[Vash]

Hey fellas,
I got a 1992 LWB Vitara with about 280kkm on it, and the auto is getting abit clunky. Reverse takes 1/4 throttle to kick in, and shifting is pretty violent sometimes.

Also when driving along a flat with no throttle, sometimes it shifts up and down, up and down at 2 second intervals, like it cant decide what gear to be in.

Is my auto box on the way out or does it just need a fluid change? I hear the autos are hard to find for LWB Vitara so maybe a manual conversion would be a goer, if not too difficult?

[TheOtherLeft]

Are you leaking fluid? When I used to drive my dads ancient merc it leaked auto fluid a lot and when I topped up the fluid it would shift a lot smoother. When it was low on fluid gear changes took ages and were harsh.

In your case I would start with a fluid change. Maybe even the filter/screen as well.

You get also gets the bands tightened.

[Gwagensteve]

TheOtherLeft's comments should see to it.

The AW-4 is a durable auto and very conservatively rated in a vitara. It shouldn't be broken.


Steve.

[dogbox]

how long since it has been serviced

[dogbox]

how long since it has been serviced the more it changes gear the hotter it gets the heat breaks the fluid down
what color is the fluid

[Vash]

thanks fellas

levels are normal, color is a dark yellow, but hard to say on the dipstick.
no idea when it was last serviced, the motor was replaced recently by previous owner but no clue on the auto, i suspect its the original.

[TheOtherLeft]

I changed my trans fluid a few weeks ago. The colour of fluid on the dipstick was darkish red. When I dropped the fluid from the pan it was actually black so definitely past it's service date. It had done about 135,000km.

[Gwagensteve]

Dark yellow?

Shouldn't DXII be red?

Steve.

[stockman]

Yep Dexron is red. Makes chrome spanners look like new

[TheOtherLeft]

For reference Synthetic trans fluid is green (well the Castrol one is)