300tdi Automatic lost drive

Hi guys and Happy New year

Well it was until my car chose to break down, luckily I have AA cover so Iam back home.
If anyone has some sugestions as to the problem the description of the symptoms are as follows.

Car drove okay on way to inlaws at first
1st sign of problem car wont change up into 4th at usual revs (2.5k ish), put foot down and eventually changed gear.
drove to inlaws +/- 14 miles and gear changes seem weird but drove okay.

on way back
Everything seemed fine until about 6 miles stopped at lights and car wouldnt pull away.
Stopped engine and started again managed to get car going but wont change up into 4th.
Got about another mile lost all drive again struggled to a side road and called AA.

Guy from FAM turned up and he had a look, there was a noise like a rattling coming from under the car which wasnt there before, only noticed as I was stood outside.
I have checked the transission fluid I think the level is okay but it was dark but there was deffinatly fluid on the dip stick and it didnt appear the be discoloured.
The diff lock shouldnt be a problem as it hasnt been moved.

Not too sure what else to check so if anyone has any ideas they would be appreciated.

Edit - forgot to add I have tried selecting 1st to 3rd and still no drive.

Thanks
Aaron

although the colour of the atf was ok when was the transmission filter changed, i think i would look at replacing the trans oil and filter first and then go from there you will be amazed what an oil and filter change does to an auto box hope this helps.

graham
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98 d1 300tdi auto.

I will give it a go and see. Hope my local parts store has the bits.

slinky said:

I will give it a go and see. Hope my local parts store has the bits.

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i havent done it yet but looks straight foward up untill last year i was a van driver delivering parts to customers and to field engineers and sometimes had to go out with engineers to assist and it was amazing when you went to a job with say an auto boxed fork lift with no drive first job would normally be replace trans oil and filter 9 times out of 10 just replacing the oil and filter did the job after that it was more serious, i was always told if the tranny oil was black but could see red in it you where in with a chance i once restored a rover p 6 3.5 v8 auto and the oil was black but you could see red in the oil so i replaced the oil and cleaned the filter out and i ran the car for 5 years after that and changed the oil and cleaned out the filter once during that time.

graham
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98 d1 300tdi auto

Got 5 litres dextron 3 today, will drain the box tomorrow and check the filter.

slinky said:

Got 5 litres dextron 3 today, will drain the box tomorrow and check the filter.

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i don't think you can check the filter as its in a sealed steel body its just a throw away and replace part and it comes with a couple of seals think one is for fitting the filter and the other is for the drain plug or something as i said i haven't done one yet but if you go on ebay you can see them which will give you a good idea.

graham
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98 d1 300tdi auto.

just looked on ebay and they are £13 per kit the kit comes with

1 the filter
2 3 seals
3 a transmission sump gasket.

graham
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98 d1 300tdi auto.

Hmmm car probably wont be ready this week then what with it being bank holiday monday and Tuesday, oh well have to nick the wifes car.

finally been able to have a go at replacing the filter.

Unfortunatly it appears this is impossible without removing a large bracket which is preventing me getting to one of the bolts holding the pan on.

I was under the impression that this was pretty much a user servicable part but now it seems you neeed to remove some very large components just to access this one bolt.

I have also found it difficult to find a decent guide, the only one I could find obviously wasnt for my car.
Is there a guide anyone knows of preferably with pictures?

i doubt that oil filtere change will give you back drive youve either burnt one or more clutch packs out and or one way clutches,and if youve lost lock up torque convertor reconing

its great when you get conflicting advice, it really makes things easy.

darkened fluid is a sign of burnt clutch ,they are like motor bike clutches

well the fluid that came out was brown so I guess thats what has happened.
I will be getting rid of it then.

jamesmartin said:

darkened fluid is a sign of burnt clutch ,they are like motor bike clutches

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out of interest, which clutch are you referring to? The torque converter lock-up clutch?

Since it is not possible to remove the gearbox sump to get to the filter I decided to fill it back up and see it just changing the fluid worked.

However...

Set off drives okay through the gears into 4th then after about 1 mile its like a clutch slipping.

Total loss of drive, turn engine off and wait a minute started up and drives but only just, managed to get home just.

Give Ashcroft transmissions a call they are very helpful.

alexdon said:

Give Ashcroft transmissions a call they are very helpful.

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Will do

if you need any parts, let me know as im going to bust a 300tdi auto this week, mint engine & box !