Transmission fluid level

[thatfatbloke]

Halfway back from a twenty mile trip,and I seemed to lose power,as if she had gone into a limp mode. No lights on dash,engine sounds and idles normally. Very slow acceleration,changes gear (eventually) need to put foot to floor to get anywhere. On getting home,I left it running and checked the transmission fluid,which was at the top of the cold mark nowhere near the hot mark.  Fluid seems to be an 'apple juice' colour as opposed to 'cherryade'.

Question is,would a low level of fluid give the symptoms I'm getting,or would it be the age of the fluid doing it. Nearest autobox company 10 miles away if needs draining and refilling,would it be safe to drive it the 10 miles there?. I don't fancy attempting to top up the fluid as the tube looks very small and I'd probably get more on the driveway than I get in the gearbox. I am awaiting a return call from the autobox company at the moment. Thanks.

[sorcerer]

I'm afraid that I can't answer your question as I've never seen an ATF that's 'apple juice' colour - I've only ever seen red so I don't know if that's indicative of a problem or not. However, topping it up yourself has got to be the best and quite possibly the cheapest thing to try first. If you drive that 10 miles as it is and something is wrong, you could do a lot of damage. On the other hand, towing charges and/or getting the garage to come and pick it up would be an expensive way of finding out that nothing's wrong and it just needed topping up. Surely you've got a small funnel lurking around somewhere, or could buy one locally?

[thatfatbloke]

Dipstick awkward to get at as surrounded by LPG paraphernalia,and I have hands like a grizzly bear. However,I've managed to top it up,it took about two egg cupfulls. Strangely enough when I checked the level when engine cold the fluid was up to the hot level. Took it for a spin,she started off nicely ,but when warmed up she went back to slug mode. Don't want to risk overfilling and still awaiting return call from gearbox people. Throttle position sensor?.

 

[sorcerer]

3 hours ago, thatfatbloke said:

Dipstick awkward to get at as surrounded by LPG paraphernalia,and I have hands like a grizzly bear. However,I've managed to top it up,it took about two egg cupfulls. Strangely enough when I checked the level when engine cold the fluid was up to the hot level. Took it for a spin,she started off nicely ,but when warmed up she went back to slug mode. Don't want to risk overfilling and still awaiting return call from gearbox people. Throttle position sensor?.

 

Could be the TPS I suppose but really couldn't say for sure. Whatever it is I hope you get it sorted without needing to sell a kidney

[Cotswold Pete]

I doubt it is the fluid causing this, even when my ATF was really smelly and very worn out the gearbox worked well enough, never went into limp mode.

You can drive a long way in most cars in limp mode it just mean using more fuel and annoying other road users.

There should be nothing in the gearbox that is going to get damaged on the way to garage.

You could prove it's not the gearbox just by leaving it to warm up on the drive (your ATF is going to cool even then), and I would guess if it still goes into limp mode, then it is some sensor, but you need to take it to a garage that can get codes off ECU if poss.

 

[The-Acre]

I very much doubt ATF as well, much more likely to be a sensor.  Could even be the coolant temperature sensor, that's popped up a few times lately, especially as it happens when it warms up.  Cheap and easy if it is.

[thatfatbloke]

Just taken her out for a blat,and noticed that the kick down isn't functioning so may be related to this. She drove as normal today apart from that. Getting her booked in to be looked at next week.

[thatfatbloke]

Had her diagnosed today by an automatic gearbox specialist. No problems with the box as it threw no codes. The problem is the throttle body. At some time a 'temporary' repair has been made to the part that the throttle and kickdown cables run through. This repair has now given up and snapped,so the cables are 'floating' if you like. I've made an offer on a used throttle body on fleabay, just awaiting reply.

[thatfatbloke]

Had her diagnosed today by an automatic gearbox specialist. No problems with the box as it threw no codes. The problem is the throttle body. At some time a 'temporary' repair has been made to the part that the throttle and kickdown cables run through. This repair has now given up and snapped,so the cables are 'floating' if you like. I've made an offer on a used throttle body on fleabay, just awaiting reply.

[thatfatbloke]

I have no idea why the above post is on here twice.!.

[Malc]

hahahahaha....  you'll be buying two then 

Malc

[runsgrateasanut]

I bought a spare which had been completely serviced with all replacement Alan s/s bolts for the hex bolts. You should know that they do differ slightly between earlier models and later models.  This I believe is for a later model and  is not suited to my car.

 

[sorcerer]

3 hours ago, thatfatbloke said:

Had her diagnosed today by an automatic gearbox specialist. No problems with the box as it threw no codes. The problem is the throttle body. At some time a 'temporary' repair has been made to the part that the throttle and kickdown cables run through. This repair has now given up and snapped,so the cables are 'floating' if you like. I've made an offer on a used throttle body on fleabay, just awaiting reply.

Glad you got it sorted