Autobox

[kiwi]

First Technical issue with the BX19TZS Auto I have, which I should have spotted when buying but the missus was all happy to close the deal because she liked how it drove

Goes into Reverse ok (thats one up on her Mitsi ) goes into drive ok and also 3 but we can not get it to drop down the range to 2 and 1! No big drama on that because the full range of gears are available just cant lock it into those lower gears.

Any ideas of where to look for the problem and is it a simple fix before ripping the gearbox out?

[docchevron]

unlikely to be the autobox itself, far more likely to be the stick, or something jamming the cable at the box end.
I'd have a quick look at the cable at the box end first, it's not unheard of for the wiring loom above to drop and get snagged, but if that all looks good, disconnect the cable fromt he quadrant arm and try moving the arm manually, if that moves as it should through all positions (6) then it's time to strip the stick down and have a look under the console. It's not hard to dismantle the stick, but a bit involved! The cables tend to last for years it's a robust thing, but if it is FUBAR they are NLA..

[Rich]

Stupid thing to type but start with the simple stuff... but you are squeezing the button on the front of the stick at the top. The stick will move from D to 3 without the button being depressed but to go into 2 you need to press the button.

Also... my auto will only go into 1 when stationary and also with the button depressed.

[kiwi]

Stupid thing to type but start with the simple stuff... but you are squeezing the button on the front of the stick at the top. The stick will move from D to 3 without the button being depressed but to go into 2 you need to press the button.

Also... my auto will only go into 1 when stationary and also with the button depressed.

Yup it was a stupid thing to type

Most vehicles in NZ are Autos and having driven several differant types including Heavy Vehicles with Auto boxes (shudders), I tried every trick I know to get this down the range. I have not looked into this fully yet as been concentrating on getting the diesels surprise LHM leak fixed, besides that it is cold an damp and not very good light this time of year in my garage. To many BXs as well to play with

[Geoffrey Gould]

Hi well stating the obvious the stick is made of plastic and it does wear and get a bit out of shape, the locking mechanism to stop you selecting the lower gears etc. manually is made of a piece of bent wire about the same thickness of a wire coat hanger this may need a slight tweek to take up any wear in the plastic, when you see it all will become clear. This is assuming that there is nothing wrong at the box end as mentioned by 'the doc'.

[kiwi]

I shall edit this response since I fixed it.

The bulb was gone that illuminates the gear panel, so the first port of call was investigating the blown bulb at the gear stick. Once I got under it and replaced the bulb (now we can tell what position we are in) the problem has gone. So Doc if you were here I owe you a

Another little thing I noticed today driving it was thatwe had both overshot A and ended up locked in a lower gear resulting in reves over 3000rpm at 100kph. I thought thse revs were high so knocked it up before pulling away again. Good gamble if it had been neutral then I would not got to far Revs happily down to the mid 2000s.

So end of story problem fixed.

[docchevron]

ahh, actually, thats something I'd forgotten about, the plastic roller thing that moves with the selector indicator can get caught up, so I assume thats what was happening? Hope the bulb holds out! They have an expert way of falling out of the holder and illuminating the carpet!

[kiwi]

Thats what I thought you had been refering to? Only thing I could figure it to be after replacing that bulb. Which I use a bit of tape to hold in place.

This car drives well has a more floaty feel than the others but that said each car has its pros and cons in comfort and ride. The fact this one has sheepskin seat covers makes it just a bit more erm comfortable

Still like my stick shift manual gearboxs though no matter what.

[docchevron]

see, I used to prefer manuals, but now I'm old and decrepit I prefer auto's

[kiwi]

Did I say this was over?

Wrong!!!

Note to self...must do roadcheck after fiddling with stuff

The missus went to take the car out and no drive at all! Investigation found the cable had comeoff at the gearbox end. So after popoing it back on and accidently moving the lever at the gearbox end whilst engine running...Good job put handbrake on. Things ar back to square one! Only we now have illumination and Reverse has no light, Neutral is reverse, A is N and 3 is A.

[Tim Leech]

Did I say this was over?


The missus went to take the car out and no drive at all! Investigation found the cable had comeoff at the gearbox end. So after popoing it back on and accidently moving the lever at the gearbox end whilst engine running...Good job put handbrake on. Things ar back to square one! Only we now have illumination and Reverse has no light, Neutral is reverse, A is N and 3 is A.

That because the plastic gear indicator has moved inside the housing, easy fix, just undo the two hex screws lift to release the tension, its fiddly but it can be done without removing the gear shifter.

[kiwi]

Not quite as simple as that Tim! The cable detached from the gearbox! I still do not have the ability to lock it into 1 or 2. One the things I want to get sorted for the odd occassion it has to descend our local steep hill in snow/ice.

[Tim Leech]

Hmm strange, sounds like the cables out of adjustment?

[kiwi]

This car needs a good blardy service but you know women they will just drive the thing and say "it drives well" even with something falling off it.

Checking the trans oil level I have a feeling that being near the minimum may also be a cause. Thats my next port of call to change the fluid, then adjust the cable.

Got to be honest by saying that after 20 odd years of BX ownership owning my first Diesel and now only my second Autobox BX I am learning new stuff.