Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Eddi on 01 February 2011, 23:28:34

Title: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Eddi on 01 February 2011, 23:28:34
Hi all,

This is my first ever post, so I guess I could combine this with 'Hello I'm new' and 'Hello, help!'  ;D

I bought a 2.2 Auto Omega today.
The auto box seems fine up to around 60mph, but on the motorway it takes a real age to kick in/drop down a gear on heavy acceleration when overtaking - i.e. 65/70 up to 80 ish.  It's almost dangerous as it needs to be done promptly before a BMW is parked up your bottom in the fast lane at 100mph. 

Now, I don't know if it's just me not being used to an Auto and relatively small engine for a car of that size, or whether it's a fault?

Also at around 50mph, upon heavy acceleration there is some hesitation, as if it can't decide which gear to go in to for a second or two.  I presume this is a fault.  :-[

But I'm just looking for some general information about the 2.2 Auto and what sort of performance, as such, to expect and how reactive they are to hitting the gas?

Also, how to people use the gear stick.  Do you keep it in D most of the time, do you use 1-3 much?  And is S needed for overtaking?

Thanks awfully,

Ed
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Broomies Mate on 01 February 2011, 23:35:27
Boot it and it should drop to the lowest gear possible (within reason).

Sounds daft, but you havent got a floor mat or something underneath the pedal?

Sports Mode will keep the car in a lower gear for longer.  It doesn't do anything that 'Kick Down' doesn't do if your boot is firmly pressed against the floor.
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: v6power on 02 February 2011, 00:23:31
Do you know when the auto transmision fluid was last changed?
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Vamps on 02 February 2011, 00:40:11
Quote
Hi all,

This is my first ever post, so I guess I could combine this with 'Hello I'm new' and 'Hello, help!'  ;D

I bought a 2.2 Auto Omega today.
The auto box seems fine up to around 60mph, but on the motorway it takes a real age to kick in/drop down a gear on heavy acceleration when overtaking - i.e. 65/70 up to 80 ish. It's almost dangerous as it needs to be done promptly before a BMW is parked up your bottom in the fast lane at 100mph. 

Now, I don't know if it's just me not being used to an Auto and relatively small engine for a car of that size, or whether it's a fault?

Also at around 50mph, upon heavy acceleration there is some hesitation, as if it can't decide which gear to go in to for a second or two.  I presume this is a fault.  :-[

But I'm just looking for some general information about the 2.2 Auto and what sort of performance, as such, to expect and how reactive they are to hitting the gas?

Also, how to people use the gear stick.  Do you keep it in D most of the time, do you use 1-3 much?  And is S needed for overtaking?

Thanks awfully,

Ed

Use the 'S' sports button or if not floor the right hand pedal, the 2.2 will go but needs to be driven, in other words get your foot down..... :y
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Eddi on 02 February 2011, 01:30:58
Broomies - good point, there are 2 mats in their at the moment, so I'll check tomorrow.  Don't think it's preventing the pedal from going down though.

V6power - no I don't, but could this be a legit cause?  Would this be due to the quality of the fluid or the amount?

Vamps - I hear you and many have told me this.  I don't mind as I'm only intending to cruise in it, but I've had a 1.2 polo, a 1.6 Astra and a 2.5 Vectra (although never an automatic) so have some idea of how a car should accelerate from 60+ and right now I'm sure it should be dropping down a lot quicker.  :o

I've got a big drive tomorrow, so will report back once I've done some checks  :)
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Eddi on 04 February 2011, 16:06:46
I think it's been mainly a case of getting used to the auto transmission.  But there are still two primary issues.

1) Morning/cold start, for the first mile or two it just won't gear up.  First gear only!  After that it's pretty much fine, is this to do with the fluid warming up?

2) At around 50/60mph ish on heavy acceleration it struggles to decide which gear to go in to and there's a few seconds hesitation and I see the revs go up and down a little at about 5000rpm.  I have to ease off completely and then plant it again and it sort of sorts itself out.  :-/

Any help would be great  :)
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: v6power on 04 February 2011, 16:16:37
Do any of the warning light on the dash ever come on?
If its struggleing to gear change it might be a case of cleaning the gear selector switch. does it always do it when going fron 3rd-4th? if so could be a solonoid issue maybe.
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: v6power on 04 February 2011, 16:18:04
But i would start with changing the auto box trans fluid and make sure theres enough in there.
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Eddi on 04 February 2011, 17:34:36
Quote
Do any of the warning light on the dash ever come on?
If its struggleing to gear change it might be a case of cleaning the gear selector switch. does it always do it when going fron 3rd-4th? if so could be a solonoid issue maybe.

No warning lights at all.  It may be worth doing the paper clip test I guess as I came across a post explaining how to do it on here last night.

Gradual acceleration across the gears is fine pretty much I think, it's heavy acceleration at times it really messes up.
I did a long trip yesterday and it actually performed fine most of the time, so it is an inconsistent problem.
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: tunnie on 04 February 2011, 17:35:56
Quote
Quote
Do any of the warning light on the dash ever come on?
If its struggleing to gear change it might be a case of cleaning the gear selector switch. does it always do it when going fron 3rd-4th? if so could be a solonoid issue maybe.

No warning lights at all.  It may be worth doing the paper clip test I guess as I came across a post explaining how to do it on here last night.

Gradual acceleration across the gears is fine pretty much I think, it's heavy acceleration at times it really messes up.
I did a long trip yesterday and it actually performed fine most of the time, so it is an inconsistent problem.

You can't paperclip a 2.2, needs a code reader. Might be worth updating your profile with your location, someone near you may have one  :y
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Eddi on 04 February 2011, 17:56:41
Quote
Quote
Quote
Do any of the warning light on the dash ever come on?
If its struggleing to gear change it might be a case of cleaning the gear selector switch. does it always do it when going fron 3rd-4th? if so could be a solonoid issue maybe.

No warning lights at all.  It may be worth doing the paper clip test I guess as I came across a post explaining how to do it on here last night.

Gradual acceleration across the gears is fine pretty much I think, it's heavy acceleration at times it really messes up.
I did a long trip yesterday and it actually performed fine most of the time, so it is an inconsistent problem.

You can't paperclip a 2.2, needs a code reader. Might be worth updating your profile with your location, someone near you may have one  :y

Ah bugger.  Thanks for letting me know, although I'm sure I would have realised soon on in tomorrow morning  :(

I'm near Malvern, Worcestershire.  Will update  :y
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Omega 37 on 04 February 2011, 21:27:04
it not changing up the gears when cold is normal. I was told this was to let the cat convertor warm up.
mine changes down quickly when i punch the pedal down about an inch. drops down 2 gears sometimes at around 50.
never floor it to use the kickdown or have to use the sport button. I drive mostly in the fast lane so dont hang about.
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Eddi on 05 February 2011, 13:20:02
Quote
it not changing up the gears when cold is normal. I was told this was to let the cat convertor warm up.
mine changes down quickly when i punch the pedal down about an inch. drops down 2 gears sometimes at around 50.
never floor it to use the kickdown or have to use the sport button. I drive mostly in the fast lane so dont hang about.

Can the warming up of the cat be confirmed by anyone else?  It feels like a fault at the time.

Hmm, mine doesn't sound as responsive as yours, but I'd like to meet up with another 2.2 Auto member just to compare.  Just to put my mind at rest! :-X
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: the alarming man on 05 February 2011, 13:34:55
Quote
Quote
it not changing up the gears when cold is normal. I was told this was to let the cat convertor warm up.
mine changes down quickly when i punch the pedal down about an inch. drops down 2 gears sometimes at around 50.
never floor it to use the kickdown or have to use the sport button. I drive mostly in the fast lane so dont hang about.

Can the warming up of the cat be confirmed by anyone else?  It feels like a fault at the time.

Hmm, mine doesn't sound as responsive as yours, but I'd like to meet up with another 2.2 Auto member just to compare.  Just to put my mind at rest! :-X

mine is a bit slow to change up when cold..i thought it was a problem..never use the s button just use kick down to over take  :y
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Andy B on 05 February 2011, 14:50:30
Quote
...
Can the warming up of the cat be confirmed by anyone else?  It feels like a fault at the time. .....

They're designed to hang on to 1st when cold, as the Senator & Carlton before it. Obviously we don't drive your car so an only generalise.
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: Eddi on 05 February 2011, 17:10:44
Thank you both for that.  That's put my mind at rest a little.

Just the shifting under heavy acceleration mid range to sort now.  It's very hard to explain and diagnose on a forum, so I'll try and get a mechanic to have a test and report back.

Thanks for the responses  :y
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: SJKOO01 on 05 February 2011, 19:19:11
You could always pm 'Wellung' to see if he could come down to you and plug his dionostic unit in your car to see if you have any outstanding codes stored ?.

Not sure how much he'll charge, but he'll more than likely have more knowedge than your local mechanic.
Maybe worth a messasge to him if nothing else.

Though hasn't answered one of my messages of late, so could be on holiday or ill at the moment  :-?

Hope that helps?.  :y
Title: Re: 2.2 Automatic Newbie question
Post by: davethediver on 05 February 2011, 19:22:39
Think hes away at the moment hasn't been online since 26th Jan :-? :-?