Auto gearbox overdrive fault

[exmee46]

Well, after 8 months of trying, 3 gearbox specialists, replacement gearbox, speed sensor, replacement ecu - I still have no overdrive or lockup. Total bill so far in excess of £1200 !!

Gearbox changes OK when disconnected so fault is def electrical. Unfortunately, wires/codes etc are all different on Jap version from any available manuals so its a bit hit and miss doing diags.

Suspicion falls back on both ecu's (my original one AND the replacement) so what I really need is someone with a 3.0ltr 1KZN auto living in Somerset Devon or Dorset to volunteer to let me put my ecu in their working vehicle and see if the fault goes with the ecu. Other than that I think its going to be up for breaking/spares. Seems a shame.

Any Good Samaritans out there please call/text on 07775 621578.

Thanks for reading.

Kevin

[TonyN]

I have a truck in ATM (actually I've had it here for ages!!) with the same fault.



Its a bugger int'it.

[exmee46]

OK, well we seem to have an answer. It looks like it was the ECU - so I was really unlucky to get a replacement ECU that was also duff! (or perhaps they saw me coming!). Anyway, the garage says it is now working again - so add another £750 to the £1200 already spent.
This might be some use to anyone else with the same prob: apparently, the gearboxes are pretty near indestructibe, so the failure is usually going to be electrical. You can test the gearbox in the following way: disconnect the black 3-pin pug from the nearside of the gearbox. This is the connection to the three solenoids inside the gearbox. In this state the gearbox will select 1st, 2nd and overdrive directly through mechnaical/hydraulic means. The point being that 3rd and lock-up both require solenoid activation but overdrive doesn't. So if you have lost overdrive (4th) but it comes back with the plug disconnected, you KNOW the gearbox is OK and that overdrive is being inhibited by an electrical fault. o test: select L (this is 1st), when moving, select 2 (this will give 2nd), then when moving a little quicker, select D (this will give overdrive). Auto changing will not occur so you will have to select up and down using the gear lever. If you come to a halt at traffic lights and try to move off it will struggle because it will still be in overdrive!!
Anyway - hope that helps. Will be nice to ge it back again - just in time to pay Gordon's £400 road tax!!
By the way the garage that actually did fix it was Dunnings in Weymouth tel: 01305 783113 - speak to Simon - good chap - doesnt give up!.
Cheers
Kevin

[Denre]

Can anyone tell me where the auto box ecu is on the car? looks like mine could well be buggered too

[charvell]

Why have you got to pay 400.00 road tax? The surf is only 180.00