Bob K's Holden Adventra

[bobk]

Picked up the car yesterday from Gilroys Transmissions at Toowoomba, had a run around the block and found it works better than the last time I drove it. Big plus. So today we checked out at 0630 and we are now at Biloela. I behaved myself and drove in Drive with no Cruise and used the Power button on the hills. Had fairly strong winds from the West and we were travelling N and NW but still managed to keep under 20 l/100. Quite happy with that. We will need a warranty check (leaks etc) after 500 ks. Tomorrow we plan to meet CCs at Carmila. Looking forward to that.
bobk

[Dot]

So pleased you are finally on the road again. Enjoy and give the CC's a big squeezy hugs from us please.

[BruceS]

For those that don't know .... That's Chuck & Catriana ....
Enjoy your meetup fellows (fellas).

[T1 Terry]

Did they say what the problem was Bob? It might have been a similar problem to the Jimny, a partially blocked filter, but it could also have been a sensor/solenoid problem being a computer controlled transmission

[bobk]

Unfortunately I was not at any time talking to someone in blue overalls, just the receptionist and (I think) wife of the owner, who, I might say seemed knowledgeable. The invoice does not indicate a 'fault'. Work done:
Remove transmission and convertor. Dismantle transmission and inspect for wear or damage. Sublet convertor for repair. Clean casing and all internal parts. Replace listed soft parts including clutches, band and seals. Replace listed bushes. Strip and clean valve body. Reassemble and check. Reassemble transmission and set end float. Air check all clutch packs and servo. Refit valve body and pan. Refit transmission and convertor to vehicle. Check and adjust all linkages and cables. Refill transmission with oil and road test for shift correct pattern. Supply and fit external cooler.
Labour total $1320 Invoice total $3340. Ouch.
Right, just realised there is a page missing from the invoice regarding the 'listed parts'. I rang and talked to them about emailing that and talked again to the (wife). She tells me that the clutch pack(s) had been so hot that the disks were welded. Apparently this is common. Anyway if the clutch(es) are similar to a motorbike clutch with a stack of alternating steel and sintered disks, I can understand and am happy with that explanation (except one would think that would create a permanent drive situation). It is all done now and the only anomaly (and it was always like this) is it thumps a bit when changing up.
bobk.

[T1 Terry]

The "thump" is a combination of pressure settings and clutch material, too soft and the clutches will slip as it engages and you are back to where you were.
They have rebuilt the transmission and had the torque converter rebuilt, so not a minor problem at all. The friction plates are actually lined with either a paper material or a composite material. The paper gives a much sharper engage but can not handle any slipping or it will burn. The burnt bits block the oil pick up screen, the pump starves for oil and cavitates, there is insufficient pressure to clamp the clutch packs so it slips even more till it welds together. Depends on the clutch pack that has welded, it generally requires a second clutch pack or a band to engage to select the required ratio from the multiple planetary drives. The give away is reverse ends up locking up the box completely, but generally the filter screen is so blocked nothing happens as there is no pressure to engage any other clutch pack and the converter starves for oil, a box full of neutrals ......

[bobk]

Thank you Terry, I understand. One of the first questions they asked in fact was 'does it work in reverse' and I didn't know the answer as I had not tried it. Any way it works and I am happy. I like your explanation. Now today, just so I didn't show too much joy, I was driving around Townsville looking for a wireless fridge thermometer. I spied a 4wd shop and pulled off the bitumen onto the shoulder which was hard packed ,dirt with sprinkled gravel. I was doing perhaps 15kph or so, and the rear left wheel locked up. I'm not exactly sure whether I was braking or not but think I was coasting to a stop. Once stopped, the car would not drive forward or backward. There was a single light skid mark in the gravel for about 4 to 6 metres behind the left rear wheel. So RACQ was contacted, they sent a triage bloke who jacked up the wheel and confirmed it would not rotate, and then called up a tow truck. Not much waiting and we were on our way to the RACQ depot. Very nice people and very efficient. We sat in the waiting room while the car was unloaded, then a bloke came in to explain that, as the car was being removed, the wheel freed up. Wot tha !!!!! Anyway you can't let that go, so the car will be examined on Thursday, their earliest opportunity. Suggestions were perhaps a seized or collapsed wheel bearing or a diff centre problem. I suppose it could be a broken tooth jamming the works, or it could be something simple like a stone jamming between the caliper and disc. We will find out Thursday. And I suppose I should get them to check the transmission for leaks while it is on the hoist.
bobk

[Chuck]

OK. That's #1 & #2 ... so now, hopefully there won't be a #3.

Oh, by the way, we arrived home at 1230 pm today - all good.

[bobk]

Phew, we really escaped there (not). The handbrake shoe assembly shattered and the fellow showed me bits of separated lining and chewed bits of adjustment mechanism. And the repair is only costing SIX hundred and sixty dollars. Duck truck and muck. And the parts have to come from Brisbane so another stay, probably ready Tuesday. Fortunately we are at #2 sons place and as he is away have use of his wheels for a few days. Not sure yet whether our trip is curtailed, but the decision to go home or not seems to be being made for us. We will see. Good oh Chuck. See you soon.
bobk

[Dot]

How many chinamen is it now Bob? . Blimey