Help, just killed my autobox

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Hi andyg, thankyou for taking the trouble to reply.
I was just about to say £$ck it and rip the box out earlier when the mrs arrived home with the baby and the good news her renault p.o.s had dropped another window so had to stop work on the van and work on that instead, almost glad that happened now if there is a chance this can be done without removing the box.

I didn't think there would be any access to the servo side of the band by removing the valve block.
( the gasket i have for this came from ford and they called valve chest.. same thing right ? ) I did look at removing the servo to have a look but the circlip has had its lugs removed by someone before me so i didn't bother.

As for the Tis disc, nope I don't have one them but i'm thinking it would be worth it.

neil

[AndyG]

Lugs on servo cover I don't think they have any Just a small screw driver to start the removal
Have a careful look, you'll see a small space at the very end of the circlip
But not sure if you should be removing

TIS disc definitely worth it

Valve chest/block, same thing

I'm quietly confident you'll be fine

[AndyG]

Valve block to transmission tightening torque is just 7lbf.ft
Sump to box is 10lbf.ft
I would wait half an hour (have a cup of tea) and recheck them

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Hi , i never fail to amuse myself with what i type and whats in my mind !

in my mind i was typing lugs on circlip !

thankyou for the torque settings, i'll have to wait untill i get the reverse solenoid gasket as i doubt the local dealer has it in stock, and there just isn't enough hours in the day anymore.

will keep you posted on any progress, i think its worth the effort as the oil was good in colour and couldn't see any metal bits floating around like i'd really screwed it up.

neil

[AndyG]

Haven't you got a good local auto specialist that can supply you with parts

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Its the first auto i've ever owned or worked on so its all new, found out today that there is someone local to me that ford send there problems to, and obtain parts from if its an obselete bit in their parts books.

Think i'll have to call in and show my face !

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Ok the updated story, had chance to work on the van yesterday afternoon and the bonus was it wasn't raining , well at least it wasn't when i started.

Removed the valve block and reverse servo and found the missing piece still in its rightfull place which really sucked me of to begin with.
Then you add in the torrential downpour that stopped and started continually and made things even worse !

Decided to stick with it as by now i was as wet inside my clothes as outside and figured my clothes were going in the bin when finished as lying in a puddle of water and atf isn't what most people would call fun !

After a bit of snorkeling around i discovered that although the servo side fork was still in its right place the band had somehow slipped past it and spun on the drum, I managed to displace the fork enough to rotate the band back past the fork , move the fork back into postion then once again rotate the band in the other direction untill the band hooked back into place.

I've replaced the fork and adjusting bolt back in the box and carried out the adjustment and it looks right, replaced the seals in the reverse servo whilst i was there and then replace the valve block without any drama.... apart from loosing the little tiny spring clip that secures the Z shaped round bar that moves the spool valve to select the gears. bugger.

As i was keen to put the sump back on to keep the elements out i improvised a bit and cross drilled the Z bar and secured it with a 5mm washer and split pin and all looks fine, on with the sump and new gasket and do up the thousand bolts that hold it in place !

My new best friend at the the autobox repair place reccomended changing the servo seals ont the band i was playing with as he tells me they can be a weak spot on these boxes with the seals going hard. I tried for about half an hour to get the spring clip out to change these seals before i fill with oil but so far have failed as its seized in pretty good, may just leave it alone as i'm sure it was working fine before andthere is the potential to just cock something else up or i'm just being paranoid now.

How much oil does this box hold ? last time i changed the filter i'm sure it took about five litres to fill back up again but this time i think as its parked on ramps at an angle i've lost more than that !

neil

[AndyG]

10.3 litres (approx 2 gallons)
I would say that most of it was out after the valve block removal, so about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 gallons

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Hi folks back again !

THE VAN WORKS FINE !

Mny thanks to those who helped in whatever capacity, especially mr Andyg for taking a box apart to provide photo's which proved to be a lifeline.

The box took 8 litres of shiny red stuff to come upto the level and it drives lovely and smooth ( although it did before i started to play ) is there any difference for adjusting the band,,, well not much if any, the acid test will be when i use it for the usual commute and i get to check the fuel consumption.

Once again thankyou to those who helped me.

regards
neil

[AndyG]

Just do it up hand tight with a spanner (5 to 10lb ft) then undo 2 complete turns

Well done

Most so called mechanics wouldn't even attempt what you've just done

[AlanN]

Well done shortcut, pleased you got it all sorted... Now youve done that one, can you pop over here and refurb my A4LD
Im quite looking forward to rebuilding it myself this winter, now the C£ is just about done, just a matter of finding the bellhousing I want now

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The best idea i had throughout the whole ordeal was in making a template for the numerous bolts that came out of the valve block, after several failed attempts at making a suitable accurate pattern on cardboard i finally used the other brain cell and took the new gasket and laid it on a fresh piece of card and marked the bolt holes in about 30 seconds flat ! I know, i amaze myself sometimes !
neil