South West Automatics  
South West Automatics
  

115 Eldridge Road
Bankstown, NSW 2200
Tel: (02) 9790 2524
Website: www.AutoTransmissions.com.au
 
eNewsletter - November 2010 - Issue no. 1
Tech 1: How to service the Holden Viva Transmission
Make: Holden
Model: Viva
Year: 2006-2008
Litres: 1.8
Checking fluid level
  • Have vehicle's transmission warm and idling in park.
  • By hoisting up vehicle, and using an 8 mm male pipe plug socket ( your 1/4inch & 3/8 drive extension bar has a similar tip, but does not fit ) undo the plug and look out for any oil trickle.

    This plug is located under the passenger side C.V shaft as it goes into your transaxle. You may need an extension attached to your 8mm socket, to be able to get a convenient position when attempting to loosen that plug with your ratchet / knuckle bar.



  • If the oil trickles out, your fluid level is pretty much correct.
  • If there is no sign of trickle, you need to add correct type of fluid (see your oil supplier) then plug back up.
 
Servicing the Automatic Transmission
With the vehicle switched off and raised up, undo the drain plug located on the bottom of the transmission. This takes the same tool as we used to remove the check fluid plug. Always take care when removing plugs that may be exposed to hot oil.

Adding fluid
  • Once you have secured the drain plug into place, start adding the correct type of fluid (see your oil supplier) through the filler plug as shown in check fluid level.
  • Allow the oil to slightly spill out before starting up the vehicle and going through the gears.
  • Add fluid, while idling in gear until trickle out.
  • Once the transmission is warm after a test drive around the block or 2, lift up and recheck level.
 
In this issue
  • Tech 1: How to service the Holden Viva Transmission
  • Tech 2: Toyota Rav 4 not shifting as it should?
  • Tech 3: Holden Commodore VR - VZ poor acceleration
Tech 2: Toyota Rav 4 not shifting as it should?
  Make: Toyota
Model: Rav-4
Year: 2000-
Cylinders: 4
Complaints
  • The vehicles transmission would jerk or give the feeling that the brakes are slightly applied when engaging 3rd gear.
  • Performing a diagnostic check may show system o.k.
  • The vehicle will not necessarily go in to Limp-home mode.
Cause
  • A faulty e.c.u. could be the cause.
  • Wear and tear within the transmission could also be at fault.
Fix
  • If the customer has had the complaint very recently, usually an e.c.u replacement will correct the fault.
  • Unfortunately there is no simulator on the market that can check these e.c.u's. A genuine e.c.u will need to be sourced.

Genuine e.c.u
 

E.c.u. is located behind the glovebox

If the customer has had the complaint for weeks and drove vehicle hoping it would correct itself, you may find damage to the transmission may also have suffered.

In this case an e.c.u. replacement including removal and rebuilding the transmission may be needed.

Note:  Using an E.C.U. from the dismantler will not work. Unless you go through the process of replacing the keys & barrels and then getting the set coded.
Tech 3: Holden Commodore VR–VZ poor acceleration
    Make: Holden
Model: Commodore
Year: 1993 - 2005
Cylinders: V6 - V8
Complaints
The above model and year vehicle, may exhibit some or all of the following conditions:
  • Poor acceleration when accelerating from a stop. (comes good when travelling past the stall speed – aprox 2,000 rpm+/- )
  • Detonation / Pinging with the transmission in gear on idle
  • May have P0101 (MAF), P0106 (MAP) or P0121(TPS signal out of range) codes.
  • Stall speed under performing
  • Higher than normal transmission temperatures.
Cause
Possible cause could be a striped /damaged oil pump stator shaft.
 
Fix
  • With the transmission removed, check for wear on the stator shaft
    • ( this is the shaft closest to the transmission oil pump and is fixed. The other shaft is your input shaft and this shaft can turn freely clock/ anti clock wise. The input is closest to the torque converter /engine )
  • If you are succesfull with your diagnossis Don’t foget to flush the trans cooler and check its flow. It should flow 1 litre in 17 seconds. For vehicles equipped with an add on oil cooler it will slow the flow down to possibly 20sec.