1988 City 1000 Automatic...

[peter mcfeeley]

Hi. My 88 automatic sometimes 'races' when changing up. There is 27k miles on the clock. Does this indicate possible gearbox problems? It is also very clumky when selecting drive or reverse from neutral. Any thoughts? Goes like a dream otherwise.
Regards
Peter

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Does it race in the change up of each gear or only in some?

[peter mcfeeley]

Going into top and the one below top gears only but it is a very smooth trqansmission.
Is it a three speed box?
Cheers.

[The Marcos Graveyard]

How often do you change the oil and what oil do you use ?

[peter mcfeeley]

I brought in in from the UK and it is only on the road since middle December but I had it checked over by a mechanic friend - he did an engine oil and filter change - is there a separate oil resevoir for the auto transmission he might have overlooked? I had minis when I was young and the engine and transmission shared the same oil - I never had an automatic but something tells me engine oil and transmission oil might be different?
Peter

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Automatics are dependant on oil pressure to change the gears, therefore it is reccomended that the oil be changed every 1000 miles and thet you use 10w/40 oil. When you drain the oil you are only changing the oil in the bottom of the box, there is some oil left in the torque converter but that is only about 10% and as you change the oil frequently it is generally never touched. If you do want to drain it fully there are bungs in the torque converter that are accessable through the inspection hole on the torque converter cover. The only other things that go on the automatics are the clutches, but to change them it's an engine out job and very fiddely. that and the fact that the gasket sets are hard to get, although Fatman did get a set at the IMM in 2004, make working on automatics not the most popular of jobs.

[peter mcfeeley]

Thanks for that. I'll check the oil at the weekend and let you know how I get on. Thanks again for the advice.
Regards
Peter

[leyland]

Peter,
How did the oil check /change work out for you. Interested as my automatic also is in trouble. It will run in reverse but not in any of the forward gears. I have changed the filter and oil but still no change. It has only 34 K up so it may be a bit soon for the clutches to give up.
Regards

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Most automatic Minis don't make it to 30K without the need for major surgery.

[peter mcfeeley]

Hi Leyland.
I have the correct oil and a new filter in only 250 miles ago. What I didn't do was drain the torque converter. I might drain the whole thing again this weekend, including the converter and refill it and see what happens. I'll keep you posted.
To be honest, it is going very well and maybe I am just being a bit picky - in any case I really don't want to open up an 18 year old auto transmission. If it comes to that, I might swap the engine, even go over to manual if that is possible?
Anyway, I bought myself the Haynes manual from "Tomohawk" and will get stuck into that.
PS I saw the Cooper lookalike he has for sale today and it is looking really nice.
Regards
Peter

[The Marcos Graveyard]

You should check that the selector cable and the transverse rod and see that they are adjusted properly.

Peter it sounds like your forward clutches are gone

[peter mcfeeley]

Thanks for that - I'll check those adjustments and drain and refil the engine & torque convertor at the weekend and see does that do anything.
If it is the forward clutches as you suspect, it that a major job? is there anywhere I could take it to have that work done by someone who understands mini auto boxes? I was reading the Haynes manual last evening and it basically says that autos need to be looked at by a specialist.
Regards,
Peter

[The Marcos Graveyard]

oops, bit of confusion, just read my last post and see it has been misdirected, It's Leylands forward clutches that are gone.


Peter, I don't know of any specialists for the Automatic Mini, most garages shy away from them. The main problems with working on them is the fact that you need some specialised tools for working on them, but home made ones work just as well, secondly much of the work on automatics has to be done with the engine out of the car.
If you are looking to change from Auto to Manual, as well as the engine you also need the gear select mechanism, the clutch reservoir , the manual pedal box and a manual subframe. The engine mounts are also different.

[leyland]

Neil,
Thanks for getting back on the query with my auto. Can the forward clutches be fixed without taking the engine gearbox out and taking off that big flat plat on the front of the box. I suppose not is the answer. I have all the gear for changing it over to manual but would like to keep it automatic.
I suppose the best thing to do is take it out and investigate.
Thanks
Richard

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Unfortunatly the forward clutches are at the far end of the auto box, so its an engine out Job.
Here is a link to a web site of the job being done on an Austin America, Austin 1100/1300 over here, they were also fitted with the A-series Auto transmission.

http://members.tripod.com/austin_america/id72.html

[The Marcos Graveyard]

You don't have to split the box to do the job, but you do need the engine out.

[tony]

Hi all,
as an avid reader of the forum i never cease to be amazed at the amount of know how about our favourite car that ye guys have,, and also the relaxed way in which ye share information, which is a credit to ye.....take a bow folks,,
as for me all i can do is check the levels before i drive her and turn the key and off we go,,,,,
again folks well done!!!!!!!!!

Tony

[leyland]

Thank you Neil for the info and the site to look up. Its the best information I have come across so far and is a great help.
Regards
Richard

[The Marcos Graveyard]

[quote="tony"]as for me all i can do is check the levels before i drive her and turn the key and off we go,,,,,


Tony[/quote]

You have hit the nail on the head Tony, the main thing to understand about automatics is that the oil pressure is what does the work, a manual Mini has the oil pressure regulated to 60psi, but there is a second oil pump in the automatic which generates up to 145psi, all speed changes are governed by the oil pressure, so performance of the auto box is reduced as the oil degrades, hence the need for frequent oil changes. The other parts of the system that requires the oil changes are the many ruber rings that are used throughout the box. Old and dirty oil contaminates them and causes them to become hard and brittle, which means that they cant seal as well and again the pressures are affected.