Mk1 Auto Gearbox Questions / Problems

[Guitarman]

I've had my Galaxy a little over a week now. I did two journeys where I was able to accelerate to 60 so all gears and all seemed fine. I drove about 30 miles this pm and again, all was fine. On the way back however, the auto gearbox refused to change in to top gear so when cruising at 60 so it was reving at 4500! I pulled over, stopped and set off again but again it did the same thing. On both occasions I was accelerating slowing to avoid engaging 'sport mode' but it seemed to switch and kept dropping a gear as though I was hammering it!

 

And ideas what might be causing this problem?

[Guitarman]

I've had my Galaxy a little over a week now. I did two journeys where I was able to accelerate to 60 so all gears and all seemed fine. I drove about 30 miles this pm and again, all was fine. On the way back however, the auto gearbox refused to change in to top gear so when cruising at 60 so it was reving at 4500! I pulled over, stopped and set off again but again it did the same thing. On both occasions I was accelerating slowing to avoid engaging 'sport mode' but it seemed to switch and kept dropping a gear as though I was hammering it!

 

And ideas what might be causing this problem?

 

When you reply, don't forget this is the first time I've driven an auto and I haven't had any instruction so if I've asked a stupid question, please be gentle lol! I was driving on fairly straight and flat roads where I could have sat quite happily at 60 for most of the time.

 

Another edit after some more reading... It seems from what I have read, that the car is engaging 'kickdown' even though I'm accelerating gently.

Edited March 9, 2012 by Guitarman

[Guitarman]

Any ideas?

[chrispb123456]

Suggest you get codes read first may save time.

[Guitarman]

Suggest you get codes read first may save time.

 

I'll take it to the garage if need be but I'm trying to save money where possible so I thought I'd ask in case there is anything I might be able to do myself first.

[sparky Paul]

Getting the codes read may save you a lot of head scratching, and possibly money, in the long run.

 

If you can't bear to hand over hard cash to the garage, consider investing a few quid in a VAG-COM cable from that well known auction site, so you can do it yourself.

[Guitarman]

Getting the codes read may save you a lot of head scratching, and possibly money, in the long run.

 

If you can't bear to hand over hard cash to the garage, consider investing a few quid in a VAG-COM cable from that well known auction site, so you can do it yourself.

 

I didn't know I could do this. Do you know what spec cable I need?

Edited March 12, 2012 by Guitarman

[chrispb123456]

One of these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-VAG-COM-409-1-OBD-2-II-CABLE-LEAD-AUDI-VW-VAG-/220518250615?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3357e97877#ht_3031wt_1064

 

Then download the free VCDS lite software for dumb interface from the ross-tech website

http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds/download/

[Guitarman]

One of these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-VAG-COM-409-1-OBD-2-II-CABLE-LEAD-AUDI-VW-VAG-/220518250615?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3357e97877#ht_3031wt_1064

 

Then download the free VCDS lite software for dumb interface from the ross-tech website

http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds/download/

 

Thank you for that, I'm going to order one shortly as I'm sure to need it soon enough. I discovered there was an ever increasing hole in my cat. It was where the support arms are welded on so it was enlarging itself and getting noisier with every bump in the road! I stuck some putty on to see what difference it made and hey presto, perfect gear changes. I've just received a new cat in the post which I'll be fitting with my brothers help on Tuesday. I'm looking at replacing the lambda sensor at the same time but I'm not sure which one I need so I'll ask in a shop. I wish I had the electronic things which gives you diagrams and part no's! If I can get my cable before Tuesday I should know if it needs one.

[Guitarman]

I have my cable now so hopefully I can find some time later today to hook it up. Going back to my original post though, I think I know what the problem was. The car became noisier and noisier and it became apparant the exhaust was blowing. On inspection, I found that there was a hole in one of the pipes on the cat. I stuck a bit of putty on it as a temporary fix and hey presto, perfect gear changes! It's still a little loud but I can't find any more leaks. I have a new cat and I'll be fitting it tomorrow so I'm hoping the old one is just bunged up and that this is what is causing the noise.