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1978 auto mini

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 5:25 pm
by jack24
hi
have just joined and maybe someone can advise if there is any way
that the automatic gearbox can be adjusted..mini is driving very well with full revs in the gears
but when i leave it in drive..sometimes it does up and down the gears even on straight
acceleration..is there a special gearbox company that i can bring it for checking..this problem maybe
simple to answer with someone with a auto mini or maybe this is the way it is ???
otherwise am delighted with the car and am now looking at the rust/bodywork paint etc.
regs
jack

Re: 1978 auto mini

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:44 pm
by The Marcos Graveyard
When was the last oil change ?

Re: 1978 auto mini

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:42 pm
by jack24
The Marcos Graveyard wrote:When was the last oil change ?
complete change of oil and filter last september but car has only done 150 miles since
then..not insured or taxed so just run it in the estate..do not use it as my daily compute
, which is what i hope to do by max oct this year..
i remember speaking to u at the last mini jumble about the car..you are the man with the
cooper callipers ???
regs
jack

Re: 1978 auto mini

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:23 pm
by The Marcos Graveyard
Yup, thats me.

Don't know of any auto box specialists, they are a mystery to most garages.

Re: 1978 auto mini

Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:28 am
by Miniquip
As you say you have only run the car in the estate, maybe your not getting it good enough run to check the system properly... The auto box was a fairly robust unit, and well ahead of its time when it came out... The main problem is that some people tried to run Automatic transmission fluid in it, but as with all minis the gearbox and engine share the oil, so the box was specifically designed to run on 20W50 mineral motor oil (this was the thing that put it ahead in its day) If the wrong oil has been used (even a 10W40 or similar will NOT do) then the gearbox won't drive properly...

The people I use when I have any problems is MRA Minis as they are specialists in the Auto box fitted to the mini, might be worth giving Martin of MRA a shout and see if he could spread any further light, but do your best to give the car a good run out first...

Re: 1978 auto mini

Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 11:34 am
by norevrse
i have 1972 mini and it changes down by its self goin up hill if tats any help

Re: 1978 auto mini

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:05 am
by des
I've a 73 auto, and when I first got it I had a lot of similar issues with the gearbox, would not go past second and would sometimes randomly 'jump' gears. The solution was to change to a different oil, I tried about 3 different ones and now I'm using the Halfords classic stuff now, and changing it every 1000 miles and it's running perfect ever since.