Gear change probs cold?

[al & chris]

Wife set of in bongo this morning and said it very reluctant to change up to second gear (automatic).
She said she could not get any speed up was just crawling along. Eventually came to life, could it be the cold ? was -14 and had been colder. Maybe glow plugs maybe one not heating properly?

[M 80NGO]

They all do this you gotta let them warm up for a few minuites + you know that women wanna get there before they leave

[al & chris]

Crick y your brave wait till she reads this!

[M 80NGO]

Crick y your brave wait till she reads this!

Don't worry fella i looked at your location before i posted and if your wife wants to travel all the way to cambridge to argue about it then she's more than welcome, i'll even make her a cuppa from the bongo when she gets here

[al & chris]

Never had slow first to second gear, just holds of top gear when cold.

[M 80NGO]

Never had slow first to second gear, just holds of top gear when cold.

Is the oil level ok, the dipstick for the autobox is under the drivers seat it must be warmed up and in park with the engine running to check the level, how cold has it been where you are we're getting -5 overnight at the mo, if its ok when its warm then i'd say its the cold weather doing it .

[mikeonb4c]

In very cold weather mine will take 2200rpm to do 40mph for the first mile or so (it would normally be doing 65mph ion lockout at that rpm) , then it allows the next gear up to engage, then, a little further on, it will allow lockup to engage.

[Alacrity]

I repeat what I have said dozens of times here before, oil level will not effect when it changes gear. The gearbox is electronically controlled so it is electrically shifted. Again as I have said many times before, the most common reason for late shifting is poor engine performance - & this is often when cold. Low engine power = more throttle being applied to get the thing moving. More throttle = later shifts, so if the engine isn't making the correct power the shifts will be late, often to the point where the transmission will not upshift. The most common reason for this complaint.

[nfn]

Not allowing overdrive to engage before the engine warms up a bit is a common design feature of Japanese automatics. The faster warm-up to operating temperature should reduce engine and transmission wear and increase fuel efficiency. In short, they all do that! But I don't know whether the transmission in later bongos retains this warm-up feature. Probably it's a useless feature: the automatic transmissions on old Volvos don't do this, and often go on for 250,000 miles or more without a rebuild.

[M 80NGO]

I repeat what I have said dozens of times here before, oil level will not effect when it changes gear. The gearbox is electronically controlled so it is electrically shifted. Again as I have said many times before, the most common reason for late shifting is poor engine performance - & this is often when cold. Low engine power = more throttle being applied to get the thing moving. More throttle = later shifts, so if the engine isn't making the correct power the shifts will be late, often to the point where the transmission will not upshift. The most common reason for this complaint.

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT TAKE IT EASY BEFORE YOU BLOW AN ELECTRONICALLY OPERATED GEARBOX GASKET !

Only trying to help the nice people out with some suggestions of potential issues that if sorted now could save them a huge bill later, no auto box will work to its full potential if the oil is worn out or there ain't enough of it in there in the first place regardless of whether its operated by electronics or witchcraft

[Alacrity]

Charming. Next time someone has an engine issue I shall suggest they check for fuel in the tank shall I? Of course it needs oil in it but it wouldn't be moving if it didn't.

The question was about gearchanging & that can only happen electronically. I was only trying to help with practical advice.

[mikexgough]

Mine is as per....... takes about 2 miles on a -C morning to get up to temperature.....although easy for me if I am in the local traffic, crawling along as it soon warms up then

[M 80NGO]

Charming. Next time someone has an engine issue I shall suggest they check for fuel in the tank shall I? Of course it needs oil in it but it wouldn't be moving if it didn't.

The question was about gearchanging & that can only happen electronically. I was only trying to help with practical advice.

No offence intended, so oppologies if you took it the wrong way, altho if someone has a van that won't start then fuel in the tank is always a good place to start, i never suggested that the g/box was empty of oil but if the level is low then it will effect the performace of it, similarly if it has the 15 year old oil it left the factory with its not gonna perform well either.

[M 80NGO]

Mine is as per....... takes about 2 miles on a -C morning to get up to temperature.....although easy for me if I am in the local traffic, crawling along as it soon warms up then

I to have my own lill warm up proceedure, i'm not proud of it but i have one never the less

[dandywarhol]

Not allowing overdrive to engage before the engine warms up a bit is a common design feature of Japanese automatics. The faster warm-up to operating temperature should reduce engine and transmission wear and increase fuel efficiency. In short, they all do that! But I don't know whether the transmission in later bongos retains this warm-up feature. Probably it's a useless feature: the automatic transmissions on old Volvos don't do this, and often go on for 250,000 miles or more without a rebuild.

Ain't got an overdrive but I think I know what you're on about - the torque converter doesn't LOCKUP until the 'box oil/coolant temp is at a certain temp.

Keep the heid alacrity - you're missing your wee boat in this cold weather aren't you?