VY Auto Transmission faulty ?

[wire_weaver]

Hi there,

My 2003 VY Executive Auto is hiccuping when moderate power is applied if it is in 4th (and possibly 3rd ?) gear. When I say hiccup, I mean in the space of about 2-3 seconds, it feels like I've driven over a series of randomly spaced small bumps (like those 5x8cm lane dividing bumps). The engine loses a bit of power as it does this. If I keep the throttle applied, it will keep happening regularly (those series of bumps every 5-20 seconds apart).

the problem tends to happen more climbing hills but can happen on the flat too when accelerating in 4th (and it probably tries dropping into 3rd but has probs doing so)

Is this my transmission playing up ?

There are 90,000km on the odo and it is is serviced annually, but I can't recall when the Transmission last was serviced

rgds
Peter

[Calaber]

Peter

The first scheduled auto trans service isn't until 105k on the VY, which is really a bit too much. Has the trans been serviced to your knowledge - if it hasn't. it would be worthwhile having one done asap. Check the colour of the oil on the dipstick - is it still a nice bright cherry red, or has it gone much darker (most probable after 90k) and does it smell burnt? Wip the oil off on your finger then feel the oil between your index finger and thumb - does it feel gritty at all? The level could also be down a bit, but rather than just topping it up if it is low, a service, with new filter and oil, makes much more sense.

[wire_weaver]

Peter

The first scheduled auto trans service isn't until 105k on the VY, which is really a bit too much. Has the trans been serviced to your knowledge - if it hasn't. it would be worthwhile having one done asap. Check the colour of the oil on the dipstick - is it still a nice bright cherry red, or has it gone much darker (most probable after 90k) and does it smell burnt? Wip the oil off on your finger then feel the oil between your index finger and thumb - does it feel gritty at all? The level could also be down a bit, but rather than just topping it up if it is low, a service, with new filter and oil, makes much more sense.

Thanks Calaber. Are you suggesting that the hiccuping symptoms I've described could simply be caused by a low level of perhaps dirty oil in the transmission ?

rgds
Peter

[Calaber]

Peter

Before spending a cent, oil level and condition would be the first thing to check out. Even if the level is ok and the oil looks reasonable and is not gritty, I would recommend a service despite the fact that it isn't due for a few thousand kays yet.

I haven't experienced the problems you have and they may not even be transmission related, but it's worth looking at the simplest and cheapest option first. I changed the oil in my VY a few months back when the car reached the 105k service. It was obviously the original oil and looked well overdue for replacement, even though the trans works perfectly. There was also quite a bit of grey sludge around the magnet in the sump. I think 105,000 is way too much to expect from trans oil and won't be going past 20,000k's between trans changes from now on.

[Sean880]

Peter

By all means check out the transmission fluid etc but I do not think that is the problem from the symptoms you have described.

You are experiencing a problem under load and you mentioned that the engine seems to lose power. Going up hills and accelerating in any condition puts the engine under load of course.

I think you have an electrical miss in the engine when it is under load and this is when a miss is quite apparent. The engine power in an electrical miss condition will typically drop in and out and it will feel like the transmission is intermittently losing drive when it is the engine intermittently losing power.

You should check the leads to the spark plugs and the plugs also. I suspect you might find one or more faulty leads causing an intermittent loss of current. Often the miss will be more apparent when the engine is warm.

A knowledgeable competent mechanic should be able to diagnose the cause simply from driving the car. Make sure it is warmed up though.

Good luck with it.

[whitey66]

Sounds more like a plug lead or spark plug problem,this is very common on these engines.
Check inside the plug leads and on the spark plug porcelain for carbon tracking (the spark by-passes the plug gap and shorts out to the head externally,giving you an intermittent engine miss) carbon tracking looks like a dark line running lengthwise either inside the plug cap,or on the white outer porcelain surface of the plug.

If you have a multimeter check the resistances of all the plug leads,they should all be under 20,000 ohms.If even one is faulty,replace the full set.
Spark plugs are done every 45,000kms on these,have they been done recently? Yours should be due for it's second set if it's got 90,000kms on it and they haven't been done yet.
A set of NGKs or Nippon Densos are the best brands here,i'd stay away from Champion and Bosch if I were you.
For what it's worth,i'd put new plugs and leads in it anyway,especially if the leads are original.

Transmission servicing every 20,000km is overkill.
80,000Kms services are fine for a vehicle that doesn't tow anything,and probably 40,000kms for a vehicle that does a fair bit of towing or a lot of city running.

[byrnn09]

yeah try and get it servced