Auto Trans problem when hot - need a trans cooler ??

[woteva]

I have had my VR II v6 Auto wagon for nearly 2 weeks, and this problem has happened twice. On short trips and when the traffic is flowing free there is no problem. But when I have to go into the city, and stuck in traffic etc, the car does not want to take off from the traffic lights. It feels like the handbrake is on and I have to move the shifter to 1st gear to take off. About 10 minutes out of the city in the free flowing traffic it is ok again.

It feels like the trans is trying to take off in 2nd or 3rd gear. I put my foot down, the motor revs and the car will crawl away from the traffic lights.

I have checked the fluid level, the coolant temp gauge does no go past half. The 2 times I have had trouble have been warm days with almost 30C temperature.

Is there a problem with the trans ?? Should I fit a trans cooler ?? The sticker on the car says a trans service is due in about 7,000kms.

Many Thanks for all replies received.

[SthEastCustoms]

Iwould fit a cooler any way but what you describe sounds like first is fked id get ur service done asap to check the sump...

[woteva]

When the problem happens, I can move the shifter to 1st and the car will pull away from the traffic lights ok. The problem has only happened twice when driving through the city in traffic. About 10 minutes after leaving the city and into free flowing traffic, the problem goes away

What type/brand of tans cooler is best to go for ?? Where is the best place to mount it ??
I looked at a few today at my local auto store. The prices range from $80 for a medium sized one, to $108 for 40cm X 20cm sized cooler.

[AttaBoy]

I have a cooler and it is mounted in front of the radiator, well... not right in front but near the corner. I suggest get the genuine part from holden or if you want search for an after market part. Go for the biggest one you can cos the small ones will not make much difference in temperature if at all.

(I learned the hard way and bought the biggest one I can find)!!

But about your problem I don't think its related entirely on trans temp. Might wanna have it checked.

[fitzy2005]

check your computer for error codes, im getting soemthign similar and TCC PWM Solenoid has failed on mine or something like that (error 83 any way) 110 for the part, but the auto shop will do a service ontop

[hako]

If everything is "normal" you do not need an extra cooler...and if you fitted one you would only be applying a band-aid - the car did not have one fitted when it came out of the factory 12 years ago so why fit one now.
First thing you need to do is get a service done - it could be as simple as fluid level low or filter blocked.....I hope so. One step at a time!

[sircruisealotVS]

is the engine light coming on at all?? sounds like its either in limp home mode, or its not kicking back into first when it comes to a stop...so when it takes off its only in second. if the later is the case it might be the 2nd-1st solenoid that is intermittently stuffing up when it gets really hot.
but i agree with others and say get a service asap! transmissions usually have a real hard life without much care, and services are overlooked (you never know what the person who owned it before you did with it).

[woteva]

Thanks for the replies, I will give the trans cooler a miss and see if I can get it looked at on monday.

A bit more info, the engine light does not come on when the trans is playing up. I have just checked the codes a few minutes ago and I only get 12 over and over. The trans fluid is to the top line when hot and motor running. Trans fluid looks clean on the dipstick.

When it plays up, I can still take off from a standing start very slowly. When I shift to 1st, it takes off a lot better.

What is the usual interval between auto transmission services ?? According to the sticker on the windscreen, I have about 7,000kms to go. Just trying to work out how long ago it may have been done.

[The Darkness]

how much do you drive it? if its driven more frequently then it'll need to be done sooner. every 30 to 50 thousand k's i think it is. or once a year is good

[AttaBoy]

how much do you drive it? if its driven more frequently then it'll need to be done sooner. every 30 to 50 thousand k's i think it is. or once a year is good

30k to 50k is way too long, Recommended is every 20k. Have a look at your owner's manual in the service section. It will tell you everything from diff to engine and other items.

I serviced my trans every 10k and it never died on me, it was an original trans from the date the car was built, nothing rebuilt or replaced! Everything is original!!!! And my car clocked 225,000k's!!

I think it comes down to how well they are looked after and the service intervals.

[The Darkness]

lol i havnt got that book. and i was going off what a relative used to do. sorry dont listen to me lol.

[shumway]

how much do you drive it? if its driven more frequently then it'll need to be done sooner. every 30 to 50 thousand k's i think it is. or once a year is good

and that why your sitting at home with a blown trans 4BDN VR,every 10k-20k or every 12months is the only sevice plan you should use to keep ur trans in good nickA trans cooler is also good idea for any shift kitted or trans that cops a bit of a hiding.

[The Darkness]

and that why your sitting at home with a blown trans 4BDN VR,.

lol yeh but i didnt even have it in that long. I promise i'll do right by this one

[totq]

30k to 50k is way too long, Recommended is every 20k. Have a look at your owner's manual in the service section. It will tell you everything from diff to engine and other items.
I serviced my trans every 10k and it never died on me, it was an original trans from the date the car was built, nothing rebuilt or replaced! Everything is original!!!! And my car clocked 225,000k's!!
I think it comes down to how well they are looked after and the service intervals.

10k is overkill attaboy, but it can only be good for it....one question though, how often did you change its filter? Having fresh oil is good but if the filter is restricting flow, its not good...

It depends on the type of driving. Manufacturer's recommendation is always conservative (20k), so as to be on the safe side, but in practice 40k is not unusual.
For example, if driving like elder people who just putts around to and from home and the shops, even up to 50k is ok.
I serviced my 93 vr every 2 years....it was still going strong at 275,000kms.

I don't think woteva's problem is overheating of the oil as his car's got the standard oil cooler in the radiator, and they work very well.
I've spoken to him and it may be that the oil is old and lost its properties up in the upper temperature range.

[woteva]

I don't think woteva's problem is overheating of the oil as his car's got the standard oil cooler in the radiator, and they work very well.
I've spoken to him and it may be that the oil is old and lost its properties up in the upper temperature range.

Thanks for the chat.
I'm taking it to Allstates Automotive Transmissions tommorow (Monday) to book in for a service / oil / filter etc. See if that solves the problem.

[totq]

I may be mistaken to quot about $120 for all that, but even if it is 150-180, i reckon its better than doing it at home, as their work at least has a warranty against leaks afterwards.
Its tricky to get the pan bolts tensioned right...or it'll leak or break the gasket.
I remember costs to do it at home is (approx) 40 for oil, and 70 for service kit - filter and pan gasket.

[AttaBoy]

10k is overkill attaboy, but it can only be good for it....one question though, how often did you change its filter? Having fresh oil is good but if the filter is restricting flow, its not good...

It depends on the type of driving. Manufacturer's recommendation is always conservative (20k), so as to be on the safe side, but in practice 40k is not unusual.
For example, if driving like elder people who just putts around to and from home and the shops, even up to 50k is ok.
I serviced my 93 vr every 2 years....it was still going strong at 275,000kms.

I don't think woteva's problem is overheating of the oil as his car's got the standard oil cooler in the radiator, and they work very well.
I've spoken to him and it may be that the oil is old and lost its properties up in the upper temperature range.

Everything gets changed, fluid and filter plus others. Nothing left out during service!!!

That is why my trans lasted so long, And no, I don't drive like a granny at all I give it regular boot quite often, to some people servicing every 10k may be over kill but not to me. I rather be on the safe side.

[VSIIBerlinaL67]

its not $70 for a service kit more like $30-$40, but yer still better to take it to someone who knows what there doing.

[totq]

its not $70 for a service kit more like $30-$40, but yer still better to take it to someone who knows what there doing.

Thats for the genuine holden kit, i should have mentioned that. I've used genuine and aftermarket from repco and i've found the genuine gasket is a lot better quality. But if you're getting 30-40 for genuine also, then i've been ripped off all along, LOL.

[VSIIBerlinaL67]

oh i was talking about the repco ones for 30 bucks so if you were getting a genuine one that price sounds right.

[totq]

Repco, hmmmm.......cork gasket....risky....
But if you've used it and its working, whats the diff, as long as it holds the oil in....it didn't do it for me or my mechanic when he rebuilt my motor.

[immortality]

service interval for the VS 3.8 auto is 80k reading the owners handbook. the previus owners before me didn't service it at all and hence the trouble i now have. do a full service every 2 years (full flush/filters etc) and maybe a simple fluid only service in between at home etc. do fit a external transcooler as the standard internal radiator job isn't that great. the VS comes with it standard so there must be a reason holden did that. i've got a temp gauge on mine and it still gets up around the 90 degrees in traffic and you don't really wanna get much hotter then that or the transfluid is getting a real hiding etc

[woteva]

My VR is booked in for a trans service tommorow arvo. $140 and 1 1/2 hour wait. Lucky there is a pub across the road

[totq]

sounds like a really good price.

[woteva]

Had my Tranny serviced today. Ended up costing $143. Spoke to the Mechanic who did advise me to fit a better trans cooler and see if the problem comes back again.