This is a friend's car so all of this is a bit third-hand at the moment....
The car is a 1998 Renault Scenic 1.6 Auto (I know, the work of the devil) which yesterday broke down and had to be trailered home. The symptoms were, whilst in Drive (or 1, 2 3) the engine would rev but the car wouldn't move. If left for say 30 mins it would drive for a couple of minutes and then cease moving again.
Breakdown man apparently said to try changing the transmission fluid otherwise it's a new gearbox job.
So changing the fluid seems a sensible first step - is this relatively easy to do (or even possible - assuming it's not a sealed unit)?
If that doesn't sort it (which I am doubtful) any thoughts on the way forward? Is this an auto specialist job and megabucks?
Thanks!
|
I can't see why changing the transmission fluid would help but it would be massively cheaper than a new gearbox so it's worth a go.
I suspect the gearbox is knackered and will require replacement.
|
Thanks Xileno,
Well I was sceptical of that too (changing the fluid). I know nothing about these 'boxes but I assume there are no electrical components of it (ecu, selector switches) that might give these symtoms?
If not, the question the friend is going to have to face is whether it is worth forking out on a replacement gearbox on a car that is worth less than £2K (and maybe less than £1.5K) in good condition....
|
Problems with Renault automatics can sometimes be due to the hydraulic distributor or multifunction switch.
It really needs to go in for professional investigation.
|
>>It really needs to go in for professional investigation.
That sounds like good advice to me.
But, if you do change the transmission oil, keep the old stuff, and any debris you might find in the sump - it can help an experienced repairer diagnose the fault if the oil change itself doesn't fix it.
Is the oil level correct? Are you checking the oil level using the correct procedure?
Number_Cruncher
|
Thanks all, I will advise friend accordingly.
Unfortunately this is one of those cars where things only get a cursory glance once a year at MOT time and lives a life of short journeys. Certainly the gearbox fluid will never have been checked. It has surprised me that it has been as reliable as it has been for the last 5 years (until now that is)!
|
|
Assuming it has fluid to above the 'minimum' level then changing it is likely to be a waste of money. Renault autoboxes are notoriously unreliable. You need to get it to an autotransmission specialist for diagnosis.
|
|
on an 8 year old car I would be tempted to fit a box from a breaker
|
|
i would be tempted to sell as spares repair £500 ono and get shut quickly (witha i no nuthing guv hat on)
|
Yes please I will give you 500 quid for it now.
I could sell any working scenic auto of any age for 1500 quid minimum,
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
Yes please I will give you 500 quid for it now. I could sell any working scenic auto of any age for 1500 quid minimum, ------------------------------ TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
er it dunt work tho du it
|
Ah But a 500 quid recon box turns it into a monkey in the pocket.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
Ah But a 500 quid recon box turns it into a monkey in the pocket. ------------------------------ TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
find a box fitted for 500 and we can go into business i buy you sell we split yes
|
No - I buy, I sell, you poor.
Much better.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
no ...........you buy you sell you snookered :-)
me do for livin, you bad boy..........................................:-)
|
Ah But a 500 quid recon box turns it into a monkey in the pocket. ------------------------------
Don't give up the day job. £500 might just buy the parts you need to fix this. Then you need to factor in the labour to R&R the box and rebuild it. Not worth thinking about unless you know how to rebuild a Renault auto and don't mind costing your labour at zero. I can think of easier ways to make money.
Any secondhand box you find is likely to be shot as well.
|
Aprilia
"Renault autoboxes are notoriously unreliable."
Is that the latest ones as well, or just these older boxes?
|
The later AD4 and AD8 are mechanically similar to the earlier AR4 which goes back to about 1988. Auto gearboxes tend to stay in production for a long time because of the very high design and tooling costs. These transmissions are also sold as VW/Audi transmissions, but with different type numbers - for example the Renault AD8 sees service in older VAG vehicles as the VAG type '096'. Again this 'sharing' is done to reduce costs.
The main failing of the AD4/AD8 is premature wear of the E1 clutch unit. If there is no movement when 'D' selected then this is the likely problem. I would run a mile before buying any car with one of these transmissions. There is rebuild of an AD8 shown (in German) here: www.espace-freunde.de/users/mustafa/bilder-datenba...m
|
|
picture 5 is best.............they sure know how to strip down in germany...........
|
|
Thanks Aprilia. I hadn't realised these gearboxes were fitted to some VW's.
|
picture 5 is best.............they sure know how to strip down in germany...........
Lol, wouldnt be a garage without one of those on the wall.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
|
Since Renault now owns Nissan, how many cars wearing a Nissan badge are now also fitted with dodgy Renault autoboxes?
|
|
Nissan are the major owner of JATCO (Japan Automatic Transmission Company). JATCO make about 3.5 million AT's a year and supply at least one transmission type to most of the major VM's (e.g. Ford, BMW, Mercedes, jaguar, VW etc.). Personally I reckon Jatco's are just about the best AT's out there. They totally trounce anything Renault ever made. I confidently predict no more AT's from Renault - a very good thing IMHO.
|
Nissan are the major owner of JATCO (Japan Automatic Transmission Company). JATCO make about 3.5 million AT's a year and supply at least one transmission type to most of the major VM's (e.g. Ford, BMW, Mercedes, jaguar, VW etc.). Personally I reckon Jatco's are just about the best AT's out there. They totally trounce anything Renault ever made. I confidently predict no more AT's from Renault - a very good thing IMHO.
Ahhhhhhh it all makes sense now! Wondered why I looked at the autobox on my mum's Vectra and read "Made in Japan" - it's just about the only part of the car that hasn't gone wrong, and now I realise why....it was made by Nissan!
A visit to the Jatco website revealed that the cars with their gearboxes include Suzuki, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan of course, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, VAG-group cars too - pretty impressive!
Out of interest, does anyone know who made the autoboxes for the old-model Ford Focus?
|
Sadly I think the Ford Focus 'box would have been made by Ford (Ford have since sold their AT operations to ZF - although the boxes are mostly still badged as Fords).
The AT in the Vectra would be most likely an Aisan-AW (formerly Aisan-Warner) - they are linked with Toyota and make good gearboxes.
|
|
|
|
