Hello,

Lads, I have 2 tranny questions for you;

My 96 has the earlier 4spd on 180ishk. Am I right in thinking that this is a more reliable than the 5spd? I have no evidence that the fluid has ever been changed.

I have once experienced a problem selecting gear. One morning when the gearbox would have been cold, I started the engine and selected 'd'. Immediately there was a 'clunk' as the gear engaged. I then noticed that the dis gear selector display had become 'negative', that is, the red background had become white and the prnd123 had become red. I feared the worst, put the car back into park and switched it off. Waited a few minutes and re-started, this time without any problems. It has not happened since and this was about 2k miles ago.

Was that perhaps an isolated incident or the early symptom of a failing gearbox? This may sound strange but I think I may have selected 'd' a bit too hastily that morning, could that have caused some sort of gearbox ecu confusion?

Question No 2;

On startup, there is a moaning sound coming from somewhere behind the engine, I think it is more prominent on the drivers side. I can only describe it as a sort of a 'moan' ( a bit like a power steering pump) which rises and falls with the revs, weather a gear is engaged or not. It is not particularly loud and it does almost (but not quite) disappear as the engine/gearbox warms. My suspicion is that it is some sort of oil pump, but weather engine or gearbox I've no idea really. I'd love to eliminate it as it detracts from the overall refinement.

Many thanks folks,

Avus.