Gearbox Probs - Are there any issues with the 722.42 box?

[Royville]

I think my auto gearbox has a problem.
The car is just not nice to drive. It never pulls off smoothly, it jerks as though I'm at the start of a race, then it jerks when changing gear, especially from 2nd to 3rd (4 speed box). It does improve when warmed up except the 2nd to 3rd change. When you pull away then ease off, like in a Queue of traffic it really kicks as the box changes up a gear. And once it has warmed up the car judders when it comes to rest at traffic lights. Transmission fluid was changed at about 68K.
Could you advise me please on the best course of action to take, its a lovely car for the year (75k miles) but this gearbox problem ruins an otherwise comfortable, quiet ride.

Roy

 

[television]

Roy a common problem is the vacuam pipe fallen off from the gear box or off from the manifold end,its worth checking as it causes rough changes.

malcolm

 

[eric242340]

I think my auto gearbox has a problem.
The car is just not nice to drive. It never pulls off smoothly, it jerks as though I'm at the start of a race, then it jerks when changing gear, especially from 2nd to 3rd (4 speed box). It does improve when warmed up except the 2nd to 3rd change. When you pull away then ease off, like in a Queue of traffic it really kicks as the box changes up a gear. And once it has warmed up the car judders when it comes to rest at traffic lights. Transmission fluid was changed at about 68K.
Could you advise me please on the best course of action to take, its a lovely car for the year (75k miles) but this gearbox problem ruins an otherwise comfortable, quiet ride.

Roy

What Malcolm just posted is the first check you should do and its better you start with this check. But what year is the car?

 

[C220GJS]

It's a 1996 C180, Eric.

 

[Royville]

Hi Guys,

You are right George - It is a 96 C180 (how did you know? )

I'll check the vacuum pipe Malcolm, if I can find it. Is it easy to identify and get at or do I need to jack the car up? Sorry, but I know very little about auto boxes.

In the haynes manual it says that under normal conditions it should pull off in second gear, is this right? Mine never does, :? I can count all 3 changes (through the 4 gears) as it drives in Standard or Economy setting.

Roy

 

[C220GJS]

Psychic ???,or a good memory,LOL.
The vacuum pipe you want is connected to the inlet manifold at no.3 cyl. At the other end it connects to the vacuum switch at the nearside front of the gearbox but is not very accessable unless you have a ramp.

 

[television]

To improve the 2-3 shift you have to change the spring ass; (K1) pat number 126 270 44 77 it is not necessary to remove the shift valve housing as it can be changed in situ.


Malcolm

 

[Royville]

Thanks Guys,

I'll have a look at the weekend and try and see if the vacuum is connected and in good condition. Ive got some stands so Ill jack the nearside up to have a look at the gearbox.

'(K1) pat number 126 270 44 77'

I don't understand what this K1 is malcolm - sorry
Could you explain please?

 

[Royville]

Sorry for not reporting back sooner - couldn't get on the forum last night for some reason!
Anyway had a look at the weekend, the manifold end looks good but I couldn't get under to look at the box end - not enough time. I will set time aside for next weekend and check it then. - Never seem to have enough time these days!
I did do a level check though after a longish run (65 miles) and it was way above the two marks on the dipstick. Would this have any effect on the gear change quality?
Roy

 

[television]

Sorry for not reporting back sooner - couldn't get on the forum last night for some reason!
Anyway had a look at the weekend, the manifold end looks good but I couldn't get under to look at the box end - not enough time. I will set time aside for next weekend and check it then. - Never seem to have enough time these days!
I did do a level check though after a longish run (65 miles) and it was way above the two marks on the dipstick. Would this have any effect on the gear change quality?
Roy

Transmission fluid foams and can give a false reading,you should wait longer before testing to be sure.

There is a valve in your box that needs this new K1 spring,it is a listed fault for your car,the sump has to come off,thats all.

Malcolm

 

[Royville]

So how long should I let the car stand before checking? I normally do a 17 mile run from work during the week, would that be sufficient miles to get an accurate level check? If so I'll recheck tomorrow.
Is there a 'how to' anywhere for doing the K1 spring, or would that be better left to the local independent to do?
Please excuse my ignorance on these matters
Roy

 

[television]

I feel sure that it tell you to wait after a run for checking the levels,10 min should be OK.

K1 No DIY on this as not many take the sump off the box themselve.

are you going to do this your self ?

Malcolm

 

[Royville]

OK Malcolm, I'll do a recheck tomorrow.
I would be happy to have a go at the K1 spring so long as its a straight forward job and no specialist tools required. I assume I get the spring from MB ?
Roy.

 

[television]

OK Malcolm, I'll do a recheck tomorrow.
I would be happy to have a go at the K1 spring so long as its a straight forward job and no specialist tools required. I assume I get the spring from MB ?
Roy.

No special tools to do it, I will have to find the info and Email to you


Malcolm

 

[Royville]

Thanks Malcolm.

 

[Royville]

Hey Guys,

I finally had the chance to get under my car this weekend. I found the vac pipe which goes into the box from the manifold and it looked securely attached and in good condition. Had a good look under there and all looked OK to me except for a small fluid leak from the box somewhere.

Also, I checked my box fluid level after a 17 mile run first letting it settle for 10 minutes and it was still way over the max mark on the 80 deg marks of the dipstick.

So my question is if the box is over full, do you think it could be causing my rough gear change problem, and how do I actually take some of the fluid out?

Thanking you for your patient's
Roy

 

[television]

Hey Guys,

I finally had the chance to get under my car this weekend. I found the vac pipe which goes into the box from the manifold and it looked securely attached and in good condition. Had a good look under there and all looked OK to me except for a small fluid leak from the box somewhere.

Also, I checked my box fluid level after a 17 mile run first letting it settle for 10 minutes and it was still way over the max mark on the 80 deg marks of the dipstick.

So my question is if the box is over full, do you think it could be causing my rough gear change problem, and how do I actually take some of the fluid out?

Thanking you for your patient's
Roy

Garages suck it out via the filler hole, not practical for DIY only other way is to clean the drain plug area and just slacken the plug so that some runs out.

These levels ar fairly critical what color was the fluid.

 

[Royville]

Hi Malcolm,

I've drained about 1/4 litre of fluid off and will check the level again tomorrow after a run.
The colour of the fluid is a reddish brown, - I think it was a brighter red when it was changed about 10 months ago.

Roy

 

[television]

Hi Malcolm,

I've drained about 1/4 litre of fluid off and will check the level again tomorrow after a run.
The colour of the fluid is a reddish brown, - I think it was a brighter red when it was changed about 10 months ago.

Roy

Does not sound bad with that color, I will be interested on the out come.

 

[Royville]

Does not sound bad with that color, I will be interested on the out come.

Ran the car to work and back today and this is what happened -
1st to 2nd gearshift - Much better.
2nd to 3rd gearshift - no real difference, still gives you a kick in the back.
3rd to 4th gearshift - I could'nt detect the change - brilliant!

On the whole it felt much improved except for the 2nd to 3rd shift.
When I got home I checked the fluid level and it was just a little over the max this time so I've drained a little more off.

If I can just get the 2/3 shift sorted it would be great. The only thing I did notice was that it tended to slip from 1st to 2nd when I booted it.

B.T.W. - When I checked the vac pipe at the weekend I noticed that beside the box connection was a kind of knob which I could turn - what is this?

Roy