E30 320i Auto Transmission Gear Not shifting

Post Sat May 14, 2005 5:57 pm

Hi all,

My car just newly rebuilt including the auto transmision, after two weeks of heavy use, developed a strange illness. When I start the car in the morning, the gears refuse to shift to 3rd and D until I do lots of rev and things become pretty warm, then suddenly it will shift to 3rd with a big jerk and after that the car will work fine for the whole day. This acts repeated every morning. Now after two weeks, the gears are refusing to shift at all no matter how much I did rev the car until the rpm hit 5K and still no gear shift.

Now I have resorted to do the shifting manually and it works smooth.

Can any one help me, what could be the cause for this auto shifting failure or reluctance to shift?

thank you

RMZ

Post Sat May 14, 2005 6:00 pm

if the transmissions newly rebuilt you should take it back to whoever did it.

Sounds like you have a four speed, only thing i can think is there is cable/selector problem or even a oil pressure problem.

Post Sun May 15, 2005 12:10 am

Hi amit325i, thanks for the response. I checked the ATF level, it is fine and oil is brand new I believe Oil pressure should not be a problem right? that leaves CABLE SELECTOR.

what can be exactly wrong with the CABLE SELECTOR?

when I do manual shifting it works fine.

tnx/regards

Post Sun May 15, 2005 1:02 am

Remember quite a long thread on autoboxes when a member had a similar problem - try using the search section at the top. Could be a blocked filter as it worked when the ATF warmed up or dodgy pump. Is it a switchable box? - if so check out ECU connections in the boot and on side of gearbox. As has already been said, I would get it back to whoever rebuilt and refitted it.

Post Sun May 15, 2005 8:45 am

when are you checking the fluid? the engine needs to be red hot to get a true reading as it expands like fuck. its possible that its not cooling enough in the rad and expanding too much.
just a thought

elliot

Post Sun May 15, 2005 4:45 pm

Elliot, It is a good throught.

today when I checked the ATF fluid, the color looked muddy, which means the tranny was in chop shop for too long.

What I am going to do is to flush the auto trans box and then fill in new ATF fluid.

Mine is a 4 speed auto box. Is it correct to assume, I must use Dextron II ?

tnx/regards

Post Mon May 16, 2005 1:11 am

pain in the arse, automatics. ive just changed my rad and had to top the transmission fluid. i used dextron ii but not sure if it was correct tbh i only needed a bit so i didnt really think it be too much of an issue.sorry i cant be more help.
who was the dick*ead that thought "i know lets not have a filler bottle for the trans fluid, lets use the dipstick hole instead"

elliot

Post Tue May 17, 2005 1:30 pm

OK I am getting a flushing job on the ATF done tomorrow. Looks like the advice obtained here is too good. Yes the ATF looks muddy so definitely needs flushing couple of times.

I have another small problem

my auto transmission is a 4 speed box with Switchable function with
a control knob which says S E 123

which I understand S for Sports , E for Economy drive and 123 for
manual shift.

Do any one knows how the wiring for this Switch goes by?

At this moment the wires are not connected to the switch.

thanks for any help.

Crying

Post Tue May 17, 2005 4:18 pm

hi fella

I had the same problem on my 320 tourer about five weeks ago.

It would only happen in the mornings but it got worse........i am now changing the gearbox

Everyone i spoke to said it was either:
1) a sticky governor
2) sticky valves
3) Pressure loss due to brittle seals in the box

Have a look at this:

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... highlight=

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Manu

Post Tue May 17, 2005 4:53 pm

Hi Manu, yours was thread I was talking about earlier. Sorry to hear yours is terminal. Mine was too. I never realised how bad my box was until I put the new one in!

Post Tue May 17, 2005 7:57 pm

thanks mate................

I'll get the new box fitted in next week. Cant wait to drive it again. I am getting the doughnut on the propshaft changed at the same time......my ones got a crack in it

Manu

Post Wed May 18, 2005 4:29 pm

hi Manu,

If I must get a new auto trans box for my E30 320i machine. ofcourse a used one from any chop shop. What things I should look out for? In other words the pros and cons in getting a another box.

tnx

Post Wed May 18, 2005 4:45 pm

hi mate , i,m fairly new to the zone and don't know much about auto trannies.

I just shopped around for a gearbox and i got one off khan325i in the end.

Give him a call or pm him. I remember him having a 4 speed switchable auto box around 4 weeks ago.............he will be able to help you. I think he's located in reading

good luck.

Manu

Post Thu May 19, 2005 3:30 pm

hi guys, thank you all.

I managed to solve my gear shifting problem. It took more than 20 liters of ATF to do flushing using a machine specially made for Auto Box flushing.

Now the shifting is super smooth and I find the car feels lighter when I press the gas. What a difference.

Now I am going to observe, if the ATF color will remain red even after one week. If it looks muddy then, will flush again.

so far so good.

I also found my gear box is not a switchable type. I have the cover on top with the switch but the auto box is from a different purchase and is non switchable type. I hope this can last me long.

Post Thu May 19, 2005 9:41 pm

hi haffeel

where did you get the gearbox flushed? good news it is working ok and how much did it cost to flush out?

manu

Post Fri May 20, 2005 2:35 pm

Hi Manu, I have bad news, today morning again my Auto Box start behaving the same way, now I am thinking to put in a new auto box from any chop shop. Sad Indeed all effort gone wasted

Post Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:15 pm

I am getting a new Auto Trans this week. I would like to inform, the ECU has cable with 8pins which should be plugged in to the AutoTrans Box, the last AutoTrans I purchased did not have a socket for this. Not having scoket for this plug, is it a problem?

When I am making my next purchase should I really buy a AutoTrans box with a socket for this plug?

Can any one tell me, what does this 8pin plug actually does when fitted to the AutoTrans Box?

Phew .. on the other hand I am contemplating to make conversion to Manual , but the heavy traffic here will make me hate the car.

thanks for the help ppl

cheers

Post Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:33 pm

Hi I don't know where any of you live that are having auto box problems, but my old fella is an automatic gearbox specialist with over 30 years experience.

If anyone ever needs any fault diagnosing then PM me and I will ask him. He is based just outside of Norwich if that is convenient for anyone who needs any work doing etc. I am sure he can do repairs etc for far less than what some outfits are charging.

Alternatively, he can be emailed on Delboie@aol.com and just tell him I sent you.