TD4 Auto No Reverse Drive

Hi, I recently got one of those "the cars not working" calls from the wife where she tried to tell me the car wouldn't reverse. I suspected something stupid on her part like the time she couldn't start it whilst drive was selected. This time though it turns out she's right.

The car drives fine through all the forward gears but upon selecting reverse, I get the normal 'clunk' from the gearbox but then the engine will just rev as if in neutral. F4 will appear on the dash if you rev high.

I first suspected a solenoid valve as I had read that the low clutch timing solenoid valve can cause no reverse drive if faulty. I tested the solenoid from the ECU plug and all seems as it should. I have also plugged the car into a fault code reader but have no stored or pending codes.

I've heard of the reverse band on this gearbox being secured by a bolt which can often be removed in error. I've not messed with any of the bolts so it wouldn't be that but could the band have possibly broken? Would I still get the 'clunk' as I engage reverse if that were the case? I've no clue.

I'm out of ideas here and low on cash so keen to try and resolve this without paying a professional. Any suggestions on things to look at or ideas on what the problem might be would be extremely welcome. Many thanks.

check oil colour by draining a little out, but that fact you get a clunk suggests its an internal mechanical fault

Thanks, will check oil level and quality. I'm certain the 'clunk' is normal as it's always done it and I might not be describing it very well.

There's a special procedure to check the FL1 auto fluid level in the link below. You need to follow the procedure correctly if you check the level. Failure to do it right will fek yer auto.

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/jatco-automatic-gearbox-69336-5.html

Hi,

I had this last year in December while greenlaning - eveything was fine, then reverse just stopped working. I also thought it might be the brake band bolt, but since no one went near it, wasn't sure how it could have come loose.

Turned out to be a snapped brake band (not sure about the age of your car, mine was at 11 years when it went) - the part is cheap, but it's a box out job. So maybe it could be that?

On the bright side, once the box was out the technicians checked to see what state all the other mechanical parts were in giving me peace of mind for the near future.

Cheers for tips on checking fluid level, I'll try that at the weekend but I fear the problem may be as Defunct says; a broken band. The car is a 2003 and on 155k miles so had a good innings.

It may be some time before I get on to this as my wife is about to have a baby so money and time are short. Thanks very much for your comments much appreciated.

We see this happening once or twice a month on ere. No reverse gear after it was driving ok. No ones messsed with it... service/repair etc. After the normal fuild level and resistive checks we guess it's the reverse brake band snapped. Of those who have had it repaired the majority have confirmed this is the fault.

If it does turn out to be the reverse brake band (I suspect it is). Is that a job that only an expert/specialist should attempt? I'd like to have a go myself if possible but can't seem to find any guidance online for the task at hand.

SilverGray said:

If it does turn out to be the reverse brake band (I suspect it is). Is that a job that only an expert/specialist should attempt? I'd like to have a go myself if possible but can't seem to find any guidance online for the task at hand.

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the hardest bit is removing the box from the vehicle,its just a case of standing on its end with t/c housing upper most and unbolting and lifting housing off, then oil pump and drive gear (a new pump gasket would help )pretty self descriptive once housing is off

Finally got around to working on this. I have removed the low clutch timing solenoid valve and tests show that it is not working. Going to order one and fit next weekend. £40 fix will be a great result 😀

Hi - hope that you are right - mine was same symptoms but the low clutch 'ring' had broken and it was a box out job. I had the whole lot recon for £900 and refitted by Gears and Engines - Leyton E10 7QL.

Gearbox Specialist London - Repair, Rebuild & Reconditioning

Fab service, pick up from tube station, all done and refilled and working in 1 day !!!

Hope you don't need them but if you do they will do just the low clutch or band for around £500 with a recon for about £900 and they have all parts on shelf.

Cheers.......let us know how it all goes....

SilverGray said:

Finally got around to working on this. I have removed the low clutch timing solenoid valve and tests show that it is not working. Going to order one and fit next weekend. £40 fix will be a great result ��

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What tests did you do? Power it with 12vdc?

sadly my optimism above was proved wrong. Replacing the solenoid made no difference. The fault was indeed the reverse band. I booked in with a local auto transmission specialist and they confirmed this is a common fault, due to the lugs breaking off. All fixed now but approx £1k cost.