Auto Mistral has no drive!

[Paula]

Hi, this is my first post on here, I hope someone can help as you seem to be such a knowledgeable lot :smile: .
My 96'Mistral 2.7td has no drive, it starts and runs fine but when you select a gear (automatic) nothing happens. It feels as if it hasn't even selected a gear as there is no clunk when the gear lever is moved.
I have tried every gear and stuck it in four wheel drive but nothing!, all revs and no go!
I really hope it's something simple, any ideas?

 

[knotting_pot]

Hi Paula and welcome.

This sounds like a simple mechanical connection but I am sure a more knowledgable person will be along to help you soon.

Regards,

Chris

 

[Thermostat]

Is the gear selector easy to move because it could have broken or come detached ?

i had this happen to one of my previous work vehicles at only 3 mths old

Just a thought.

 

[Paula]

Thanks for your replies.
The gear selector is very easy to move, maybe even a bit sloppy!
If something has broken or become disconnected from gear stick what is the easiest way to check this, under vehicle or center console off? hope it's not the latter!

 

[Deleted Member]

Hi Paula and welcome to the club,sounds like is mechanical to me but i ain't no authority on Autos!! :|
It'll be easy to have a look underneath(plenty space!)
Or you could take the central console apart!! :wink: :lol:

 

[rossco]

Have a look under the console to see if anything has come loose.
Just slide the shift up and down when you have it and just look to see if everything is moving.
There should be a linkage arm and that might need adjusting:

Manual Control Linkage Adjustment
Move selector lever from “P” position to “1” position. You should be
able to feel the detents in each position.

If the detents cannot be felt or the pointer indicating the position is
improperly aligned, the linkage needs adjustment.

1. Place selector lever in “P” position.
2. Loosen lock nuts.
3. Tighten turn buckle until aligns with inner cable, pulling selector
lever toward “R” position side without pushing button.
4. Back off turn buckle 1 turn and tighten lock nuts to the specified
torque.

Lock nut
: 4.4 - 5.9 N×m
(0.45 - 0.60 kg-m, 39.1 - 52.1 in-lb)

5. Move selector lever from “P” position to “1” position. Make sure
that selector lever can move smoothly.

 

[iandouglas]

Auto Mistral no drive

hi paula.
does truck start in all gear possissions instead of just park and nureral?
if so its a good indicator that linkage has come adrift.
good luck
rgds.iandouglas

 

[Paula]

Thanks for your suggestions.
Have done a few checks, it seems the gear selector is working fine as the truck will roll when in neutral but not when in gear, it wont start in gear. Have revved engine while selecting a gear but there seems to be no connection between gearbox and engine

I know this sounds completely unconnected but this has happened since having an oil and filter change (lots of blood, oil and crashing about in the engine bay)! Can't really see how this could be related but it's one hell of a coincidence.

Please can anyone HELP, I need my car back, I now have to see how much horse feed and bedding I can get in the back of a VW Lupo! not much me thinks.

 

[Deleted Member]

Where about are you Paula?? might be somebody near you that can help!! :wink:

 

[Paula]

I am 5 minutes from J14 M5, Gloucestershire.

 

[jims-terrano]

I too am no epert on Autos but one check I can think of is to check the ATF (Auto Transmission Fluid) to see if it smells burnt. There must be a dip stick of some sort for it. This might seem a daft question but you didn't undo the wrong drain plug did you? sorry I don't want to sound patronising.

Jim T

 

[Paula]

It was definately old engine oil in the container, I would be very worried if the ATF looked like that.
ATF fluid looks fine, the gearbox worked perfectly until this incident, infact it runs like a 2 year old car.
It seems so odd that it can run so well then have an oil change and now it's died, it has broken sat in the drive :x

 

[Toolbox]

Has it moved at all since the ATF oil change?

 

[rossco]

Have a look back under the bonnet where you were crashing and banging around during the oil change and check for any electrical connectors that might have come apart.
The throttle sensor switch sounds like it might not be talking to the rest of it.
There is quite a few sensors under the bonnet for the auto.
Were you banging around near the steering box?

I'll send you the self diagnostics directions.

 

[macabethiel]

loss of drive

Its always difficult to do an armchair dagnosis but lets see if this helps.
I have been driving automatics for the last 40 years and my Terrano R3mR is an automatic and I have never had a problem with an auto box but I know people who have.
Firstly I have never known an automatic gearbox to fail completely without plenty of advance warning though it is possible if a band breaks.
Early signs of gearbox failure to come are as follows.
Change in the gear shifting such as excessive slurring when changing gear or clunking when changing gear.
The colour and smell of the ATF is a very good indicator. The fluid should be pink and not smell of burning. If you have some top up ATF smell it and observe its colour. Your old ATF should look the same. If it has gone dark this is a sign of internal problems unless its done a big mileage. Some darkening occurs with mileages over 70k if fluid is original.
The fluid level is normally checked when it is hot the engine must be running and in Park. If the fluid level is even slightly on the high side this can lead to gear shift slurring. Removing the excess will fix the problem. If the oil level is too low you tend to start with the vehicle loosing reverse gear there may be changes in hot and cold gear shifting.

Hope this helps.