97 VS Transmission Slipping into Neutral at random times.

[Miss_BB]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a 97 VS commodore esteem and most things have been fine until yesterday. I went down to brisbane from hervey bay to pick up a camper trailer i had bought and was towing it home when i started having problems around the sunshine coast. It kept randomly slipping into neutral, usually at about 80k to 90 k's per hour. I pulled over the first time it happened. But when i started the car again it drove fine. It did this at random times aout 6 - 9 the entire time. Once i figured out what it was doing i actually slipped the car into neutral while driving and then back into drive and this fixed the problem for a while but when i did this it did do it more frequently than if i pulled over and actually put the car into park and then back into drive.

I did have to go out after getting the trailer home and it didn't do it once but that was only a short trip. ( about 7 k's round) I am terrified of this because the reason i got this car is because my old car ( a magna) blew its transmission. I've had this car 3 weeks but have driven it more than a thousand k's so no statuatory warranty.

I have it in to get the main seal fixed tomorrow ( is getting fixed under warranty) so can't get it to the transmission people until tuesday. Any suggestions so i don't worry about another busted transmission for several days would be helpful. Thank You.

[bandit10]

if your towing with a VS you should fit a transmission oil cooler to help keep the trans fluid temp down, it could of been over heating. Have you checked the error codes to see if any are logged??
Was the engine warning light coming on when it did this?

[Miss_BB]

I have heard now of needing a transmission oil cooler but hadn't heard of that. In fact my friends tow the same trailer with a VY commodore and havn't ever had a problem. Although its something that i now will be getting fitted before i leave in sept. The engine warning light didn't come on and i havn't checked any of the codes yet. Was leaving that for the mechanic on moday or tues.

It could have been that this trailer was loaded too. The one i bought was 2nd hand and had been fitted with some pretty heavy timber fitted cupboards. i have now taken two out the the three of these out as i don't require them. I am hoping that you are right and its just that it was overheating on the journey home with all that weight.

[bandit10]

a VS commodore is a world apart from a VY

Get a trans cooler fitted, if it was over heating it should of logged a error code

[hako]

If it's a series 2 VS it will already have an external cooler fitted as standard plus the one in the radiator although some people still fit larger coolers when towing larger caravans. With the slipping into neutral dramas, I would check the gear shift adjustment down where the change rod meets the transmission - it may be slightly out of adjustment and the load of the trailer on the engine/drivetrain has caused it to shift just enough to slip it out of gear. I cannot think of any transmission problem that would cause this, so I don't think it is something bad. . Just out of curiosity, did you try moving the lever to 3 instead of D? - this way if the lever moves it will only be to D.... Also get yourself a Gregorys manual for the VS - it will be a wise investment.
If you are getting a new main seal fitted, they must remove the transmission, and this entails disconnecting the gear change rod - so I'd ask them if they can make sure it is properly adjusted when they refit the transmission. Then try it for a few days before going to a transmission shop.
It may also be a good idea for you to check the colour of the transmission oil/fluid - it should be bright pink....not brown. If not bright pink, that will indicate the trans needs servicing which you can do yourself for about $60 or at a trans shop for about $200 (it can be messy)
You will hear many differing views on Commodores towing trailers - I've towed heavy loads with mine with no problems and I thing Brett (another forum member) has also had similar experiences. If the cooling system is in good condition and you drive with care you should be OK. Good Luck.

[bandit10]

If it's a series 2 VS it will already have an external cooler fitted as standard

g'day hako, my ss is a series 2 VS and that didnt have a external cooler fitted when i bought it..
Some good ideas you have mentioned, worth checking out the gear linkage

[hako]

g'day hako, my ss is a series 2 VS and that didnt have a external cooler fitted when i bought it..
Some good ideas you have mentioned, worth checking out the gear linkage

That's strange - the extra cooler was part of the 'upgrade' on the series 2. The Gregorys manual mentions it on page 183 although this refers to the V6....maybe the V8 didn't need it as it has the heavier duty box with deep pan holding more fluid. They fitted the extra cooler and locking dipstick to stop the transmission boiling over which happened on the series 1.
BTW, I'd love an SS!...has to be red.

[sleepa]

That's a good idea about the shifter not being adjusted correctly. Of course if its not that it could be a fair bit worse, I have had 2 gearboxes overheat and start slipping in different cars, and that was the first telltale sign. Then I lost top gear completely.

Transmission oil coolers are worth more than gold in my opinion. Best protection you can get.

[glennis]

in regards to ur stato warranty and u beeing over ur limit klms wise(1000), if u have done some damage i would be adjusting my odometer accordingly to be within my "1000 klms" if u know what i men........................ i know it sounds sus.... but car yards are a tat dodgy too...