Auto gearbox not upshifting from start

Hi all,

I have a 1973 early late bay with a 2 litre Remtec engine and a conventional 3 speed auto gearbox. Said gearbox refuses to shift up until I've been travelling for a couple of miles, after which it surges into 2nd, then ultimately surges into 3rd. While struggling along in 1st, there's this rattling noise that sounds like something being shaken around inside an old Quality Street circular tin. The noise disappears after the gearchange. Otherwise the box, engine and van perform well.

I've been quoted £1,200 to strip and rebuild the autobox by a manual gearbox specialist (Cogbox in North London) but clearly they would be on as much of a fishing expedition as me.

Any ideas anyone?

 

@rickyrooo1 is the autobox man

 

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives...0/Techtran_VW_Transmission_Manual_003_010.pdf

 

you could try giving these guys a try theyve been at it a while n have good reputation http://www.autogearboxes.co.uk/about.html

 

First things first, have you changed the oil in the auto box?

If you haven't, I'd try that first, and if you can find some, a flushing agent to clean the inside of it too!!

 

Does it have a kick down cable? Is it jammed?

 

Thanks all so far. I should have mentioned that the ATF is clean and new, as is the engine oil.

 

Interesting idea. I don't think kickdown works. Do you think that might be connected?

 

If it's a 73, then it should be a vac box

 

Maybe as Paul says you don't have one. On one of my old Fords, the kick down cable welded itself (engine earth dropped off) and I had to drive everywhere in first .

Worth taking it to a specialist, I reckon. Autos are nice...

 

I'm sure it'll end up going to a specialist, but it's good to be armed with a few clues first - so thanks for the suggestions so far...

 

At a guess check for air leaks.

The kick down also has some kind of electrics under the accelerator pedal

Isn't there a filter or something that can be removed?

Sometimes I get a rattle when engine/box (not sure which) is under strain. I put this down to a lose sensor.

Have you checked the oil whilst warm and in neutral.

Isn't there a filter that can get blocked/needs cleaning?

 

Also there is a place called Stephens engineering in ware - might be worth a call.

 

Again thanks. I'd really like to not have to take her too far to be investigated, but Oxfordshire/Berkshire seems pretty auto-box-expert free!

 

try ringing them i gave you a link to, n if gary is their ask him, he might know what it is by your symptoms and be able to give advise on the phone say n old college mate told you he wasnt bad

 

Cheers BR - I've just got off the phone with Jeff from Autogearboxes.

What a good bloke and outfit. He reckons it's a sticking governor, which I'll need to get cleaned out, then check the sump for debris etc.

Thanks hugely - not just from me but also all the traffic that's been accumulating behind me!

 

I have rebuilt 2 003 boxes and they are easy to do, no special tools and I had never played with any until I did it, the kit is here.
http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/VW-003.html

 

There is a place in reading which is great with autoboxes, used them in a previous life

http://3dautomatictransmissions.co.uk/

 

this is a good kit too
http://www.autorepairmanuals.biz/product/K4000

 

Some great information here - thanks all. I'm guiding my local VW specialist through the Governor clean up, using the manual that @3901mick linked to. We'll see how he gets on...