Gearbox..Gearbox...Gearbox
 

Ladies and Gents,

Here is a tale of a problem with a gearbox, nothing new there as these fine pages have plenty of excellent content on the subject matter in hand.

The car is a 2002 D2 S8 in fine and what was fully working condition.

Its been excellent, no problems and driven as it should over the years. Car is well serviced and has just clocked up 196,000 miles.

Last few weeks when accelerating its sounded like a supercharger has been placed under the bonnet and on occasion when coming down from high speeds to stop the gearbox has clunked a little when coming to a stand still.

I thought it may be MAF problems causing the downshift annoyance and the supercharger noise may just be an old Crank Case Breather Valve on its way out so both parts have been ordered and on route.

Car drives fine, changes are smooth but this morning I came from 70 (!) to 0mph at a junction and it did not want to find a gear for a moment, then ah yes then it went into limp mode.

Hooray!

Drive to work in limp mode, switched it off and went and had lots of coffee.

On the way home the car was fine, no limp and changes OK but may have been a little jerky though that could be simply me over thinking matters.

So.

VAGCOM lappy comes out and the only error found is P0730 Gear Ratio Control Incorrect Ratio, which I have now cleared.

As many will of course correctly say this could well just be the traditional old gearbox problems on the D2 and it needs repair.

Now here comes the interesting part which makes me believe its not a traditional old gearbox problem.

The car had a complete, full works £3000 gearbox overhaul at Mackies in 2013 at 163,000 miles.

So my thoughts are this may be one of three things and I would welcome your thoughts on the matter dear D2 collective.

1) Gearbox is now an elaborate paper weight
2) Gearbox could be a little leaky and needs a fluid top up/ change
3) The MAF/ Crank case vent valve are causing pressure/ reading errors in the system that are not helping.

MAF and Crankcase valve on route so that's easy to check, I will also go for a gearbox fluid top up (With the correct fluid of course!)

Anyway.

Happy Friday everyone!

+++

PS I would normally Login as Sir Will but I will be damned if I can get that Login to work!

Are there any visible leaks from the gearbox oil sump or cooler lines?

There are a few spots on the drive, which I need to look into more.

I did originally think it was engine oil as the valve covers are a little leaky, I will get the old girl on ramps tomorrow and have a look.

Or could it just be the F125 switch, was that replaced when the gearbox was overhauled?

Does not specifically say the switch was replaced on the invoice but I would be staggered if they did not do it.

I would like to add how could something so beautiful go wrong!

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/picture.p...pictureid=1048

Parts are about £150, so it ought to be listed if done.

I think I see MJ's thinking which if I get it correctly is that low fluid levels are causing the turbocharger-like whining. The Rosstech wiki for that fault code shows the Possible Causes as "Transmission Fluid contaminated" or "Transmission faulty (Mechanical Problem)" . Given that it was overhauled in 2013 then it "shouldnt" be mechanical..... I hope.

So fluid levels would be a good starting point.

Low fluid causes cavitation in the pump and the torque converter which is what makes the whining. If its low enough that the pump can't make enough pressure then the clutch packs will slip causing 'incorrect ratio'.

Oil leaks are usually the output flanges. I wouldn't expect a Mackies-fitted sump to be leaking, but if its been 'serviced' since it left Mackies its anyone's guess what state the sump is in. Mine was stuck on with bathroom sealant when I got it and most of the oil escaped on to the A303 on the way home http://www.corradov8.com/pics/screwy.gif The gearbox on the black FE on which I've been testing the manual swap was lost to some muppet not fitting an o-ring on the oil filter http://www.corradov8.com/pics/banghead.gif

Doubt the F125 switch would have been changed unless it was specifically requested, however I understand that Makies offer a comprehensive warranty that from memory could be 100,000 miles, Tintin will no doubt be along soon to confirm. I also think warranty may be subject to annual servicing..I would give them a call first..good luck whatever happens+++