SSV Redline Auto transmission clunk reverse to drive when cold

[Commieowner]

Hi, I am the proud owner of a VF SSV redline Sportwagon which has recently developed a thump
When shifting from reverse to drive when cold. The car did not do this previously and has just started
Doing it over the last few months. I have taken it back to the dealer under warranty and had the software
Re flashed for the transmission. This had an effect for two weeks but the problem has returned. It only
Happens when the car is cold and occurs when shifting from reverse to drive. There is a pause and then
It goes into drive with a thump & the car lurches a touch. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced
This as the dealer is telling me other cars do this as well? I don't accept this as the car did not have the issue when first purchased. Thanks.

 

[Plonker]

Mine does this too when cold, usually only when the auto "choke" is active.

 

[Commieowner]

Ok thanks I was also
Told this could occur with higher revs as you say with the auto
"choke" active. Is it a defect? Or is this just something that these cars
Do? It's pretty annoying how it
Thuds in to gear. I also own
An FG XR6 Turbo auto and it
Certainly drops In smooth every
Time.

 

[Forg]

The ZF in non-base-spec Falcons is a far superior automatic 'box to the one in a VF.
Well, they are in terms of "behaving like a gearbox", I've read & heard some complaints about reliability (a workmate just traded her FG-II XR6T on a Polo partially because it'd had the gearbox replaced 3 times - I should've kept my trap shut about how we didn't buy a VAG wagon because their automatic gearboxes were all DSG's prone to exploding ).

 

[Commieowner]

Yeah thanks the ZF box so far
Has been perfect in the turbo,
Just trying to work
Out if this thumping issue when
Cold on the VF is the same on
Others....maybe I just need the idle adjusted lower when it's cold?
It's a fair thump though not very
Comfortable it's just really annoying more than anything !

 

[Plonker]

Easy fix, just hit the remote start a couple minutes before you are ready to leave, Thats what I do.

I just got rid of my 2011 XR6T Ute as I am pretty sure its ZF box was on its way out. Pretty sure my XR6T ute was built on a Friday arvo after everyone had been to pub though. In the 4.5 years I owned it, it had 5 diffs replaced under warranty, the last one my dealer ended up getting the local diff specialist to put in a Eaton Tru-Trac so they wouldn't have to see my car again. Also had 3 windscreen wiper motors, 1 drivers seat (cracked welds from factory), 2 Blown Intercooler pipes, dropped 3 out of 4 studs from the turbo and the welds in the cat failed and dropped the front of my exhaust onto Parramatta Road. Hence why I have now gone back to Holden

 

[Commieowner]

Well after two trips to the dealer it's not going to get fixed so I'll have to live with it! They def think it's just the idle
When cold which Is what plonker said! Wife drives it mainly so she'll need to warm it up a bit when cold. Mate that's
A horror run with your falcon I would bin mine too if it was like that! Thankfully mine must have been built mid week!
Not one issue to report yet...

 

[DanielSS-V]

If you are hanging on to your ZF equipped Falcon for a while outside warranty, you might want to fit an external cooler to it and isolate the built in one Ford sends them out with. This is one of the main failures points in the ZF for Falcon and Territory. The coolant system for the transmission starts to fail and leaks coolant into the transmission. You end up with what's called a "milkshake" where the gearbox quickly fails as its contaminated with the coolant. You then have one dead gearbox and a very expensive repair bill to replace the whole gearbox. Fitting an external cooler prevents this from happening. Some brands use an external design from the factory, but Ford thought they were being clever by saving cost.

 

[CONROD]

Sounds like driveline slack (play ).
Try reversing in your driveway at night and then only selecting drive first thing in the morning and see what issues you have then.

 

[Commieowner]

when's it idles at 1000rpm with the auto choke on it won't play
Ball....when it drops back to 700 odd it's much happier.. Going straight to drive it didn't do it. But then going
Back into reverse it does. Shifts smoother on lower revs.
Thanks for the info DanielSS-V on the ZF box I was aware of the famous ZF Milkshake..I will be sure to look
At it prior to warranty expiring.