Auto Galaxy

[Tekman]

I have a 95 Galaxy Auto with AG4 gearbox.

 

Now here where it gets good Everything goes normal no esitation or jumping but then when cruising about 40mph the gearbox stops drive but then it comes back.

 

I know what some people will say take it to the garage and have it checked but it doesnt happen all the time its itermitent I have tryed to recreate it but to no avail its bugging me that there is very little info regarding the auto box`s.

 

I have ordered a new OBD lead for my laptop and new software to see if I can trace any electonic faults as the obd equipment I have at the moment doesnt show any faults I have the TIS software and have some Autodata software the TIS gives me the total breakdown of the gearbox and rebuilds I am looking for trouble shooting info.

 

Any Help or info regarding these auto`s

[f0ster]

I assume you have checked the fluid level, according to manufacturers spec,

is there a gearbox level dip stick, if so does it have a hot and cold mark on it,

what colour is the fluid, it should be bright red, if it has a brown tint to it then

the fluid is in desperate need of a change, not ease on an auto because

most of it is held in suspension in the converter and box passages,

[Tekman]

cheers yes I did.

 

I have only owned the car for a month now and has been fine when it started the symptoms I took out the old fluid which of course was a dark reddy brown so then I dropped the sump and checked the filter wich looked as though it hadnt been changed in a while so changed that.

 

I have run the car with new flud in and checked all gears and primed the gears before driving then took it for a test drive this didnt show any faults then couple of days later found that the temp was taking a long time to get hot so changed the thermostat which as cured the heat problem I thought that the fluid was getting too hot.

 

But now the problem as shown its self again symptoms are ;

 

1- car starts normal and when cold its seems fine me thinks

2- will change normaly but when steady driving at about 35-40 it losses drive now when this happens remove foot from accelerator and press accelerator again drives normal now it want do this all the time.

3- if I drive hard it changes through gears nowmaly no symptoms.

4- if you drive steady it changes does have a tiny hesatation from 3rd to 4th

5- it does feel sometimes as it wants to change down but cannot make it mind up which gear it wants to be in so to stop it select 3rd manually and sorted.

 

So if this helps give someone any ideas I would be very gratfull for some direction to go now.

 

My wife says if it needs new box then santa not coming to me so you can understand I am a very desperate man and yes panick is setting in

[CM2007]

It sounds like your transmission needs a damn good service. Autoboxes are fussy creatures which like things to be just right. I am a member of a BMW forum (my own car) and I would say over 50% of auto gearbox troubles I read about on there are cured with a service from an auto transmission specialist. Quite often the brake bands inside the box may need changing or simply tightening.

I would try this first and go from there. Most places charge around

[f0ster]

you say in your reply that when it looses drive you release the accelerator and press it again and it cures it for a while,

are you sure it is loosing drive or do you think that it is loosing power, (engine fault) just that this symptom is like the ecu (engine)

is going in to limp home and resetting the accelerator resets the ecu.

[Tekman]

I think Might be right.

 

I have check a few places out one wanted me to remove it a deliver it to him 50 miles away didnt specify a price but sayed a replacement one whould cost me

[Scorpiorefugee]

At risk of being accused of being silly can I suggest unplugging the MAF.

[Tekman]

scorpiorefugee I big thank you for your suggestion.

 

Now the result the car didnt even know it was off it was exacty the same was driving then just revved away to its self so I tickled the throttle very lighty and drove ok so put it back and tryed again and the same result if you gentle tikkle it no problems but put throttle down and just increases rev`s.

 

 

Now I very THICK question should it make a difference as I have never suffered a MAF fault.

 

Kind regards

 

Alan

[gregers]

Now I very THICK question should it make a difference as I have never suffered a MAF fault.

 

 

well you could be now?

rather then spending

[Tekman]

well you could be now?

rather then spending

[gregers]

from reading on here(forum) the maf and the brake switch can cause no end of trouble,your be amazed what there linked too,as said before the maf could be your problem?try it and see what happens.

[Tekman]

from reading on here(forum) the maf and the brake switch can cause no end of trouble,your be amazed what there linked too,as said before the maf could be your problem?try it and see what happens.

 

You say brake switch now I know this sound realy stupid but realy can brake switch be a trouble source for gear change cos when i got the car i had a different alarm system fitted and one of the things on the system is auto lock after 15sec or when you press the brake I take it theres a wire to brake switch to detect when brake applyed.

Edited November 15, 2008 by Tekman

[chromedome]

I have also read on the forum that the wiring between the gearbox and gearbox ECU can chafe and wear through. This then sends incorrect signals to the ECU. May be worth a quick visual check.

 

I had an auto Galaxy that kept staying in third gear, limp home mode, and this was a fault with the gearbox ECU. ECU changed, perfect.

 

I think what eveyone is trying to say is don't assume it's the gearbox yet. The garages want your money at the end of the day.

[Tekman]

I very big thank to all.

 

Its making me think now as to when the problem started and wife as reminded me but i havent told her yet.

 

The alarm system was fitted and the problem came afterwards I am going to have a close look at the way it was installed to see if this is the cause.

 

hoping its a clot thats wired it up wrong and is causing a fault.

 

 

 

Kind Regards

 

Alan

[Scorpiorefugee]

Back to the MAF briefly. It is always possible that the MAF could cause problems but my experience was on a Ford Scorpio when the symptoms were not as yours but more a reluctance to change up once warm and this could be made worse by cruising at a light throttle setting. However, the result of disconnecting the thing was to give very positive gear changes and somewhat harsh at that. You had no change so it seems to point elsewhere. With the MAF disconnected the system is supposed to run on default mapping so if there was a problem you should have noticed an improvement. I think the other advice is more helpful.

 

My experience is that it is generally cheaper to live with it if possible and try the simple things first. The trouble is that there are lots of simple things that are not immediately obvious but it is often a question of looking for other symptoms which are not always obviously linked.

 

I hope you get it fixed soon.

[Tekman]

I really appreciate all the help I have had thank you to all.

 

I took the new alarm system out and took the MAF of checked it to see if any thing was amiss but no.

 

Took it out now it really was nice to drive did it a tiny bit in one spot then drove ok returned home had a cuppa then wife and i got in and tok for drive and again it drove ok if you tickle throttle but then press too hard or normal and just rev`s and no drive then it comes back.

 

So tomorrow phonig auto transmission specialist and booking it in hope he will be gentle with me will post result

 

 

Kind regards

 

Alan

[gregers]

tekman im not saying the brake switch is at fault(although who knows) was just trying to give you an example of something that is a really small item can cause no end of trouble,read up on the forum your be amazed on what problems that and the maf can cause,im just clutching at straws as to what the problem may be,and hopefully keeping your hard earned in your pocket.

[Tekman]

cheers gregers.

 

You got me thinking when i read your post as you say its easy to put blinkers on and focus on one item.

 

And the thought of having someone chargin me to tell that its broke is one thing gets my blood going, I have all the software i;e scantool and vehicle explorer but it would appear that my new laptop isnt thick enough to run it and my obd connector is a serial connection so bought a converter so it would plug in to my laptop now i cannot get the software to run.

 

isnt technology wonderful well will see what its going to cost to get to bottom of this hopefully its a blown fuse

(wishfull thinking)

 

 

 

Kind Regards

 

Alan

[Tekman]

I have taken it to the specialist to get them to test it and find the fault which they did.

 

Its mechanical the GEAR SET as dropped this means the the bearing that hold it together is broke,

The quote for the repair

[Tekman]

I have got my baby back today.

 

Replacement Gearset

Bonded Piston Kit

Gasket kit and Seals

oil

 

Total

[Scorpiorefugee]

Ouch!

 

You don't actually say that all is now well but I do hope it is. I reckon you've suffered enough.

 

It's tales like this that make me steer away from autos.

 

Did the garage give any suggestions as to why it broke?

[seatkid]

Did the garage give any suggestions as to why it broke?

 

*high mileage / old age / clocked

 

*abuse - towing - driven by a lunatic - chipped

 

*neglect - no oil check/change - incorrect oil used/wrong level

 

*stupidity - vehicle towed - auto boxes generally break up when you tow them at anything above walking pace (internal gears over-rev and lubrication issue)

 

I reckon stupidity+neglect in this case.....

 

after reading many threads its obvious that jatco boxes are extremely marginal in Galaxies (the ecu even has to limit the torque to protect it)

 

Its obvious many owners with an auto that starts to play up will get shut pronto - so buyer beware! ALWAYs take a 2nd hand auto for an extended test drive and check everything about the box is OK. Insist on a warranty if buying from a garage/trader.

Edited November 25, 2008 by seatkid

[Scorpiorefugee]

Did the garage give any suggestions as to why it broke?

 

Its obvious many owners with an auto that starts to play up will get shut pronto - so buyer beware! ALWAYs take a 2nd hand auto for an extended test drive and check everything about the box is OK. Insist on a warranty if buying from a garage/trader.

 

Funny, I was thinking much the same when I put in my last comment. It doesn't just apply to autos but every vehicle I have bought in the past 20 years has had one fault, not immediately obvious but seriously elusive, that was almost certainly why the last owner dropped it. I know that I tend to be a bit of a mug but I have seen similar trends in others. Funny thing is that most of the problems that I have met of this type have been precipitated by incompetent mechanics.

 

Happily, after a bit of pain I have usually sorted it and the purchase has gone on to give a lot more trouble free service.

Let's hope this holds true here.

[Tekman]

Seatkid your so right STUPIDITY and NEGLECT is realy what broke it

 

The mechanical gears had collapsed on their shafts due to not having gearbox serviced when car serviced why do people forget the gearbox when servicing cars ?.

 

Is it fixed I wish got in it this morning selected reverse and it shot backwards with handbrake on wife not happy checked the drive on car after a while when car warm all it wants to do is drive flat out in reverse not nice experiance.

 

Contacted gearbox company they knew straight away what was wrong taking it back tomorrow for fixing needs something called a load lock solenoid will take couple of hours due to heat of oil cooling.

 

Its all under warranty anyway thank god but the car dealer is another problem contacted him yep the gray area came in as well it was ok when you bought it and your warranty as just ran out only had it 6 weeks we only give 28 day warrantys with our cars.

 

if it wasnt for my left leg having no power to push a clutch down I admit I would stay away from Auto`s but have to just get on with it.

 

 

With Kind Regards

 

Alan

[seatkid]

why do people forget the gearbox when servicing cars ?.

Blame Jatco for its stupid design - there is no easy way for oil level to be checked or filled

Blame VW/Ford - most manufacturers claim sealed for life gearbox - no maintenance required

Blame VW/Ford - they chose a marginal box and implemented it badly

 

You should have comeback to the trader who sold you the motor but I know this is minefield, particularly after time and repairs have been done.