The autobox is my V6 omega is superb -- smooth as silk with no jerkiness at all. 3 modes -- normal, sport and winter but I really only use normal. I think this is a GM box which has also gone into some BMW's in the recent past. I have heard on a number occaisions that GM boxes are generally very good and my experience certainly confirms this.
Damn! why have I said this --- trouble surely looms!
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I know a chap who used to repair autoboxes, he has said that he would never buy an automatic car, too much trouble.
Ask a doctor what he think of humans, and he'll tell you never ever to buy one. Apart from the one who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, all the one he ever encounters are sick.
Seriously, though, your friend tells us that autoboxes are expensive to repair. The significance of that depends on how often they need to be repaired.
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Ask a doctor what he think of humans, and he'll tell you never ever to buy one. >>
Bought one once in a foreign country, brought it home, then guess what? Some official jobsworth made me release it (citing some law passed in 1834)! Political correctness gone mad!
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Conventional autos are complex - I have repaired a few so I know. Mostly the geartrain is very reliable. The friction surfaces on the clutches and bands slowly wear out - but these cost relatively little (in parts) to replace.
The valve-body is the hydraulic 'brain' of the 'box and it relatively reliable so long as fluid and filter (where fitted) are changed frequently. Valve body repairs are expensive, but seldom needed. Keep the fluid fresh and CLEAN is the mantra.
Heat is the big enemy of auto-transmissions, they run much hotter than a manual because the fluid is 'working' all the time. If towing or using the car hard then fit a cooler - they are not dear. Consider installing an in-line filter at the same time. Use a synthetic ATF if possible - and remember, they are NOT 'sealed for life' whatever anyone says.
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They are NOT 'sealed for life' whatever anyone says.
Yes they are.
The life may be shorter however.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Preview Post
Who make the best autoboxes? - Micky
Mon 13 Feb 06 14:40
"> Ask a doctor what he think of humans, and he'll tell you never ever to buy one. <"
An interesting analogy there NoWheels, completely irrelevant to the thread, but still interesting ;-) ;-)
I think the comparison was based around reliability and replacement costs for Ford RWD auto vs Ford RWD manual and Cavalier auto vs Cavalier manual. Both the Ford and the GM manual boxes usually outlast the car, at the time the replacement cost for a Sierra or Cavalier clutch was about £100 to £150 supply and fit. The exchange replacement cost for an A4LD (Ford Sierra) autobox and torque convertor was approx £700. Mondeo clutches are now available for about £300 supply and fit, the autobox/convertor is over a £1000 IIRC. Ford A4LD autoboxes have a history of failing at about 70k - 80k, the reconditioners do not usually guarantee an autobox unless the torque convertor is replaced as well.
Trouble shooting an autobox is a murky art, I've had three Fords with a C3 box, the modulator diaphragm split on one allowing the auto fluid to be sucked into the engine, lots of smoke from the exhaust, breakdown organisation arranged for a garage to attend, diagnosed piston rings, garage fitted recon engine, started car, exhaust still smoked, garage ran car and the clutches in the autobox failed due to low fluid level. Replacement autobox fited, problem solved. Original fault could have been cured for about £30 or bodged with mole wrench to get home for £0. After much effort, I achieved a full refund from the breakdown company who selected the garage who made the original diagnosis. So perhaps the perceived higher costs for repairing an auto are due in part to incompetent (or greedy) garages?
I also drove a Rover 800 auto that lost 4th gear, £3000 to fix, but a company car not mine.
Close family member has had two Sierras with the A4LD, both have had problems with losing fluid and failing to switch into overdrive. She now runs a Mondeo auto, very nice .. for now.
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">
Preview Post
Who make the best autoboxes? - Micky
Mon 13 Feb 06 14:40
<"
Ah, the perils of preview, highlight, copy and paste.
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Ah, the perils of preview, highlight, copy and paste.
why would you want to post that way? Seems a very strange way to do it.
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I'm not a fan of conventional autoboxes although I did own a car with one, a 1964 Plymouth. The auto was controlled by big, stiff buttons protruding through the facia, needed a thumb to press them. The parking brake though was a lever in a vertical slot, also in the facia. The Plymouth was actually a very good no-frills car in the contemporary US mode, its 4 litre or thereabouts pushrod six quite economical if driven gently but pretty leisurely when pressed. Kickdown was leisurely too. A much later hired Dodge with the same running gear was similarly slow, but also had incredibly nasty power steering.
A friend's old BMW 520 auto developed the habit of not changing into top (it was 4 speed I think), but he didn't notice anything except high fuel consumption.
An early rubber band cvt Daf/Volvo was weird to drive but made an engaging whistling sound with its rubber bands.
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>.An interesting analogy there NoWheels, completely irrelevant to the thread, but still interesting ;-) ;-)<<
What? Our own NW with an irrelvant analogy?
Take that back sir. I simply refuse to believe it.
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>.An interesting analogy there NoWheels, completely irrelevant to the thread, but still interesting ;-) ;-)<< What? Our own NW with an irrelvant analogy? Take that back sir. I simply refuse to believe it.
The analogy may be little complicated for some, so I'll spell it out. :)
If someone specialises in broken automatic gearboxes, then either they'll see lots of them or they'll be out of business. Same with a doctor: most people only go a doctor when they are sick, so most of the people a doc sees are sick.
Neither fact on its own tells you a lot about how reliable people or autoboxes are.
Nor did they help poor Lud when he got caught out by some obscure old law placing obstacles in the way of a free market ;)
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An excellent explanation NoWheels, thanks for that.
Of course, the analogy becomes completely unworkable after a few seconds thought, but don't let that bother you NoWheels ;-) ;-)
Doctors think that most people enjoy robust health, this is because most people who visit the surgery are, in fact, healthy. I know this because the medical profession tell me so.
Similarly, all the autobox repairmen (retired) in my vast circle of acquaintances and contacts are convinced that most manual gearboxes are reliable in comparison to autoboxes; I know this because all the autobox repairmen (retired) in my vast circle of acquaintances and contacts also operated a manual gearbox repair service as a sideline.
So there! ;-)
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An excellent explanation NoWheels, thanks for that. Of course, the analogy becomes completely unworkable after a few seconds thought, but don't let that bother you NoWheels ;-) ;-)
miaow to you too :)
Doctors think that most people enjoy robust health, this is because most people who visit the surgery are, in fact, healthy. I know this because the medical profession tell me so.
Same with most cars taken to a garage for servicing. But those referred to a specialist will be in a diferent category, just as a heart specialist doesn't get referrals from GPs for clients who aren't showing verifiable symptoms.
Similarly, all the autobox repairmen (retired) in my vast circle of acquaintances and contacts are convinced that most manual gearboxes are reliable in comparison to autoboxes; I know this because all the autobox repairmen (retired) in my vast circle of acquaintances and contacts also operated a manual gearbox repair service as a sideline.
Crucial phrase: in comparison. I have no idea what the overall figures are, but say that one in 10,000 manual boxes fails, and one in 1,000 autos fails. Your "in compaison" tag is still valid, but it doesn't mean that an auto is at a risk level worth worrying about.
Those figures are obviously an extreme example and I doubt they are anywhere near the truth, but my point is that what matters is the proprtion of auto boxes which fail, not how they compare with manuals.
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">But those referred to a specialist will be in a diferent category, just as a heart specialist doesn't get referrals from GPs for clients who aren't showing verifiable symptoms.<"
Feel free to allow logical thought into your life whenever you're ready NoWheels ;-) Ah, it's delightful to see free association in action!
I haven't a clue how many autoboxes fail, but I shall now peruse the internet to ascertain the level of autobox failure and present my results on this august messageboard at the earliest opportunity. Definitely.
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">why would you want to post that way? Seems a very strange way to do it.<"
I'm using Mozilla, and judging by the number of times I'm having to sign in again it must be repelling HJ's cookies. Some fettling needed I think.
Now let's see if this post goes first time .... after previewing of course ;-)
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">why would you want to post that way? Seems a very strange way to do it.<" I'm using Mozilla, and judging by the number of times I'm having to sign in again it must be repelling HJ's cookies. Some fettling needed I think. Now let's see if this post goes first time .... after previewing of course ;-)
I use Mozilla too because it is said to be much more virus and pop-up proof than Internaet Explorer. It hasn't given me any trouble here.
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">why would you want to post that way? Seems a very strange way to do it.<" I'm using Mozilla, and judging by the number of times I'm having to sign in again it must be repelling HJ's cookies. Some fettling needed I think.
What I do to get around that problem is to directly copy the text in the edit box. Before pressing the post button, with the cursot still in the edit box, I press Ctl-A (select all text), Ctl-C (copy all text). Then if I have to log in again, I just press Ctl-V to paste the text in exactly as I typed it, without having to trim off anything or use the mouse, and with URLs as I typed them.
It's a pain having to do that -- I wish the forum software remembered the post once I had logged in :( -- but better than copying from preview
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