Hey guys..

just wondering if anyone can help me.. my TH Advance Wagon is having the following problems (only since yesterday - and my mechanic is closed until Monday, and of course its a business car):

* moving from Park to Reverse - only seems to select reverse 20% of the time and usually only when the car has been driven for 30+ mins.
* if it doesn't select reverse first time, I can SOMETIMES drag it through to drive and back up to reverse and it might work

The characteristics are strange though - all of the research I have done on here to find a solution, it seems everyone has trouble with it "clunking" into reverse - mine doesn't!! the revs drop ever-so-slightly (like normal) as if it is in gear, the reverse lights come on (so I assume it isn't a fuse issue - please correct me if I am wrong!), and I don't think it is in Limp mode - I have had it in Limp mode once before and only had 3rd gear.. I currently have ALL forward gears and reverse 20% of the time.

Can anyone please help me????

cable adjustment. or fluid level.

Thanks MadMax,

If it was a cable adjustment needed, would the reverse light still come on as per usual? just a little confused as the car "acts" as though its in reverse.. it just wont move :(

I haven't checked the fluid as yet - and its 40 degrees outside so might leave it for early tomorrow morning or later tonight :)

Thanks again :)

Not cable

Is the first sign if the planetary set coming to bits, most likely a bit of the cage or retainer is blocking the valve body

Is either replace or rebuild

If was the TCU then you would get limp mode which sounds like you have had before, would pay to check the trans fluid level to be sure but I highly doubt is the issue

Also check fluid when trans is hot with motor running

OK.. thanks for the advice Madmagna.. although it's not the news I wanted to hear :(

This morning when I started it to bring to work, I put it in reverse, again nothing but after 5 seconds it seemed to buck/jolt itself into reverse and move - that's when I decided to take the old work car out of retirement and bring it.. I have reversed our normal work car into my driveway so I can take it for a 30min spin tonight and warm it up and check the fluid. And thanks for letting me know that I need to check the fluid while its hot - I had no idea!!

My mechanic is an ex-Mitsubishi service fella - known around here as "misterbishi" lol

I'll let you all know how I go Monday :)

Oh, and Madmagna, what I have explained in this.. still seems like the planetary set???

Thanks,
beefytp

OK Guys - fluid checked and is clean, not smelly and not dark..

Took to my mechanic yesterday and confirmed that it is mechanical :( reverse gear clutch plates appear to be the problem. I have the option of getting just the reverse gear re-conditioned (approx $500 quoted) or the whole gearbox re-conditioned for $1000-$1500 with around a week downtime (they recommend doing the full re-co as there is a circlip that is renowned for breaking).. they do however warrant their work - 12 month warranty on the re-co - which I suppose is a plus.

Pretty sure I will go with the full re-co as it is a business car and I am not looking to sell it anywhere in the near future (it used to belong to my grandfather before he passed away) and it has only just ticked 150k

As always thanks to Murphy and his Law, this had to happen at the worst possible financial time.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions :)

OK Guys - fluid checked and is clean, not smelly and not dark..

Took to my mechanic yesterday and confirmed that it is mechanical :( reverse gear clutch plates appear to be the problem. I have the option of getting just the reverse gear re-conditioned (approx $500 quoted) or the whole gearbox re-conditioned for $1000-$1500 with around a week downtime (they recommend doing the full re-co as there is a circlip that is renowned for breaking).. they do however warrant their work - 12 month warranty on the re-co - which I suppose is a plus.

Pretty sure I will go with the full re-co as it is a business car and I am not looking to sell it anywhere in the near future (it used to belong to my grandfather before he passed away) and it has only just ticked 150k

As always thanks to Murphy and his Law, this had to happen at the worst possible financial time.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions :)

Since you are in vic, take it to Madmagna.

I'm actually in NSW - it comes up with VIC for some reason :S