D2 V8 Auto no drive when hot

This issue has me completely flummoxed.

Occasionally, after a decent drive (30 minutes or so), say popping to the shops, when I returned to the truck it wouldn't select a gear. If II kept trying though the gears it would eventually get a gear and move. Then it stopped selecting 4th gear, it would just hang around in 3rd, the lock up was working, just no 4th. The fluid level was correct. Finally it stared what felt like starting in second when cold, it would take a good quarter mile before it managed to get to third.

I thought I'd start with a fluid change, it had a fluid change and new filter a couple of years and 2000 miles ago, I don't use it often....

Old oil looked fine, used dexion III, I've followed the procedure to fill the transmission, (filled cold, ran through the gears, rechecked with engine running in neutral, all seemed well, took it for a drive, all the gears, including 4th are there. Feeling pleased with myself I headed home. On my way I slowed at a roundabout, engine revved really hard and it seemed stuck in first, that cleared and back to normal. Then I stopped at a junction, and lost all drive. Played about with the selector, turned it off and on again and after 5 mins or so drive came back. Got it home, went to reverse into the drive, same issue. 10 minutes later she selected reverse and I got it into the drive.

Put her on stands, engine running, checked the level, all good. still no drive. This morning started her cold, gears are there. Theres no signs of xyz issues, the car is standard and has just 57K on it. its a year 2000, no other issues I am aware of. My car scanner shows no codes (I know its a poor scanner).

What on earth is going on here? Any help much appreciated.

Update:

I put her up stands and ran her for ages, tickover in drive and reverse, switched to low range manual and did the same through the gears. All this with wheels turning, no hand or foot brake. the engine got to electric cooling fan stage. Still driving, went and checked the level, engine running in neutral, level correct, kept on running the car in gear and then it happened, drive was lost. This must have been about 30 minutes in.

Tried hi and low, diff lock in and out, nothing, no drive. Exactly as its been doing on the road. left it in third, while I went to get the tools back out and by the time I'd carried everything back to the truck, the wheels started turning again.

went back through all the gears, wheels still turning. left it for a minute or two and then shifted to neutral, engine still running, checked the level, no oil came out. Filled my hand pump and it took another liter.

All seems to be good, going to let it all cool down and I'll take if off the stands and give it another try.

I have everything crossed that this has it fixed, I'll let you know.

BroncoJr said:

Update:

I put her up stands and ran her for ages, tickover in drive and reverse, switched to low range manual and did the same through the gears. All this with wheels turning, no hand or foot brake. the engine got to electric cooling fan stage. Still driving, whent and checked the level, engine running in neutral, level correct, kept on running the car in gear and then it happened, drive was lost. This must have been about 30 minutes in.

Tried hi and low, diff lock in and out, nothing, no drive. Exactly as its been doing on the road. left it in third, while I went to get the tool back out and by the time I'd carried everything back to the truck, the wheels started turning again.

when back through all the gears, wheels still turning. left it for a minute or two and then shifted to neutral, engine still running, checked the level, no oil came out. Filled my hand pump and it took another liter.

All seems to be good, going to let it all cool down and I'll take if off the stands and give it another try.

I have everything crossed that this has it fixed, I'll let you know.

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Best of luck, it looks like you might have a bit of a blockage in it but maybe what you have done has shifted it.

Update on the update….

No dice, still looses drive when hot, checked fluid level again and this time it’s right. 4th gear came back, all looked good, once it was 40 or so miles in to a run, went to turn round and as soon as I came out of drive, to go into reverse, it gave up and it was another 10 minutes of buggering about before it would move again.

it’s beyond my I think, off go the menders, will post outcome as it may be useful to someone in the future.

Do you see the M & S warnings on ignition self test?

sierrafery said:

Do you see the M & S warnings on ignition self test?

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No, all clear, it’s got to the point where it doesn’t go in drive at all. Throwing in the towel and getting recovered somewhere that knows more than I do, which is most places….