Auto box no gear selection

arnosvale65 · 3rd October 2017, 20:50

My brother has broken down near Chichester and says he can't select any gears even if he tries to select manually eg in 2 3 or 4. He says it just seemed to jumpout of gear as it was changing. Any ideas? I am hoping he can get it home and sent to MJN in Bristol.

arnosvale65 · 3rd October 2017, 20:57

He has managed to limp it into a lay by off the very busy A272 so he will be safer! He says the display shows whichever gear position he selects ie P,R,N,D 4,3,2.

clf · 3rd October 2017, 21:23

a cable selection issue?

Did he have problems with reverse at any time prior? (reverse piston?)

Or has he changed the fluid, or lost any?

Perhaps the go to, of a battery disconnect (or fuse removal) for half an hour, just in case its an ECU gremlin (a bit of a long shot, but cant do any harm).

arnosvale65 · 3rd October 2017, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by clf

a cable selection issue?

Did he have problems with reverse at any time prior? (reverse piston?)

Or has he changed the fluid, or lost any?

Perhaps the go to, of a battery disconnect (or fuse removal) for half an hour, just in case its an ECU gremlin (a bit of a long shot, but cant do any harm).

He was having a prob with the box being a bit juddery and was going to have the box oil changed. He has only had the car a couple of months and it was going in for a full service at MJN in Bristol. However a family issue came up which meant the car never did go in for a service. It is being recovered to Bristol and we will take it to MJN tomorrow morning. Mark there is a top man where MG and Rover are concerned.

genpk · 4th October 2017, 11:05

If it's not an issue with the auto box, might be the selector switch that's mounted on the box under the air box.
That can get oil etc inside the switch, can be removed and taken apart and cleaned up ,the contacts get dirty .
First thing to do is change the oil, see what it does then take it from there.

arnosvale65 · 4th October 2017, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by genpk

If it's not an issue with the auto box, might be the selector switch that's mounted on the box under the air box.
That can get oil etc inside the switch, can be removed and taken apart and cleaned up ,the contacts get dirty .
First thing to do is change the oil, see what it does then take it from there.

Thanks for that, the car is now at our local MG/Rover specialist.

arnosvale65 · 10th October 2017, 15:38

Update on the gearbox problem. The T4 shows an internal problem with the box so as we only paid £600 for it my Brother-in-law has decided to cut his losses. Great shame as the car was in good shape otherwise. My man at MJN says that removing the box and having it investigated by a Jatco man would be far too expensive. Just goes to show what not changing the oil does for your wallet!!! I saw the oil and it looked like very old 5w/40. At 165000 miles even putting a second hand box in assuming it would be any good would in my opinion be throwing good money after bad.
We are now looking for a below 100,000 mile specimen , auto connie cdt SE pref not in silver. Must have cruise control.

SD1too · 10th October 2017, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnosvale65

My man at MJN says that removing the box and having it investigated by a Jatco man would be far too expensive.

That's what garages always say and it would indeed be expensive and not the best first response anyway. Ask MJN what the T4 actually said.

I'd recommend changing all the fluid using Beinet1's method and testing the solenoids using a multimeter (connector accessible under the bonnet). You may well find success with this and if you don't, you haven't lost much. An automatic transmission will last longer than 165,000 miles. The box in my SD1 has covered in excess of 180,000 and never suffered component failure.

There's also a parts supply specialist on your doorstep: JP Automatic Transmissions in Langford.

Simon

Sonic ZS · 10th October 2017, 18:44

I'm sure that X702 was scrapped due to the faulty (£60) gearbox solenoid. You can almost hear the garage conversation... "Yeah mate, you've got a problem inside the box, probably needs a complete new unit plus the labour charge to remove and refit. It's 14 years old, you're better off scrapping it...."

mh007 · 15th October 2017, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnosvale65

Update on the gearbox problem. The T4 shows an internal problem with the box so as we only paid £600 for it my Brother-in-law has decided to cut his losses. Great shame as the car was in good shape otherwise. My man at MJN says that removing the box and having it investigated by a Jatco man would be far too expensive. Just goes to show what not changing the oil does for your wallet!!! I saw the oil and it looked like very old 5w/40. At 165000 miles even putting a second hand box in assuming it would be any good would in my opinion be throwing good money after bad.
We are now looking for a below 100,000 mile specimen , auto connie cdt SE pref not in silver. Must have cruise control.

I'd be interested to know the fault code or codes that showed up.
Just saying the autobox had an internal fault isn't really enough info to write it off.
If it was a reverse piston issue, this can be done with the box in situ as can all nine solenoids. The selector sits externally on top of the box so readily accessible with the removal of the airbox assembly.

3rd October 2017, 20:50	#1
arnosvale65 Posted a thing or two 75 facelift CDTi Connie SE Tourer. MGF 1.8 VVC Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bristol Posts: 1,424 Thanks: 176 Thanked 176 Times in 119 Posts	Auto box no gear selection My brother has broken down near Chichester and says he can't select any gears even if he tries to select manually eg in 2 3 or 4. He says it just seemed to jumpout of gear as it was changing. Any ideas? I am hoping he can get it home and sent to MJN in Bristol. __________________ Onwards and upwards. MGZT-T MK1 front and rear ends fitted, specialist- components in line thermostat mod done, retro fitted cruise control, Mk1 real wood dash fitted, real walnut steering wheel fitted, Pioneer DAB radio fitted.

3rd October 2017, 20:57	#2
arnosvale65 Posted a thing or two 75 facelift CDTi Connie SE Tourer. MGF 1.8 VVC Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bristol Posts: 1,424 Thanks: 176 Thanked 176 Times in 119 Posts	He has managed to limp it into a lay by off the very busy A272 so he will be safer! He says the display shows whichever gear position he selects ie P,R,N,D 4,3,2. __________________ Onwards and upwards. MGZT-T MK1 front and rear ends fitted, specialist- components in line thermostat mod done, retro fitted cruise control, Mk1 real wood dash fitted, real walnut steering wheel fitted, Pioneer DAB radio fitted.

3rd October 2017, 21:23	#3
clf This is my second home MG ZT CDTi Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: carrick Posts: 7,859 Thanks: 3,494 Thanked 2,657 Times in 1,973 Posts	a cable selection issue? Did he have problems with reverse at any time prior? (reverse piston?) Or has he changed the fluid, or lost any? Perhaps the go to, of a battery disconnect (or fuse removal) for half an hour, just in case its an ECU gremlin (a bit of a long shot, but cant do any harm). __________________ It is not gloss primer .............. it is duct tape silver!

4th October 2017, 11:05	#5
genpk Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Saloon MGZT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Perth, AUSTRALIA Posts: 1,664 Thanks: 3 Thanked 461 Times in 299 Posts	If it's not an issue with the auto box, might be the selector switch that's mounted on the box under the air box. That can get oil etc inside the switch, can be removed and taken apart and cleaned up ,the contacts get dirty . First thing to do is change the oil, see what it does then take it from there. Last edited by genpk; 4th October 2017 at 13:01..

10th October 2017, 15:38	#7
arnosvale65 Posted a thing or two 75 facelift CDTi Connie SE Tourer. MGF 1.8 VVC Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bristol Posts: 1,424 Thanks: 176 Thanked 176 Times in 119 Posts	Update on the gearbox problem. The T4 shows an internal problem with the box so as we only paid £600 for it my Brother-in-law has decided to cut his losses. Great shame as the car was in good shape otherwise. My man at MJN says that removing the box and having it investigated by a Jatco man would be far too expensive. Just goes to show what not changing the oil does for your wallet!!! I saw the oil and it looked like very old 5w/40. At 165000 miles even putting a second hand box in assuming it would be any good would in my opinion be throwing good money after bad. We are now looking for a below 100,000 mile specimen , auto connie cdt SE pref not in silver. Must have cruise control. __________________ Onwards and upwards. MGZT-T MK1 front and rear ends fitted, specialist- components in line thermostat mod done, retro fitted cruise control, Mk1 real wood dash fitted, real walnut steering wheel fitted, Pioneer DAB radio fitted.

10th October 2017, 18:44	#9
Sonic ZS Posted a thing or two 75 Conn CDT Tourer, 75 Conn SE V6, 75 Conn V6, 75 Conn CDTi Tourer, ZS 180 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Devon Posts: 1,986 Thanks: 1,287 Thanked 963 Times in 534 Posts	I'm sure that X702 was scrapped due to the faulty (£60) gearbox solenoid. You can almost hear the garage conversation... "Yeah mate, you've got a problem inside the box, probably needs a complete new unit plus the labour charge to remove and refit. It's 14 years old, you're better off scrapping it...." __________________