Galaxy 1.9 auto chunking through the gears since oil change?

[Lawmanmx]

hello everyone, I have been lurking on here for about a month or so gleaning as much info as I can on owning my new (to me) 53 plate 1.9 auto galaxy, Anyhoo, I had it fully serviced and the drop links done by a mechanic (friend of mine) AJS autos, and had the gearbox oil changed because it seemed to have a little slip into 3rd gear, well, since that was done it has gone from a slight slip in 3rd to chunking (sometimes quite violently) into Any gear or sometimes smooth into any gear, very confusing, a point of note! when the drop links where being done by AL (mechanic) he had to access them by removing the battery and a few other bits BECAUSE the dumbwitt who sold it to me had lost the locking wheelnut key so he couldn't get the wheels off to get to the DL's the conventional way, here is the crux of my question, could the chunking problem be electrical OR does it sound like my auto box is fubar'd?
thanks for any advice and Great site for info   
Tony

[Chrispb]

Hello Tony 

Firstly am intrigued how removing the battery or even the tray would help on removing the drop links.

When the guy drained the gearbox gearbox how much fluid did he get out and more importantly how much put back.
Was the procedure followed for refilling and checking level?

Don't condemn the box yet, gear changes are influenced greatly on how the engines running/performing

[Lawmanmx]

Hello Chrispb and thanks for the welcome 
apparently AL took 2.5ltrs out the first go (he said it was 1.5ltrs shy) and he put 3.5 back in! but the second change he got 5ltrs out (by way of the torque converter) and put 5ltrs of dextron3 back in, anyways, he said because of the missing locking wheelnut he couldn't get the front wheels off so he did a bit of 'manouvering'  under the bonnet to get at the top bolts??? does this sound right? and reading one of your Old posts on another thread you gave some advice that jerky gearshifts might be electrical or some electronic unit near the battery rather than a fubar'd autobox, or am i CLUTCHing (no pun intended)  at straws :lol:

[Chrispb]

The fluid capacity is seven litres when you drain fluid you will get out three and a half litres, only half the fluid.
In order to get the fluid clean you would need to repeat the draining/refilling process several times with a drive in between.
The crucial  part is to get the level correct and this needs to be done  when the fluid is between 35 and 45 deg C
https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/ford-galaxy-reference-library/ford-galaxy-automatic-transmission-fluid-replacement-level-check-(ag5-09b)/

As for the drop links they can be changed without removing wheel, are you sure we're talking about the same thing

[Lawmanmx]

I think so Chris, its the bar with knuckles either side that get destroyed by all these bluddy speed bumps isn't it?.

and could taking mucky oil out and putting clean oil into the gearbox cause it do thump violently into gears (that it wasn't doing before?) ... I thought that he had put the wrong oil in at first (Dextron 2) so I got him to do it again a couple of days later with Dextron 3 but its till chunking into gears, especially 3rd, but like I said before, it doesn't do it every shift! but enough to make ANY journey an absolute misery, when it does it im expecting the gearbox to drop out, Lol
any ideas?

[Chrispb]

Here's the view with the wheel on, there's absolutely no advantage in taking out the battery.

https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/ford-galaxy-reference-library/re-drop-links-how-to/

As I said before the fluid level is critical, to much is as bad as not enough, if your 100% sure it's correct then the next step would be to scan the diagnostic system with Vagcom/VCDS lite to see if any faults have been logged with the transmission and engine

https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/ford-galaxy-reference-library/ford-galaxy-software-solutions-(vag-com-vcds-vagtacho)/

https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/ford-galaxy-reference-library/galaxy-tdi-using-vcdsvag-com-to-diagnose-faults/

[Lawmanmx]

Wow, thanks Chris, there's tons of stuff to try there pal, AL is having another go at it now so if we have no luck with what he's doing then i'll get it plugged in!     and i'll keep you informed

[Lawmanmx]

well, AL had no luck with it so im Hopefully gonna get it plugged in tomorrow some time

[barlidge]

If he said he had to remove the battery to change the nearside droplink what did he remove to change the offside  ?

As Chris said get it plugged in to VAG and get the level checked at the proper temperature.

[Lawmanmx]

will do barlidge, i'll post up if owt is found with the Vag

[Lawmanmx]

still waiting for the local guy with the VAGcom to get back to me   

anyways, has anyone any real world feedback on this LUCAS transmission fix stuff??? my mate said that would be his first port of call Especially since the problem only started since an oil change!! what do the FordMPV experts say on this Lucas stuff then?
thanks for any help and info 

[Lawmanmx]

Any thoughts on this Lucas trans fix oil by the experts? any advice greatly received

thanky muchly Tony

[Chrispb]

Never tried it so can't comment

[Lawmanmx]

OK, so its been plugged in and it found seven faults in the gearbox...
00281 road speed sensor

00300 T fl??? temp sensor, circuit malfunction (int)

00296 kickdown at faulty (int)

00526 brake light switch (int)

00652 shift rail controller impla? sig nal (int)

01045 tiptronic contact faulty sig nal (int) ... my can doesn't have tiptronic though.

all these were cleared BUT........

00349 solenoid 10 short circuit to poss open circuit (perm)  ... this wouldn't clear.


any ideas where I go from here folks??? fanx in advance

[barlidge]

Did the milt plug get disturbed when the battery got disconnected?

[barlidge]

*multi

[Lawmanmx]

I have No idea BUT it is possible, why what would this cause???

[Chrispb]

Possible gearbox internal wiring loom or faulty solenoid.

Why do you say you have no tiptronic are you saying the gearlever when in D will not slide to the left to engage tiptronic?

[Lawmanmx]

aaaahhh, I thought tiptronic was them hand paddles at the steering wheel on some cars (not mine tho) so please forgive my ignorance 
anyways, how will I go about finding out if its an internal wiring loom or solenoid? is it a gearbox strip or can it be done with diagnostics again?
does this sound like it could be cheap or crappy quality oil in the gearbox by any chance?

and where is the best place to get the correct tranny oil from? ford want Ã,£18 pr liter and VW want Ã,£15 per liter, is there any other stuff that's the same Without the huge dealer markup added on?

[Chrispb]

You will need to remove the sump which is on the forward facing side you will then see the internal loom connecting all the solenoids, it may just be a loose connection on the solenoid or faulty or a break in the loom.
I used mercon V in mine which was recommended to me but when I had the  gearbox reconditioned a few years later they put in dexron 3

[Lawmanmx]

so is the loom replaceable without the gearbox coming out Chris?
an I have read Not to use mercon v for some reason or other?
im thinking of trying this >>> http://ravenol-shop.co.uk/epages/cc1127d6-a96c-49cf-a1cd-10964cbd24e3.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/cc1127d6-a96c-49cf-a1cd-10964cbd24e3/Products/2111191

what do you think?
and does the 'solenoid 10 short circuit' that the VAGcom found sound really bad to you???

[Chrispb]

The fault code suggests solenoid or loom as being open circuit they are removeable without removing box but you will need to remove bumper to give better access. The fluid you suggest is designed for that box so should be good. It was a good few years ago when I used mercon so looks like a dedicated fluid now available  at a better price.

[Lawmanmx]

fantastic Chris, i'll let you know how I get on with it, thanks   

[Chrispb]

Solenoid 10 = N283 which is 708 on the diagram
[attachimg=1]

[Lawmanmx]

Wow, thanks Chris, you have just done what Ford and VW COULDN'T !!!  they couldn't tell me what solenoid was what! they did tell me all the solenoids were Ã,£99 each tho 

its finding someone in the vicinity who knows what their doing and won't rip me off for doing it now, Lol

[Lawmanmx]

Did the multi plug get disturbed when the battery got disconnected?

could one of you kind and knowledgeable fellows post a pic pointing to this Multi plug that may have been disturbed please? and when located am I Ok unplugging the bugger without any more problems arising?
many thanks fellas

[Lawmanmx]

or could one of you tell me which Multi plug to double check if there's no pics of it?
I can see the possibility of a few plugs being disturbed because AL changed the fuel filter and there's all sorts of plugs close to that, taa for any help

[barlidge]

I haven't had an auto version for a few years now but it should be in the vicinity of the gearbox, there may be more than one.  Could be worth nipping the battery and tray off for better access.  May not be the cause but worth reseating and eliminating the possibility.

[Chrispb]

They are not easily accessible iirc under front edge of battery tray and sure they are visible when bumper cover is off.

[Lawmanmx]

update!!!! my car is in the local auto transmission specialist as I type having a Ã,£700 build, hopefully I should get it back with a 12 month warranty in the morning

[marinabrid]

Hi there
as a fellow auto box owner   just wondering how many miles yours has on as the problems started ?

[Lawmanmx]

106,000 but it only started to chunk into the gears After it was serviced last week, IF you are about to get yours serviced I can only advise that you get it done by someone who Knows what they are doing and MAKE SURE you get the Correct AND best quality oil you can buy!
im convinced poor quality oil was the start of it (I have been known to be wrong before tho) Lol
best of luck

[marinabrid]

i did wonder  but at the mo    fingers crossed  at 73000  it as smooth as a bald mans head,  i saw an ad in the paper for the local vw dealer who wanted Ã,£165 for a fluid change service on most vw    but i wonder what their view is   if as the thing seems to be  you need 2 or 3 changes to totally changed the fluid   i can't see a main dealer saying   bring it back next week and we will do the job again,   would even most normal garages do this i wonder