary lack of fluid in the morning. Perhaps the pump is suffering generally from low pressure resulting in it (the gearbox) working harder and getting hotter which is burning the oil.

I'll continue to monitor it. I have sourced a very low km second hand gearbox should I need it.

Sunday Morning, two young kids in the car, 80km/h, suddenly no gears, Flashing Neutral light....Yup, Transmission dead at 110K.:cry:

Thank God for the RACV.

New (low km) box going in today. I hope this one makes it past 110K.:doubt:

FYI - If your auto magna ever bunny hops off from the lights, you've got about 50km left before it dies.

I think it would be a interesting to find out whether certain builds of 3rd Gens are more prone to failure than others. I've read a few stories on here about similar low km failures from other TJ's.

Cheers,
Mons.

Sunday Morning, two young kids in the car, 80km/h, suddenly no gears, Flashing Neutral light....Yup, Transmission dead at 110K.:cry:

Oh No, Sad to hear. Thanks for the bunny hopping tip and all the tell tale symptoms of a transmission failure. will keep that in mind.

Got the Magna back from the shop today.

Driving very nicely again. The Shop Owner commented on how nice it was to drive. :cool:

I'll give them a plug for their professionalism.

Engines Plus, Cheltenham. Talk to Steven.

Here's to trouble free motoring. (*touchwood*)

Got the Magna back from the shop today.

Driving very nicely again. The Shop Owner commented on how nice it was to drive. :cool:

I'll give them a plug for their professionalism.

Engines Plus, Cheltenham. Talk to Steven.

Here's to trouble free motoring. (*touchwood*)


Did they tell you what the problem was with the transmission?
Good to hear that all is well, and will continue to be.

Did they tell you what the problem was with the transmission?
Good to hear that all is well, and will continue to be.

They haven't pulled it apart yet. The transmission is going to be sent off to a rebuilder who will strip it down and refurbish it. I have asked for a diagnosis when this happens so I hope they come back to me. I still think it was the oil pump that failed though.

What does bunny hopping exactly mean? Incase it happens to my car I have to be prepared!

What does bunny hopping exactly mean? Incase it happens to my car I have to be prepared!

My auto TJ was lurching forward (like a cute little 1500kg red bunny rabbit hopping along) as the Transmission repeatedly tried to engage power from the engine. It is a term normally associated with learner drivers in manual cars as they incorrectly engage the clutch.

My auto TJ was lurching forward (like a cute little 1500kg red bunny rabbit hopping along) as the Transmission repeatedly tried to engage power from the engine. It is a term normally associated with learner drivers in manual cars as they incorrectly engage the clutch.

In my era, the action that Learner Drivers who were doing the lurching as they tried to co-ordinate clutch and accelarator was called "kangaroo hop" boin' boin' boin'

In my era, the action that Learner Drivers who were doing the lurching as they tried to co-ordinate clutch and accelarator was called "kangaroo hop" boin' boin' boin'

Cars are smaller these days. And have fluffy rear ends.

My 97 Verada may be heading the same way, about how much did it cost to replace the 'box?

Try changing the FILTER,then do the conditioner and all other things as suggested by LOWRIDER.
I was told by my mechanic there is no filter on the auto transmission on my TL. Is this right?

My 97 Verada may be heading the same way, about how much did it cost to replace the 'box?
2nd hand low km gearbox can be from $650 to $1000 in my experience. Install cost me about $400 including fluid.

2nd hand low km gearbox can be from $650 to $1000 in my experience. Install cost me about $400 including fluid.
OK, $1500 is less than I had feared, although still more than I'd like...

I tried the reset/relearn trick that was posted here, as well as a fluid change, and it's still acting up, so it seems likely that something big and heavy is going to need replacing soon.

I was told by my mechanic there is no filter on the auto transmission on my TL. Is this right?

Correct, TE-TH had spin on's TJ onward had zip.

Correct, TE-TH had spin on's TJ onward had zip.
Lovely, cheers Daniel.

Well, after a week in surgery, the new gearbox is in, and it's still acting up!

Now the dude is taking about computers and ****, all I'm hearing is $$$$$$.... :cry:

Mines been flaring between gears when accelerating moderately to hard, but it's done 280,000kms. Never had any troubles (touch wood) with take off or when it's first started but I always try to make sure I warm it up rather than just jump in and take off cold.

In my era, the action that Learner Drivers who were doing the lurching as they tried to co-ordinate clutch and accelarator was called "kangaroo hop" boin' boin' boin'

Depends on the country you are from. Bunny hop is indeed the term associated with leaners trying to drive a manual in the UK.