Autobox - Panick measure or preventative maintenance ?

Having invested a thick wedge in my new toy (88k mile 53 plate TD6 L322) and due to me planning on keeping the car (as I did my Soft dash) for apprx 5 years I have decided the following

I will be very shortly having a new torque convertor fitted

I have no current issues with the gearbox or gearchange but at 88k it wont be long before "issues arise"

Whilst reading previous threads and the excellent gearbox strip article linked to by others it appears to me the weak link is the plates within the convertor

My theory is that the oil pump draws in the oil through the filter and then into the TC which then pressurises the oil within the gearbox and valve system and oil cooler so should or more importantly WHEN the TC fails it dumps its swarf under pressure into the workings of the gearbox and as the box is not longer protected by the filter (after the TC) major failure is guaranteed.

So my plan is to have fitted a new TC, filter, cooler and a full strip, clean, inspect and rebuild of the gearbox - fill up with correct spec Texaco Texamatic 7045E oil BEFORE anything fails !!!

Have contacted VMTP in Cannock regarding the work to be carried out as a drive in - drive out service with them reporting back to me once box is stripped.

I run my own small MOT Service and repair business and VMTP have on previous occasions been no problem whatsoever to deal with and I have had no issues with work carried out by them for me.

Thoughts please !

Sorry meant to add that I will be regularly towing my track car all over the country and want to reduce where possible any risk of failure when out on the road.

sounds like you are either going to love doing this job, or its going to be a pain in the ass!

by rights, what your saying is true. but check the valve block and if it looks dodgy, get the upgraded version. Sonnax i think it is. from what i have read about all the problems with these boxes, its as you say, either the TC or the valve block. or a combination of the 2.

i say be a brave man and go for it!

One of the reasons I chose VMTP is also that they are listed by Sonnax as one of their UK agents so if for any reason the valve block is knackered then I am lookin at a Sonnax upgrade anyway

good choice

Might as well get it right now so that way you have at least 80k miles before the gearbox ****s the bed. Should be enough miles to see you through 5 years of ownership.

Some boxes have been known to last for 140k+ miles with no issues !
All depends on how it's been looked after

Mines on 145K now and I don't know if its had a recon box or not !

RS2000CUSTOM said:

One of the reasons I chose VMTP is also that they are listed by Sonnax as one of their UK agents so if for any reason the valve block is knackered then I am lookin at a Sonnax upgrade anyway

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hi dave never heard anything bad about vmtp infact highly recomended,i only done 5k on my recom gearbox and it started to play up againtook it back and the valve block has issues.this was replaced with a recon which turned out worse than the one already fitted and reconned 5k ago, now its out again and having a sonnax fitted,hopefully it will be ok.my personal view on this is if it aint broke leave it alone some can go on longer eg hippos on 145k and still going,your knees will wobble when the dreaded transfail safe message appears with the bong noise.my first signs of failure was this meesage regular and needed to switch engine off to clear then slipping in low forward gears although reverse was unaffected, then total failure would only crawl in top gear.after recon and valve block failure symptoms was harsh coming down the gearbox when warm say after 30 miles driving,everthing was changed on mine aswell inc cooler,new motor etc etc and it still isnt right infact they are a nightmare should have it back this week hopefully ill let you know how it goes dave

2.0_hippo said:

Some boxes have been known to last for 140k+ miles with no issues !
All depends on how it's been looked after

Mines on 145K now and I don't know if its had a recon box or not !

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+1

My 54 reg TD6 Vogue is on 153k miles, just had the gearbox oil and filter done...the box has had work done on it in the past, as the sump plug has been obviously undone, but don't know if it's been reconditioned or not. The old oil was a bit brown, but absolutely clear of debris and (most importantly) no swarf or 'glitter' in the sump. She changes gear smoother than a prom queen's thighs, so looks promising....but you never know as it can be pot luck with these GM boxes.

It's never a bad thing to do preventative maintenance, it's what I always do, but unfortunately it's no guarantee at the end of the day. Best advice is to drive your motor gently, i.e. no racing starts, thrashing around, etc.

Happy motoring.

Discotigger said:

Best advice is to drive your motor gently, i.e. no racing starts, thrashing around, etc.

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I would class myself as a "spirited" driver so the last thing I want to do is drive gently etc

A 9 nine year old car that was the thick end of £50k when new should not have to be driven like an old Fiesta non turbo Diesel

The "weakness" of the TD6 transmission should not detract from the excellent drive and satisfaction I get from owning an L322 and as such if I can tick the box of "gearbox worry removed" then it gives me more time to worry about other items that will no doubt stop working - lol

I know you should take it easy on the gearbox but its hard not to take off at traffic lights as there soo damn nippy ! Especially once there's a magic chip box under the bonnet !
(Yes it will probably kill the box earlier) but its worth the risk

2.0_hippo said:

I know you should take it easy on the gearbox but its hard not to take off at traffic lights as there soo damn nippy ! Especially once there's a magic chip box under the bonnet !
(Yes it will probably kill the box earlier) but its worth the risk

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lol Hippo how did you know I was gonna say that ?

My DPT plug-in is set for torque and towing so low down acceleration is awesome and very tempting when sat at lights next to some Boom Bass Bass Head on his way Maccy Dee's !!!!

RS2000CUSTOM said:

lol Hippo how did you know I was gonna say that ?

My DPT plug-in is set for torque and towing so low down acceleration is awesome and very tempting when sat at lights next to some Boom Bass Bass Head on his way Maccy Dee's !!!!

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Soo true !!! Lol

And you feel smug when their left at the lights half a mile down the road ! Lmao

Not bad for a big, heavy motor

The chip on mine is fully adjustable. So you can choose the power wanted, its currently sat at one from the top !! God knows what BHP its sitting at now but it's quick !

The box is only switched on when off public roads though
Got to follow the law

2.0_hippo said:

Soo true !!! Lol

And you feel smug when there left at the lights half a mile down the road ! Lmao

Not bad for a big, heavy motor

The chip on mine is fully adjustable. So you can choose the power wanted, its currently sat at one from the top !! God knows what BHP its sitting at now but it's quick !

The box is only switched on when off public roads though
Got to follow the law

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That may be true 2.0 Hippo, I'm not saying drive the motor like you're an old granny, just that a big, heavy motor with a 'fragile' gearbox should not be driven like some 'Boom Bass Bass Head' (at least not all of the time!). If I want to burn people off, I just swap my RR for (what has now become) the wife's ST220!!

You may feel less smug when he passes you by the side of the road half a mile from the lights, 'cos your gearbox has gone and you're now in limp mode!!

Discotigger said:

That may be true 2.0 Hippo, I'm not saying drive the motor like you're an old granny, just that a big, heavy motor with a 'fragile' gearbox should not be driven like some 'Boom Bass Bass Head' (at least not all of the time!). If I want to burn people off, I just swap my RR for (what has now become) the wife's ST220!!

You may feel less smug when he passes you by the side of the road half a mile from the lights, 'cos your gearbox has gone and you're now in limp mode!!

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True words

But if its gunna go it might as well go in style !

Iv budgeted for a gearbox so if it goes I'll just have to empty the piggy bank.

I don't drive it like a boy racer, actually im the total opposite to most young drivers. lol

Buy the point I'm making is that I shouldn't have to worry about giving it some welly if I need to overtake etc...

2.0_hippo said:

Buy the point I'm making is that I shouldn't have to worry about giving it some welly if I need to overtake etc...

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And that sadly is how I feel which shouldn't be the way with such a Class Motor!

i call them the glass gearbox cause they break that easy,mines a v8 which is actually a tad stronger than the doozle, so you doozle boys should be worried its only a matter of time ive been there and got the medal,be honest if you hear a message bong on dash your ass is twitching incase it displays the dreaded "TRANS FAIL SAFE" lol

Best not to think about it. The more your listening for bongs the more likely they will appear

I knew all about the gearboxes on the doozles even before buying my one
But that didn't put me off.

I used to be scared of these cars when they broke. Doesn't bother me anymore
I'm so used to something going wrong lol

Money pits !

2.0_hippo said:

doozles

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Dare I ask :5bhurray: - whats a Doozle ?

RS2000CUSTOM said:

Dare I ask :5bhurray: - whats a Doozle ?

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A Stinky, Noisy Diesel engine

You should know what I mean ! Lol

I actually like how noisy the diesels are, certainly turns some heads lol

RS2000CUSTOM said:

Dare I ask :5bhurray: - whats a Doozle ?

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2.0_hippo said:

A Stinky, Noisy Diesel engine

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Well I suppose I did ask ! - lol

BTW :- I went Static when filling today