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Auto Gearbox Issues

Cheddars

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Location
Lincoln
Car
2009 Astra Twintop
Hia guys,

Appear to be having slight gearbox issues. There is an occasional grind with a huge thud going into reverse which goes away if I quickly go to neutral and re-engage reverse. Looking at the fluid there are metal shavings, not alot but some quite big - some being about 2 to 3mm in size. No idea if it's related or not, but it's not a good sign.

Another is that the torque converter will not lock at motorway type speeds as it used to. I have removed the tcc solinoid, tested, cleaned and works perfect but still no luck in it engaging when driving.

There are no lights on dash and the D4 doesn't flash to indicate a problem. Drives fine other than that, but does have an annoying habbit of holding onto gears sometimes. Annoyingly it's going on a long trip next weekend and left for the week in a carpark. I'm scared stiff it's going to pack up :(

Car is a 99 2.0 Vtec with 109,000 miles - Would you guys suggest the box is on it's last legs?
 
I would say it is, particularly if its got metal shavings inside, sounds like its slipping. The autobox in this generation weren't the strongest and improper change of gears (moving into revsrse whilst car still moving) would lead to premature wear of internals.
 
If you realy find some metal pieces of that dimensions, i would expect a transmission rebuilt soon and in my opinion is much better do that, before the things go realy wrong

Poslano z mojega SM-N910C z uporabo Tapatalk
 
As above, any noticeable pieces of anything in the gearbox oil suggests that something inside is breaking up.

Re the lock up. I believe I read that the lockup only occurs once the engine is up to temperature. In November, if your thermostat is stuck or missing, it's possible that the engine never gets up to temp. An interior heater taking ages to generate any heat would be another symptom of that.
 
Cheers guys!

This car is weird, she got her long trip down to Kent, sat in ashford train station for a week, no issues for the 200 miles on way there or 200 miles back and is running spot on and is ready for its normal short work commute duties this week. Only thing to note is the torque converter lock was on and off for the first 50 miles going down to ashford then has been fine since then. Stayed below 60mph for the first 50 miles in the looser lane with the lorries and horses then it suddenly kicked in and stayed locked so managed to press on at proper motorway speeds ever since.

I think it seems to go right mardy if I don't give it a proper run / blast now and again. No idea why it would grind though, unless I'm too quick shifting between reverse and drive whilst moving slightly?
 
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