Tranny neutralised

[vpete]

Hi all, really hoping someone can help me with this one!
Travelling along in my VQ stato on cruise control when the gearbox neutralised and the engine redlined until i hit the brake and killed the cruise. i pulled up put it in park then back to drive and off we went until it changed to second and neutralised again. Short story, i only have first and reverse at present.

Any help appreciated as i'm not sure if i should take it to a gearbox shop or the holden dealer? I am sure the box is all computer controlled in that model. It's a 10/92 VQ 5.0L,195i series II Statesman.

Cheers..............................Pete!

[levymetal]

195i? as far as i know VQs were 165, maybe 185 if they were hsv enhanced? i might be wrong though. and the t700 is not computer controlled either. i think that's the 4l60e or something, which is vr or vs onwards. sounds like you're in for a rebuild/secondhand trans/manual conversion. don't take it to holden, they won't be able to do shit. think about what you want to do, or take it to a trans shop.

[aussieghostrider]

has it got a leak an ran out of fluid ???

could be sticking kickdown cable ... so try reset that ...

[vpete]

Thanks for the replies guys. It definately has the 195i badge on it and as far as i know the car is rock stock original. It has no trans leaks and the fluid is to the right level. I managed to talk to a guy at a trans shop and he reckons the tranny is computer controlled too and seems to think that a solenoid may have crapped itself and tripped the system out. I have disconnected the battery to try and reset the computers but nothing has changed with it, still only first and reverse, so he may be right. I spoke to the holden dealer mechanic (through someone that knows the guy) and he said they have the TEC II thingy to read the tranny codes and they should be able to find out what the problem is.

I guess i have to give the Holden dealer a go because the nearest tranny place is an hour and a half away from where i am and home is 8 hours away so i am at their mercy a bit. The Stato is in the next town from here so i can't even get the owners manual to try and find out what box it has in it? I guess i wait until tomorrow and start parting with lots of cash!.........Sigh.

[levymetal]

the more i think about it, the more certain i am that 195 did not exist in the VQs. i feel 100% confident saying that now. someone's just put the 195 badge on your car . the transmission is hydraulically controlled too, the kickdown cable on the throttle body tells it when to shift and i'm pretty sure that's about it. i don't think the computer has anything to do with the process. hence manual/auto memcals being the same (in a v6 anyway, i don't see why the v8 would be different). they won't find any codes on your car because it's not electronically controlled, and no transmission codes are listed for your car.

[vpete]

OK, thanks for that, i will have a better look when i go over tomorrow. If i find a kickdown cable then someone is telling me porkies??? No codes came up on the dash when it failed so you may be on the money with that one. I sure hope someone is not trying to screw me at Holden. I can't really comment on the badge as that could quite possibly have happened as i have only had the Stato about 12mths after some tool hit me headon and wrote my Calais off........................Pete!

[levymetal]

no worries, sorry if i came across as an asshole. holden will charge you to do a scan too, and you can do it yourself for free! i'm guessing a VQ fits under the VN-VP side of things.
Checking your Computer for Faults (VN - VP)
the guy at the trans shop probably wasn't 100% certain, i guess you can't know everything off the top of your head. tell him it's a t700 and see what he says.

and i know my engine looks really yucky, but see how there's 2 cables on the throttlebody? the one closest to the front of the car is the kickdown. the other one is throttle. so you know what to look for

[vpete]

Yep pretty sure mine has that cable, i thought it was the cruise control cable?? ROFL..... I just got onto that fault code stuff and printed it off so i will have a look at it first thing tomorrow & no you didn't come across as an asshole, just the same as anyone else that has had to deal with dealers that repair by replacement! Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

Where are your valley covers or whatever thay are called??

Cheers...........................Pete!

[levymetal]

they are long gone, all they do is trap in heat from your fuel rails .

yeah you're right, one is the cruise. i labelled them here in case anyone else needs to refer to this thread later on as well. mspaint ftw

[Blown V6 Hatch]

they are long gone, all they do is trap in heat from your fuel rails .

Aren't you on BBQ fuel?

Anyway, all that is electronically controlled on a T700 is the lock up convertor. All the shifting is done hydraulically.

You have a stuffed auto mate....

[vpete]

OK then, does that mean i toss it and buy a new one or can it be repaired?

[Blown V6 Hatch]

You really have 2 choices....Either get yours recoed or take your chances on a second hand one.

[levymetal]

Aren't you on BBQ fuel?

haha, but when the time comes for performance i flick the switch

[vpete]

Hmmmmm....................Second hand could be buying someone elses hassles. best i look at a reco'd one. Any ideas on dollars for a reco guys???

I'm bracing myself for this answer!.............................Pete!

[vpete]

Just looking at your engine bay dude, is that plumbing at the back a NOS setup??? If so, how does it perform? I am looking at NOS for mine, who would expect a standard looking Stato to overperform heheheheh....

Cheers...............................pete!

[levymetal]

haha that's LPG man . and for a transmission rebuild, probably looking at $1600+ really.

[vpete]

Hey guys,

I have been and sussed out the tranny places about the place and the general consensus is that it has either snapped a band or stripped a spline, so either way i am up for a new tranny. I can get a reco out of Brisvegas for $1200 exchange so it looks like the way to go when i find $1200 big ones! Thanks for all the help guys!

Cheers.............................Pete!