My V6 occasionally has a not very smooth change from 2 - 3 and then back down again. Had the oil change some 2k miles ago which, to be honest, did make a difference but it is still there. I understand that this change problem is probably down to the brake solenoid failing and that it is an easy enough change. However in the photo above which one is it, how do you get access to it and is it worth changing any of the others whilst the cover is off.
Thanks in anticipation.
Measuring the resistance of the solenoids as mentioned above will tell you if the coil is ok, but won't tell you if the solenoid is sticking or leaking, if they can stick/leak that is. Checking the resistance is always a good idea. It's free and can tell you if the solenoid coil is broken or out of spec, or if you have a broken/bad wiring connection. If the fault your eggsperiencing relates to that solenoid, then changing it is the next step. Not sure about changing all of them. Peeps sell them all together or as single solenoids. It depends on your own feeling and the age/use of the car. Some would say to change them whilst you're in there but others would say change them if and when they fail. The fault you have may be down to a failing sensor instead. Resistance check may confirm this.
How easy is it to replace a solenoid? Depends on your skills and if you've done this sort of thing before. Access is ok if you remove the oil cooler. I've never done one on a car. My pic's come from an old auto which has been removed from the vehicle. I guess you would need to:
Remove the rock guard.
Drain the auto oil into a clean well rinsed dry bucket and inspect.
Move the auto oil cooler to one side or disconnect for betterer access. Auto oil and coolant passes through it. I know the pipes to the auto can be undone and disconnected with a spanner. Keep the smaller rubber seals.
Undo all the bolts holding the solenoid cover on. Be careful not to round them oft. A few may need the lip on the solenoid cover bent away slightly so you can get set a socket on them. Be careful with it and you should be ok. You'll need to access the bolts from above and below.
Use a knife/screwdriver to separate the solenoid cover from the auto - be careful not to damage both of them. Some auto oil may drop out when the cover is removed.
Clean the old sealer oft the solenoid cover, the auto mating face and from within the bolt holes.
Change the solenoid and make sure it's seated correctly.
Clean the mating surface of oil/grease. Use sealer to seal the solenoid cover as you refit it, then put the screws back in, and tighten evenly to the correct torque.
Put the oil cooler back - reverse of whatever you did before and make sure it's ok.
Put roughly the same amount of auto oil in that came out.
Follow the correct procedure to level check the auto oil.
Take for a test drive (with yer breakdown membership card and credit card as proof of identity).
Tell us how you got on.
Part numbers:
jatcosolenoids SJ7iXHC
Auto and it's cooler - black cover is the solenoid cover
P9171139 HuQYElR
P9171140 fUFtT4w
Solenoid cover:
DSCN2965 pSrb0no