Can someone please offer advice ....... I have a 1999 "fully spec'd" 2.2 cdxi auto estate with a Y22XE engine attached to, according to the vauxhall main dealer, a 4 speed sealed auto transmission unit that requires "no maintenance" and if it develops a fault is a specialist remove and repair/replace item. There are no oil leaks so I have no reason to suspect gearbox/transmission fluid loss.
Within the last few months I have had several annoying minor issues with my beloved car. Firstly, I replaced the entire exhaust system, including a cracked manifold and 4 tyres for the MOT. Secondly I replaced, the mass air flow meter, after the car just stopped! Then after this the gearbox developed a problem ..... from cold it seemed to take a long time to change from 1st to second then when the engine got to 3500 rpm the orange engine management light came on and the dash screen said "automatic gearbox, check" - after registering this fault code the gearbox went into "limp home" mode. Then after a few miles the throttle also stopped responding. I limped to my local mechanic who advised me that there was a full page of fault codes suggesting the throttle potentiometer was at fault, so he fitted a new one and it seemed to work.... for about 3 weeks .......... now I have the same symptoms all over again
He has checked the fault code data and told me that the gearbox needs replacing as the fault now appears to be mechanical not electronic and suggested I contact a local auto transmission specialist.
So armed with my new knowledge and on a nice sunny day I went to this recommended auto transmission specialist (?) he connected his fault reader to the car and told me there were so many faults recorded that he doubts it is the box as it is almost unheard of for all the part failures/faults to be recorded at the same time. So he cleared all fault codes and asked me to drive up the road until the fault showed and then come back asap so he could see the new fault code ....... Guess what .... the car drove perfectly, smooth as ever, fast acceleration, sport mode, cruise control, I tried everything that previously had resulted in "limp home" mode...... nothing. And this continued for the next three, dry, sunny, warm days (note weather!) then two days ago it was raining and 5 minutes down the road, the car jolted slightly (almost like an engine misfire) and up popped the engine management light & message "automatic gearbox check" and went into "limp home mode", but this time with no lack of throttle problems.
Having read several forums over the last month it would appear I am not the only person to have similar problems, so this time I thought I would try something different based on what I had read .... so switched off, removed key. Switched back on, still in limp home mode so drove it using manual changes....... worked perfectly apart from very slight jolt between 1st & 2nd but it got me to the nearest petrol station, switched off, removed key and went for a much needed coffee to calm down. Returned to car, started up ..... no lights or message so thought I'd try my luck, into D, worked perfectly for the hour long drive home in various types of traffic and dual carraigeway driving? Then yesterday morning (still wet after overnight rain) switched on ignition, the engine management light stayed on and before I had even moved the "auto gearbox check" message popped up on the screen.
So I drove in "manual mode" to this "specialist" and his fault reader said "torque control error". His comment of " I'm not sure what would cause that, but if you leave it with us we will have a look" did not instill a huge amount of confidence so needless to say my car is still on my driveway.
Something else that has just occurred to me is that on all these occasions when the fault message has come up I have had a fully laden boot area, with either suitcases when on an airport run, fishing gear or most recently bagged up building sand,,,,, am i just hoping or is there a sensor that activates any form torque control when the car is fully laden that could be malfunctioning
Also when you switch the ignition on but without the engine running there is a faint clicking noise (similar to a solenoid actuator not engaging properly) coming from under the gear selector facia on the centre console
? is there anything electronic under there that could be causing my problems
I am now seriously doubting any mechanical fault as the gearbox seems to be working perfectly when everything else is in it's favour!
Please accept my apologies for the length of this post but I thought I would give as much info and symptoms as possible. Can anyone please offer any suggestions as to where or what part I might focus my attention on as I am now in the "how much more money do I throw at this car syndrome".
Many thanks
Author
Topic: Auto Gearbox fault ??? (Read 2294 times)