auto box not behaving

Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:35 pm

Got a 320i auto and as the title says its not working properly.

The engine revs ok but gear changes are late and the car feels generally very slow.

Is it a case of needing a new gear box or is there something else that could cause this?

Do u think I would get another 3500 miles out of it before changing the gearbox??

Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:50 pm

A 320i auto?

They are never the quickest way to ferry your young lady to a suitable resting place....

Is there plenty of oil in the poor thing?
What colour is the oil?

Is it really 3500 miles back to the UK?

Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:01 pm

Yes Malc, plenty of oil and its clean.

I know the 320 is not a rapid chariot by any stretch but having owned and driven a few before I'm sure this one's not as it should be.

Yes it's really 3500 miles, probably more.

Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:07 pm

Sorry,I've reached the limit of my knowledge of auto-boxes now,but I would be suspecting things like 'drive bands' and 'clutches' if there is plenty of clean oil.

Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:12 pm

When you say the gear changes are late? How do you mean? Is it revving much higher than a usual auto? Also, not sure about this, so aimed at someone who knows more about the electrical side...

Does the ECU have any relation to the gear changing? Is so, could a reset of this change it at all?

Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:45 pm

Had a little look in the bentley manual. Said check the adjustment of the transmission cable and some stuff about feeler guages and gap measuring. A quick comparisson of the photo in the book and the cable on my car tells me the cable has been replaced at some point.

Not having any feeler guages I just adjusted it by a few turns and hey presto it seems to have fixed it!

Get in!!

Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:48 pm

It's just been into a garage to have some bushes replaced including the big rubber guibo between the gearbox and drive shaft.

Since that's been done I'm noticing a little vibration when pulling away from a standstill. Is it possible that the drive shaft is not aligned correctly?

Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:59 pm

My exhaust vibrated on the underneath after i had my prop off,Especially at low revs.I had to adjust it as it was touch ing the heat shield