HELP - Gearbox problems

RASonline

New Member
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Johannesburg, RSA
#1
Hi

Am new to the forum, so firstly.. good day to you all and hope to be spending some more time here.

I've got an E36 325i Automatic (1993 model). The auto gearbox is giving me some problems but i haven't got a clue what could be causing the problem.

It is only noticeable in 5th gear. When the gearbox engages 5th, the revs drop from 4th gear to 5th gear. Under light throttle (i.e. not accelerating to increase speed), just after the gear change, the revs hold at one level, BUT THEN IT DROPS almost 300-500 revs.

To summarise, the box changes from 4th into 5th, and revs drop accordingly. Revs hold for 1-3 seconds at that level but then revs drop further 300-500 rpm after that.

Once this happens, the car feels very sluggish (almost like something slipping). After the revs have dropped as described, if i give the car full throttle it doesn't accelerate as it should. In fact, on some uphills the car just refuses to pick up speed and i have to pull it down into 4th first, then when it changes back into 5th it will maintain the acceleration until i ease off the throttle and then the revs drop again.

Car has 160,000kms 0r 100,000 miles. Had it since brand new. The gearbox oil did run low once around 80,000kms / 45,000 Miles. The problem started around 120,000kms or 75,000 miles.

Gutted.

Really have no clue what could be causing this.

Have changed the diff once already with no success.

Anybody have any ideas???

RAS
 

Big Daddy

Senior Member
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#2
First welcome to the board. Have you checked the fluid in the transmission, smell it and see if it smells burned. Are you sure that what you are experiencing is not just the converter locking up? I have a mini van (I hate to admit) and it's transmission has always done that, once it goes to 5th gear the rpms drop a few hundred than seconds later they drop again. Give it slight throttle and its like real S L O W to respond, give it about 1/4 throttel and it downshifts and goes.
 
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Winston Salem, NC
#3
It sounds to me like it's the torque convertor locking up just like Big Daddy said. That part is normal. However, if you give it alot of gas after this, and the car doesn't downshift like it should, then there is a problem - it could be that the torque convertor lockup solenoid isn't releasing like it should when you give it gas again.
 


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