VR Auto Gear problem - Help

[Bhana]

Hi all,

Need some help on what is going on - only started today.
Driving around a car park and went to reverse in - put in reverse and normaly there is a little bump and you know it is in gear but today there was nothing. I thought I was in Neutral - looked at the gears and was in reverse - parked the car up.

then on the way home noticed when the car was changing gears it didn't really have power until a few seconds later -very long in between gear changes, very sluggish through out gears.
Checked trans/ lock and read fine.

Time for new gearbox?

[hako]

Don't put the 'mocker' on yourself!!...sounds like the car has gone into Limp Home Mode (LHM) which happens when there is something wrong with (usually) the transmission. You probably will have the engine light on all the time....do an error code check: Checking error codes VR/VS (Revised)
If it comes up with a bad solenoid you may be lucky. A reco will cost $2000 fitted or maybe $400 to $600 for a 2nd hand one that you fit yourself.

[Bhana]

No the engine light isn't on at all

[hako]

How was the colour of the trans oil when you checked it - red or brown/black? How long since the transmission has been serviced?

[Bhana]

Hi there, thanks for the help mate. Yeah the trans oil was quite black looking and it has'nt had a service since we've owned it 1yr & half. So from what you have mentioned it's due one?.

[hako]

Well overdue - black oil means it's carrying heaps of burnt clutch facings etc and has probably overheated.....not good. A service will only change your filter, gasket and the oil - it will not replace or adjust the worn clutches etc that cause the slipping you describe. However it is really the only option available to you other than replacing the transmission.
Doing a service is fairly easy though messy - there is a "how-to" on doing it. It costs about $17 for gasket and filter plus about $34 for 5l of Dex3 oil....I'd also add a can of transmission "stop slip" as this should make the clutches grip better - Nulon are a good brand. If you get it serviced by a trans place you'll be up for about $200 and they'll probably tell you that you should really replace the transmission!....but that's your choice.
Good Luck.

[Bhana]

Thanks a million Hako for your help.
Cars booked in for Monday service around $125, so hope it does the trick.