Hi all,

I've searched through the posts and I believe that my auto is not up to spec but I'd thought I'd ask the question to make sure.

I have a TF Magna v6 with a auto tranny. After a drive to the coast about 150 k's I pulled up at home with no sign of a problem. The next morning I hopped into my car and engaged 'D for Drag' with no result. I tried 1st, 2nd and 3rd with no joy either. The car would move very unwillingly forward for about 5 meters and then stop. (It was facing uphill). No matter which gear I then tried the car would not move forward.

I put it into 'R for race' and it went backwards okay. (As I had to get back up to my house I drove down the street in reverse. U-Turn in reverse. Then back up the street in reverse. And then a reverse u-turn through an intersection to get back to my house).

Basically the only gear that would engage was reverse.

So. After much reading I believe that I my tranny has gone to the tranny heaven but before I say good bye I need to make sure by:

Disconnect and reconnect battery. (low chance)
Change and flush tranny fluid with special Magna tranny fluid. (low +1 chance)

Is there anything else I can get checked? Bands, clutch, enager thingy's (To tired to think of the word)?

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Frank

You can try the battery trick, its worth a shot and its free :)

Check your tranny fluid, if its black - well, thats not really good.

I'de be hoping its an electrical bug that re-setting the TCU will solve. Fingers crossed.

There is (or has been) a fatal flaw in Auto Tranny's, where a clip breaks-up, flows through the box (maybe even thru the internal filter) and jams the oil-pump - shattering the oil-pump rotor. This stops all drive whatsoever - no forward,no reverse. SO - we know you haven't suffered that fate!! (Cost me $2200- to get that fixed).

There's clutch-packs could be a problem on forward gears, there's a hydraulic valve-body, and there's solenoids, I guess there's also the brain-box (but don't think that's likely). The workshop manuals in Tech Torque thread may have some info in the auto-transaxle chapter - I'd recommend you have a bit of a read through that, just to be an educated consumer even if you plan to pay someone to fix it. There may be a "troubleshooter" flowchart to suggest what is most likely to require service.

If something can be serviced in-car, your likely to be only slightly poor. If they have to have the box out of the car and pull it down, you'll be more poor. There have been a few threads where some of the knowledgeable guys have given opinions of costs and the repair/swap decision.

I had to pay $2200- to rebuild a box on a 57K 2000-built Verada - wasn't Happy Jan, BUT thought my low-KM box would be better than an exchange one I knew nil about, AND was very happy that the mob who fixed it were honest, knowledgeable and they have continued to look after me.

I know its not all that much help, but the exact same thing happened to me in my 94 lancer 3speed auto... It needed to be rebuilt...:rant:

have the car towed to a tranny repairer of your choice and have a diagnostic done

the tranny should be serviced once a year

if the oil is red
could be a solenoid or computer problem

if the oil is dark brownish it maybe drive & friction plates = partial rebuild

thats low km for a tranny and the good thing is
you have reverse so its not torque converter or oil pump


price a s/h tranny from a wrecker just in case a swap is more economical

Hi all and thanks for the responses. Been a bit busy so not much has happened but finally had a crack at it on the week-end.

Went to the Magna shop and bought 10 liters of auto fluid. Drained what was there via the plug, (so didn't change filter or disconnect any hoses), and it was filthy black. Replaced with approx 4 litres. Started and ran the motor with no noticable difference. Then drained that, (and it was black, dirty filthy as well), and put in another 4 liters approx.

This time the car would engage drive and move forward on a flat surface and was definately trying to engage a forward gear actually either downshifting or trying to engage first. As I live in a hilly area I couldn't get enough of a run to see if it would move through the gears.

Point it there was absolutely forward movement and I was thinking if this would help to shed any light on the problem.

I think that the next step is to take it to a tranny place to have a full flush down and the kick down inspected. (I was thinking maybe it couldn't engage a lower gear here).

As the oil was really dark with some gunk on the magnetic drain plug I am hoping that a full flush will cure it or unlodge some gunk. Next preferance would be clutch plates and then I've got to go see the bank.

Thanks again in advance

Frank