Automatic Gearbox advice

[Sir Brixalot]

Been living with a leak from the servo cover and a small one from where the gearbox joins the trans. The van runs fine on the flat, pretty gutless on hills drops to about 44-50 on a protracted incline and on cold days it takes 4 or 5 seconds before I can pull off, been like that for the whole 4 years I've owned it. Are all 1.9 autos the same?

I have a choice:

£1200 approx to rebuild gearbox and torque converter

£200 to get servo cover leak repaired.

I'm wondering whether anyone else with a DG auto can tell me if it's worth going the whole hog. Will it do better on hills? Will it be able to pull off instantly on cold mornings?

thanks a lot

[123-jn]

The Auto does sap the power a bit and it likes to stay in the high gears a bit too long. There is not much between the ratio's and it relies on the torque convertor to do alot of the work. 40-50 on a reasonable long motorway incline is about Par for the course and a good 1:10 will have you under 30 or less. Now mine has a 2.1 engine on it it is a bit better but still not as responsive as a manual. On the plus side it is lovely and relaxing to drive. Mine whines a bit as I slow down and speed up but does not refuse to pull away. I guess yours does have an issue possible a pump/pressure issue but I'm no expert. I would ask for a repair quote and give them the symptoms rather than a full rebuild it may be cheaper. There may be nothing wrong with most of it. I suppose 1200 is not too bad but perhaps it could be done for a bit less. £1000 all in?

[Sir Brixalot]

Thanks for your feedback. Performance sounds just like mine. It's only if its been sitting a day and the weather is very cold that it takes a few seconds to want to move. I'm probably just going to get the leak done

[tyneside-t25]

Have you changed the gearbox oil recently? maybe an oil change would do some good ,,, & clean the filter if there's a one fitted.

[Sir Brixalot]

Changed the ATF a couple of times(or as much as I could get out) and did the filter. Got it down a bit to £1100 for gearbox and torque converter. Still a dilemma, I could get a lot of bodywork or new upholstery done for that sort of money.

[123-jn]

I have heard that it is quite difficult to find someone to do these boxes now and that parts are scarce, so I'm thinking of getting mine done despite the fact that it works ok at present incase in the future the parts can't be found. I suspect a couple of bearings are worn in mine together with seals /pump etc.

[Malminor]

I have a standard 1.9 DG petrol auto caravelle, pops along very at reasonable 65 to 70, with some left if you want it, hills are no issue (within reason), it doesn't change down often as it hasn't really got many gears to choose from , I dare not fit a rev counter, goodness knows what the engine is doing with only 3 gears.
it is pretty quick off the mark especially from the lights, granted it isn't a fully kitted camper yet but even with trips from the builders merchants loaded its pretty good at keeping up with the traffic and its quicker than it looks like it should be,
having driven a manual T25 also I much prefer the auto, (my daily car is an auto)
I fitted an external air gearbox cooler with guidance from the samba guys, I would really like to fit a TDI engine but haven't got my head around the ratios yet,
again the Samba guys use Subarus and Zetecs with autoboxes so it may do able if we ever get a decent £ to $ exchange rate.
currently I live with an oil leak, and a slightly slipping reverse, so it will have to come out at sometime,
I have also been quoted around £1000 but that was for me to remove and fit,
I hoped to replace with an air cooled autobox I bought as a spare but I gather they are different???

[Sir Brixalot]

Moved on a bit since my post. I took it to a specialist to changer the cover on the second gear brake band piston. They said the box was fine and changed the seal. When I went to pick it up it was braking in reverse and not engaging at all in fist. Had to train home and train back down, It was fine to start with but reverse clunked and after I got home it wouldn't go into third. I've now lost reverse altogether. They were meant to "have another go" on Friday but postponed it. The gearbox changed fine when they got it. If they'd been careful changing the seal it would have stayed fine. Still waiting to hear back on another date. I am totally p'd off. I think it's their responsibility to get is back to the condition it was in when they received it.

[Malminor]

I read an article somewhere on here about changing that seal, the sump and valve body have to be removed to re align the piston from the inside.
you are correct in thinking they should least return it in working condition, getting them to do that relies on their reputation and their level of 'speciality'
there's only one true gearbox expert that we all know but we need to persaude him to take us auto's under his wing

[R0B]

Don't hold your breath on that one.

[Sir Brixalot]

They're mean to be fairly simple engineering. Did ask Aidan on here why he doesn't touch them. Answer came there none. I thought it might be that components are had to get. Going across early tomorrow. Fingers crossed they put it right

[Oldiebut goodie]

Did ask Aidan on here why he doesn't touch them. Answer came there none.

I don't do Eberspächers, I don't do water Webastos. There are only so many hours in a day when you work on your own. Feel free to set up for the gaps in the market!

[Sir Brixalot]

Yeah , I'll have a go. When do you want to drop it off?