what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior

Darkstar
Bongolier
Posts: 341
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:15 am
Location: North West Norfolk

what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by Darkstar » Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:30 am

driving about town the bus does'nt seem to go into third gear, not sure if this is right or not as its the first time i've had an automatic,

has any body got a list of rev/speeds at which the gearbox should change up, wife keeps asking why i keep waving my left hand around near the cubby hole :lol: also how many gears does it have ive heard only 3 in drive?

many thanks

ps first time on a long run this afternoon since getting it. very nervous.
Got a Bongo for the Wife, Best trade-in ever
User avatar
widdowson2008
Supreme Being
Posts: 1703
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:15 pm
Location: N.E.Derbyshire

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by widdowson2008 » Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:55 am

Darkstar wrote:
has any body got a list of rev/speeds at which the gearbox should change up, .......also how many gears does it have......?
Good question(s) - been wondering the same myself so will be very interested in replies.
Steve
scanner
Supreme Being
Posts: 7247
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:20 pm
Location: Cambs

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by scanner » Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:49 am

That depends on how deep your foot is buried in the carpet.

The possibilities are infinite and the auto box decides when and if depending on your requirement (throttle position) and load (uphill, downhill, laden, unladen - etc.)

Mine will go into lock-up top at 37mph/1500rpm pootling around gently or at 70+ at 4000rpm if booting it uphill away from a roundabout.
Darkstar
Bongolier
Posts: 341
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:15 am
Location: North West Norfolk

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by Darkstar » Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:59 am

scanner wrote:That depends on how deep your foot is buried in the carpet.

The possibilities are infinite and the auto box decides when and if depending on your requirement (throttle position) and load (uphill, downhill, laden, unladen - etc.)

Mine will go into lock-up top at 37mph/1500rpm pootling around gently or at 70+ at 4000rpm if booting it uphill away from a roundabout.

appreciate the foot to the floor syndrome, just wanted to know under normal driving conditions,
Got a Bongo for the Wife, Best trade-in ever
scanner
Supreme Being
Posts: 7247
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:20 pm
Location: Cambs

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by scanner » Sun Jun 20, 2010 12:08 pm

Darkstar wrote:
scanner wrote:That depends on how deep your foot is buried in the carpet.

The possibilities are infinite and the auto box decides when and if depending on your requirement (throttle position) and load (uphill, downhill, laden, unladen - etc.)

Mine will go into lock-up top at 37mph/1500rpm pootling around gently or at 70+ at 4000rpm if booting it uphill away from a roundabout.

appreciate the foot to the floor syndrome, just wanted to know under normal driving conditions,
But what's "normal"?
User avatar
Mickymouse
Bongolier
Posts: 182
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:09 pm
Location: South Suffolk/North Essex

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by Mickymouse » Sun Jun 20, 2010 6:27 pm

The auto box has 4 gears not 3. It will not change up to 4th until it is warmed up,maybe about 10 minutes.
Mick
White 1996 P.reg SGL3 2.5D AFT Side Conversion
scanner
Supreme Being
Posts: 7247
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:20 pm
Location: Cambs

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by scanner » Sun Jun 20, 2010 8:09 pm

Mickymouse wrote:The auto box has 4 gears not 3. It will not change up to 4th. until it is warmed up,maybe about 10 minutes.
Mick
It will change into 4th, but the torque converter won't lock up until it's warm.
User avatar
Alacrity
Tribal Elder
Posts: 634
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:02 am
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Contact:

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by Alacrity » Sun Jun 20, 2010 8:58 pm

scanner wrote:
Mickymouse wrote:The auto box has 4 gears not 3. It will not change up to 4th. until it is warmed up,maybe about 10 minutes.
Mick
It will change into 4th, but the torque converter won't lock up until it's warm.
Mickymouse is correct, they will not command 4th until the engine (not the gearbox) has got to a certain temp, it then has to get a little warmer to get the l/up to function.

As stated the gearbox has 4 gears & it also has a lock up clutch in the torque converter (to prevent overheating & to aid fuel economy), It will select 3rd on a light throttle (normal town driving) below 30 & top at about 37. Lock up will come in a little later & feels like another (5th) gear (it isn't). At any point between light throttle & flat out the changes are infinitely variable as it depends on throttle position & road speed.
35+ years working with autogearboxes - all day every day......for my sins
scanner
Supreme Being
Posts: 7247
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:20 pm
Location: Cambs

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by scanner » Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:53 pm

Alacrity wrote:
scanner wrote:
Mickymouse wrote:The auto box has 4 gears not 3. It will not change up to 4th. until it is warmed up,maybe about 10 minutes.
Mick
It will change into 4th, but the torque converter won't lock up until it's warm.
Mickymouse is correct, they will not command 4th until the engine (not the gearbox) has got to a certain temp, it then has to get a little warmer to get the l/up to function.

As stated the gearbox has 4 gears & it also has a lock up clutch in the torque converter (to prevent overheating & to aid fuel economy), It will select 3rd on a light throttle (normal town driving) below 30 & top at about 37. Lock up will come in a little later & feels like another (5th) gear (it isn't). At any point between light throttle & flat out the changes are infinitely variable as it depends on throttle position & road speed.
Mine appears to have changed up into 4th quite a while before it finally locks up in top and doesn't seem to need to warm up much to do it. This time of year it is locking up within about a mile of starting off from cold.
User avatar
Alacrity
Tribal Elder
Posts: 634
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:02 am
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Contact:

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by Alacrity » Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:08 am

You will notice it all changes in colder weather when the engine takes longer to warm up.
35+ years working with autogearboxes - all day every day......for my sins
bobngo

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by bobngo » Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:39 am

given mine has "warmed up" and that depends on the time of year (ambient temperature) , mine in goes into top at about 44 MPH, so in town open roads , i do, nt [-X [-X take it up to 45 MPH ,so that its in top gear , then ease off the throttle slowly so that it stays in top gear right down to 33 MPH [-X [-X so at that point the RPM is about 800-900, so engine running really slow ,but tickety booing along quite nicely.
Darkstar
Bongolier
Posts: 341
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:15 am
Location: North West Norfolk

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by Darkstar » Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:12 am

so basically it will never go into top gear around town (30mph), i guess i get used to it along with the roll and how far to press the pedal out of roundabouts, have'nt got the hang of that yet, at least my left legs stop reaching for the clutch :D
Got a Bongo for the Wife, Best trade-in ever
User avatar
Alacrity
Tribal Elder
Posts: 634
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:02 am
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Contact:

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by Alacrity » Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:02 pm

Darkstar wrote:so basically it will never go into top gear around town (30mph), i guess i get used to it along with the roll and how far to press the pedal out of roundabouts, have'nt got the hang of that yet, at least my left legs stop reaching for the clutch :D
Thats right, 1, 2 & 3 only unless you get over 37mph(ish)
35+ years working with autogearboxes - all day every day......for my sins
User avatar
Doone
Supreme Being
Posts: 2951
Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2004 10:58 am
Location: Devon
Contact:

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by Doone » Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:04 pm

So as long as it changes again after that speed, you don't need to worry. 8)
Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth
User avatar
mikeonb4c
Supreme Being
Posts: 22877
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:49 pm
Location: Living with Mango Bongo in the North West but with a tendency to roam
Contact:

Re: what speed/revs should my autobox change gear

Post by mikeonb4c » Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:08 pm

I find the worst feature of the Bongo autobox is it tempts me to speed in 30 mph zones as I want to stay in lockup and gain economy. But given its such a great box, I can live with that little niggle (speed cameras help too :lol: )
Locked

Return to “Techie Stuff”