240
Ok thanks for that! Actually, any chance you have the clips that hold the spark plug leads together?
timbo
nope they all disintegrate i can get generic ones but not the original style
240
The auto played up a bit today.
Put it into reverse, car didn't move - it just revved a bit.
Put it into Park, then back into reverse, and I had to press the pedal a fair bit, and the car started going backwards with a big jolt and audible clunk.
Happened again a few mintues later.
Any ideas as to what the problem is?
timbo
have you checked the trans fluid? it can be a symptom of low fluid level
240
I did check it a few weeks ago but I guess double checking won't hurt.
EDIT:
Just went and had a look, using the proper method to check the level this time. It's about half way between Min and Max. So I suppose that coudl explain the problem.
My question is, though - am I likely to cause any damage by driving it around as is for a few weeks? I was planning on flushing it at some point, so I figured I could save on some fluid by waiting until then, if that makes sense. But if it's not worth the risk I'll just add fluid now.
Any fluid in particular that I should use?
timbo
you can just top it up for now it would probably only take half a litre of Dexron 3. Sometimes if it is parked on a slope, the torque convertor can drain back into the gearbox, which then has to fill up again when you start it up
240
So there seems to be a small leak in the steering:
Is it a simple matter of tightening, or are there some sort of seals that needs to be replaced?
familyman
The colours on my monitor might be off, but isn't that engine oil, not power steering fluid?
240
Well that's what I thought at first, but usually you can see where oil comes from, but in this case (especially with the first photo ) that seems to be where it's coming from. Plus, the power steering fluid is a bit low so this could explain it.
However it's a good point so I'll have a closer look.
Slowbrick
Give the whole thing a good clean before attempting to find leaks. Looks like its pretty dirty under there. Clean it and then try to find the leak.
Vee_Que
Oil level being in the middle is not an issue, however by the sound of it, your filter will be blocked, hence why the car doesn't go straight into reverse.
Slowbrick
^This.
Change the filter and flush the entire system. If the filter is blocked then it means the pressure will be low and prevent the car going straight into gears and the big thump will be when the pressure builds and spikes due to the restriction in the filter.
240
@Slowbrick - that's actually pretty much the dirtiest part of the engine - althouh you're right, cleaning it will be a good idea.
I might as well change the filter then. Is dropping the pan a simple matter of undoing the bolts?
When replacing it, I've read some things that say you need 2 gaskets for the pan, and some say only 1 - which is correct?
jamesinc
One gasket should be the correct number of gaskets... you can always use some RTV to make sure!
Vee_Que
Most annoying and fiddly bit is undoing the filler pipe, you can undo the bolts off the bellhousing if you have to, but its a 24mm nut and 32mm you need to hold to undo the nut. The rest is simple, 10mm bolts around and the filter kit will have one gasket for the filter as well. You can reuse the internal gasket without much worry.
240
So a very doable home DIY job then?
Vee_Que
If you don't mind getting oil on everything.
240
Sounds like I can do it then. It makes sense to do a flush at the same time so I'll get the stuff for that.
How much fluid do I need for a flush?
Are there any local alternatives to IPD's flush hose that connects to the radiator?
Vee_Que
You don't need the flush hose if your dropping the pan imo. You literally just need to disconnect the cooler pipe and put a hose on it and let it dump into a tray, its messy and may be unnecessary if your filter is excessively blocked. As the box won't last much longer.
240
I doubt the filter is excessively blocked, because the transmission hasn't really played up very much since that first question I asked about it.
I guess I'll see, though, when I do the filter.
Presumably there's nothing else that can be done to prolong the life of the box?
