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[John Lewis]

Hi

I've come to the conclusion my dry feeling, bad changing gearbox is caused by the selector switch (autobox fluid level is OK, recent DexIII change); the car did 60k in the Lake district before I got it (wet maybe?) and the lights do misbehave now and then next to the gearstick. Also it has trouble changing back down a gear when you ease off the gas at around 40mph, sometimes slipping out until you change gear again, say to 3 then back to drive. I can get it to behave by doing this, albeit heavy gear changes like it can only just manage it, with no warnings unless I leave it to freewheel without correcting, when I get 'Automatic Gearbox' on the display.

Also after a recent oil change I wiped the switch's connector and noticed a bit more response from the car.

So my deduction is hopefully a good one, and there's life in the old dog yet.

But my questions are...

- Is taking off the selector switch and cleaning it a fool-proof job?
- Is there anything I need to bear in mind when attempting it?
- What do I clean it with, WD40? Carb spray?
- Will I make a mess putting it back in, say snarl up anything else?
- Is there a reverse switch I need to look out for?
- Will it all fall apart if I'm not careful, and leave me with egg on me face?

I've seen Marie's pic in another thread so know what I'm looking for now, thanks for that, and my mate has a pit in his garage about 100yds down the road. If anyone can point me in the direction of a guide on here excellent, but I couldn't find one doing a search.

So can anyone help a n00b out by putting my mind at rest here?

Cheers guys

John

[albitz]

if it has moisture in it ,a squirt of wd-40 might do the trick.i dont know that much about them tbh,but i have taken an old one apart just to have a look and there isnt much inside .i would,nt worry about taking the cover off,you wont have lots of little bits and pieces flying around.hope this helps a bit

[TheBoy]

May be worth having one from a breaker, incase you can't clean yours up too well.  Bit fiddly to remove, 2 screws and one big cable connection iirc

[John Lewis]

Nice, thanks. I was having visions of taking part an old watch and the springs flying out!! Do I have to observe the position its in too and put it back in exactly the same position?

Gonna line one up at a breakers too me thinks. Rocker cover being done shortly, heres hoping for a return to form for the ubermega.

 

[bob.dent]

May be worth having one from a breaker, incase you can't clean yours up too well.  Bit fiddly to remove, 2 screws and one big cable connection iirc

......and (apparently)burnt hands if the cats are still hot!!

[John Lewis]

^^Lovin your miggy. Very tasty.* Is that one of those Kamei grilles?

*Unlike the whale on your avatar, lol!!


EDIT: Or could it be Irmscher [smiley=lolk.gif]

[Marks DTM Calib]

May be worth having one from a breaker, incase you can't clean yours up too well.  Bit fiddly to remove, 2 screws and one big cable connection iirc

......and (apparently)burnt hands if the cats are still hot!!

Easier on the early cars Bob as they dont have the pre-cats.

[bob.dent]

^^Lovin your miggy. Very tasty.* Is that one of those Kamei grilles?

*Unlike the whale on your avatar, lol!!


EDIT: Or could it be Irmscher [smiley=lolk.gif]

Yep, it's an Irmscher grille   (without the Irmscher badge)

[John Lewis]

Right - an update.

Took off the selector switch, cleaned it (2 screws & 1 nut btw, and yes stays hot for  a while, lol).

Put it back on and now everythings 1000% better on gear shifting, smooth as....

apart from christmas tree lights on my gear shift!  

P, N, fine, D stays at N, then for 1,2,3 it goes nuts. Works when you push the stick a bit so I presume its a bit out, or the switch is on its last legs Looked fine inside, no corrosion whatsoever, cleaned up a treat.

Car was in park when I did it, then box clicked into neutral I think whilst getting the last nut off.

Could this be salvaged? Have I not connected the plug back fully? Will it get better as the WD-40 evaporates/disperses?

No access to the pit now for a few days, so advice is king  


Thanks guys for showing me my gearbox isn't kaput though, phew!!

[John Lewis]

I think its shafted, as the cure lasted NOT VERY LONG lol.

Got one sourced though so hopefully this thread is closed.

Thanks guys

[Marks DTM Calib]

Nah.....just needs the switch adjusting properly.....its not correctly setup with respect to the gear linkage.

[John Lewis]

Thought it might have been, I guess you need to keep the slotted arm tightly on the screw when removing the nut so it doesn't move. Lesson learned anyhow.

To be honest its still knackered, the WD40 has only temporarily cured it, starting to be a bit rubbish again.

I have a known good one on its way thru Chris on here, does it need to be in neutral when you fit it, or park, or doesn't it matter?

[TheBoy]

Thought it might have been, I guess you need to keep the slotted arm tightly on the screw when removing the nut so it doesn't move. Lesson learned anyhow.

To be honest its still knackered, the WD40 has only temporarily cured it, starting to be a bit rubbish again.

I have a known good one on its way thru Chris on here, does it need to be in neutral when you fit it, or park, or doesn't it matter?

doesn't matter on position, it can all only go back one way

[John Lewis]

Fair enough, I'll sort it out down'pit  

[Marks DTM Calib]

Thought it might have been, I guess you need to keep the slotted arm tightly on the screw when removing the nut so it doesn't move. Lesson learned anyhow.

To be honest its still knackered, the WD40 has only temporarily cured it, starting to be a bit rubbish again.

I have a known good one on its way thru Chris on here, does it need to be in neutral when you fit it, or park, or doesn't it matter?

doesn't matter on position, it can all only go back one way

Its adjustable though so the slot in the switch rotating part should align with the same in the switch main body when fitted and the car is in neutral.

A simpler approach is to place the box in neutral and then slacken the two securing bolts for the switch assembly and rotate the switch until the lights indicate a steady neutral.