Gearbox problem

[Guest]

I have just got in from having the MM recovered to the local garage, and wouldn't mind some thoughts on a problem I had ahead of them telling me what they think.

As you may remember it's auto and has a GM180 3 speed box in it, that was brand new when installed by the PO and will have done about 8k miles since I am guessing.

First time out in it today since beginning of Jan and all going well, then I started to think that it wasn't changing up and down through the box quite as normal. After a fcouple more miles I thought it definitely wasn't, and seemed to have got into 3rd but was revving more highly than usual so acting as though it was in 2nd. But I then went up a hill and it wouldn't drop down, still reving a bit high and power really trailing off, so I pulled over. Probably I drove it about 5 miles from when I waspretty sure it wasn't right.

So when stationary, I put it in Park which engaged fine and quite a bit of smoke was coming up through the selector and out from under the car - friction I would assume. The gear selector was still capable of moving but it didn't seem to want to select a gear but would go into Park ok. With the engine off it would still go in and out of Park fine, and the rear wheels aren't seized.

Hopefully it's not the box itself, but I would be keen to hear what others think?

[ChasR]

What is the colour of your fluid like?

[Bob Heritage]

Assume there was some fluid?

[martin]

That does rather sound as if it's run out of ATF. It may have gone too far, but it's still worth checking, and if needs be, topping up and trying, get 2 litres and let us know how you get on. Martin.

[new to this]

ian

have you checked if its got oil/fluid in or low

dave

[Guest]

Thanks, I think you have got it spot-on as I think it was a fluid loss.

It all started just after I picked my Mum up to take her to see my Dad in hospital and, now that I think of it, I put it in reverse and it wasn't keen ongoing in at all and was quite jerky which is unusual. My Mum's just got back and called me to say that there is a lot of oil all over her drive where I was.

So where might it have leaked from ? Do you think it will have caused permanent damage and, if so, to what?

[new to this]

ian

i dont think you have done any permanent damage, one of the seals has gone

dave

p.s so your in the bad books with mum about the oil ( been there )

[martin]

Thanks, I think you have got it spot-on as I think it was a fluid loss.

It all started just after I picked my Mum up to take her to see my Dad in hospital and, now that I think of it, I put it in reverse and it wasn't keen ongoing in at all and was quite jerky which is unusual. My Mum's just got back and called me to say that there is a lot of oil all over her drive where I was.




So where might it have leaked from ? Do you think it will have caused permanent damage and, if so, to what?

Hi, it's quite possible there's serious damage, that means a replacement trans, there are s/h ones about for reasonable money, but don't give up till you've tried topping up and running first. I can't imagine how the old girl could dump all the fluid in one go, unless somehow the dipstick tube's been damaged at the bottom, or the drain plug is loose. Don't fret for now, they're quite robust gearboxes and you never know, God may have been smiling. Martin.

[KOY 23]

Does the GM 180 use a separate oil cooler?, if so one of the rubber pipes could have perished. New rubber section can be replaced by local hydraulic hose supplier much cheaper than buying a new pipe.

Good luck and enjoy the mopping up!

John

[milothedog]

I have just got in from having the MM recovered to the local garage, and wouldn't mind some thoughts on a problem I had ahead of them telling me what they think.

As you may remember it's auto and has a GM180 3 speed box in it, that was brand new when installed by the PO and will have done about 8k miles since I am guessing.

First time out in it today since beginning of Jan and all going well, then I started to think that it wasn't changing up and down through the box quite as normal. After a fcouple more miles I thought it definitely wasn't, and seemed to have got into 3rd but was revving more highly than usual so acting as though it was in 2nd. But I then went up a hill and it wouldn't drop down, still reving a bit high and power really trailing off, so I pulled over. Probably I drove it about 5 miles from when I waspretty sure it wasn't right.

So when stationary, I put it in Park which engaged fine and quite a bit of smoke was coming up through the selector and out from under the car - friction I would assume. The gear selector was still capable of moving but it didn't seem to want to select a gear but would go into Park ok. With the engine off it would still go in and out of Park fine, and the rear wheels aren't seized.

Hopefully it's not the box itself, but I would be keen to hear what others think?

Ian,

Have you had any more smoke than usual from the exhasut. IIRC that gearbox has a Vacuum operated modulator for the kickdown, if the diaphragm goes in the modulator the engine will consume the ATF and burn it.

If it's lost all it's Oil and there are no visable leaks it's worth getting it checked, again IIRC there are not expensive to replace.

81860.jpg
Ian.


Here you are it looks like this.

[martin]

I have just got in from having the MM recovered to the local garage, and wouldn't mind some thoughts on a problem I had ahead of them telling me what they think.

As you may remember it's auto and has a GM180 3 speed box in it, that was brand new when installed by the PO and will have done about 8k miles since I am guessing.

First time out in it today since beginning of Jan and all going well, then I started to think that it wasn't changing up and down through the box quite as normal. After a fcouple more miles I thought it definitely wasn't, and seemed to have got into 3rd but was revving more highly than usual so acting as though it was in 2nd. But I then went up a hill and it wouldn't drop down, still reving a bit high and power really trailing off, so I pulled over. Probably I drove it about 5 miles from when I waspretty sure it wasn't right.

So when stationary, I put it in Park which engaged fine and quite a bit of smoke was coming up through the selector and out from under the car - friction I would assume. The gear selector was still capable of moving but it didn't seem to want to select a gear but would go into Park ok. With the engine off it would still go in and out of Park fine, and the rear wheels aren't seized.

Hopefully it's not the box itself, but I would be keen to hear what others think?

Hi, any luck ? Martin.

[Guest]

Dave - Hmmm, she's been out there today and said it's not oil so I am somewhat off the hook!

John - It has a low mounted long and thin radiator which I took to be the ATF cooler, but not sure if that's what you meant.

Ian - That's a good idea but it's not been unduly smokey. Because there were pools and trails of fluid in / out of my Mum's drive and down the road, it seems much more likely its a seal or hose went when I was there.

Martin - I had it recovered to the local garage so it's not here to look at. I called them and, as usual, they are flat-out, so all they have done (bless them) is push it into the workshop and are hoping to look at it on Friday. So it's another 4 days of being on tenderhooks for me.

[martin]

Thanks. I do hope they're going to try re-filling before they start pulling things off ? Martin.

[Guest]

Me too

[Guest]

Well I have just spoken to the garage and it seems like I had a narrow escape.

It's not a Stag engine and box as you know, and one of the results is that there is no room to fit a speedo drive to the gearbox as there is a cross member in the way - whether this can be adapted I haven't looked at yet and I am not that bothered as I use a GPS speedo app on my phone. The hole had been blanked off when the conversion was done by Favershams before I got it and it, and it seems that this blanking piece is what came out and dumped the ATF.

So today the local garage have fitted in a core plug using liquid metal and topped it up with 3 lit of fluid. They say that they have had it up to running temp up and down the road and it changes up and down fine - including kick-down.

Thank God I had the sense to stop when I did.