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        General >> Problems >> Smoking issue related to autobox?
        
(Message started by: OldMan on Apr 21^st, 2008, 9:27pm)

Title: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by OldMan on Apr 21^st, 2008, 9:27pm

Guys I have just bought a 2.3 Ultima Automatic and I am having a few issues which I need help with.

When I first got the car it was running OK. I must admit I thought it was a bit "gutless" but then I had just sold my Toyota Saorer 2.5 Twin Turbo!!!

After a few days I noticed the OD light was flashing. Also the engine revs would increase when changing gear (as if you had depressed the cluth if it had one).

Last weekend I was checking the car over and I cleaned the MAF as per the instructions. I also checked the gearbox oil level. This was done by starting the car and cycling through the gears, turning off the engine and then dipping the stick. This showed that the oil was below the level of the dipstick! Off the the garage and two litres of oil later rechecked the level which was now spot on.

OK so now I go for a run to check everything. Driving out from the estate everything was OK. Once out on the open road I stamped down on the accelerator and was rewarded by a cloud of white smoke coming out of the back of the car.

Since the weekend as long as I drive normally no smoke is seem. It is only if I stamp down on the accelerator.

I would like some suggestions as to what the problem is. As I said this only appeared when I toped up the auto box and it would be an amazing coincedence if this had appeared at the same time.

Oh and the flashing OD light is still apearing intermitantly.

Thanks guys

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by gozz on Apr 21^st, 2008, 11:18pm

Old Man.
If the smoke is coming out of the exhaust pipe,look for the vacuum pipe that goes down behind the engine to operate the gearbox diaphragm,pull the rubber tube off and see if there is oil in it.If so the diaphragm is ruptured and is passing ATF into the engine.In the absence of drips on the ground the ATF must be consumed elsewhere.
GOZZ (Another old man)

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by scorpio_man on Apr 22^nd, 2008, 6:50am

hi there

first of all, you haven't checked the level correctly. you need to get it up to temp and WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT ALL TIMES, cycle through the gears 3 times each. ie r then d then 2 then 1. repeat this a further 2 times. check the level now (engine running).

let us know what level it's at now (sounds like it's overfilled a bit). never 'gun' an auto from cold {} it needs to warm up a bit first, same as an engine.

btw, the 2.3 auto doesn't use any vacuum, it's fully electronic.

the white smoke sounds like water. have you lost any coolant?

hth

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by TiberiuS on Apr 22^nd, 2008, 12:07pm

After a 2.5 twin turbo it's going to lack a bit of torque off the line. But if you get used to it it's a nice engine and has a nice upper power band, fairly brisk if not a sports car like what you've just sold.

Can't really add much to this except to ask whether you've checked the coolant level. Could be that you've overfilled the autobox and the little pressure valve is offloading some fluid onto the exhaust system, mine did this once, clouds of smoke and it certainly was white like steam. Should be ok afterwards but don't thrash it until you've found the problem for certain.

If it's underfilled enough to cause problems it'll start thumping and dropping gears (at least that's what mine always did), if it ran alright before then it might well be overfilled now. O/D light and rising revs on shifts could be something else, check the fluid as Andrew advised before you do anything else.

Regards, Bruce.

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by gozz on Apr 22^nd, 2008, 11:57pm

Sorry to mislead,I have 12v on the brain,and obviously can't see what I'm looking at !
GOZZ.

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by OldMan on Apr 25^th, 2008, 9:46pm

Ok thanks for the advice guys.

First of all my mistake. I did check the oil as per the instructions, with the engine running. I have since rechecked and the oil level has dropped once again so the oil is going somewhere.

No leakage in the coolant as far as I can see.

So, oil is getting from the gearbox into the engine, but how. My understanding there is no direct link with my version of the gearbox.

Either way it sounds expensive, anyone got a cheap (free) gearbox?

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by TiberiuS on Apr 26^th, 2008, 12:07am

Not necessarily a gearbox problem, the oil cooler (fitted as standard to the 2.3 AFAIK) can be a culprit, either mixing coolant and ATF or leaking ATF where the alloy pipes corrode near the radiator. Could also explain the white smoke you're getting too :)

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by OldMan on Apr 26^th, 2008, 1:46am

Wouldn't you have smoke all the time if this was the case. The smoke 9from the exhaust) only appears when I accelerate hard. Under normal conditions no smoke?

Stilll will check it out today!

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by TiberiuS on Apr 26^th, 2008, 8:46pm

High engine revs, more pump pressure, more leaks. So yes, it could be a seal or anything, you say there's no smoke and no loss of fluid if you drive it gently. But cooler pipes are a good place to start, maybe get the car on stands and try to find any tell tale traces of fluid while the weather is dry.

The service manual for the autobox is on the site somewhere, might be worth having a look through there. As my first post, mine decided to dump some fluid onto the manifold one day, where it came from and why it happened was a mystery...car was being driven gently and although it was a hot day the only sign something was going to happen was that it hesitated and missed a gear just before.

Regards, Bruce.

Title: Re: Smoking issue related to autobox?
Post by jonnycab on Apr 26^th, 2008, 9:02pm

Just a thought, you haven't put any redex etc in the tank recently ?

White smoke can also be a result of cardon burning off, especially at high revs :)