please help

**louise** · 21st February 2010, 18:55

i have a vauxhall vectra 2.2 auto and when it gets warm it does not seem to change gear in the lower gears properly i have trouble pulling away when i slow down any suggestions please

**GARY3306** · 21st February 2010, 18:58

check your gearbox oil level, thats the first step. your handbook will explain how to do that

**louise** · 21st February 2010, 19:01

i took it to the garage and they said that was ok

**GARY3306** · 21st February 2010, 19:04

Ahh right well you didn't say that lol. Assuming that they checked it properly (well you never know), my question now is, does it go into gear but is slow in pulling away, or does it struggle to drop into the gears?

Also what age is it and when did it last have the oil changed in the gearbox?

**louise** · 21st February 2010, 19:09

yes it goes into gear but pulls away very sluggish

**GARY3306** · 21st February 2010, 19:17

We need more info to give you even an indication as to what it could be.

So, its a 2.2 auto, we know that much. How old is it? How many miles has it done? When did it last have a gearbox oil and filter change? You say it does it when it has warmed up, so I take it that first thing in the morning etc it is fine? Is the engine running fine? starting ok, running smoothly etc?

If its ok when cold and starts messing about when warmed up, then it may be an oil viscosity issue and an oil and filter change may well put it right. Other than that, it may well be something as sinister as an internal gearbox fault which can be very costly.

**louise** · 21st February 2010, 19:22

its a 53 reg its done 54000 miles i have had it 14 month and as far as i know its not had the gear box oil changed.the engine sounds fine its just when it warms up it has difficulty pulling away in first and second gear it then drives fine

**GARY3306** · 21st February 2010, 19:48

Ok, the easiest and by far the cheapest option to try is a gearbox oil change. Vauxhall recommend it be changed at 40,000 miles or 4 years whichever comes first. If the oil is of poor quality now that could very well give you these symptoms, as when the oil gets hot, the viscosity drops and at low revs, the oil pressure will be low inside the box, but as you eventually get under wayand build some speed up, the oil pressure will rise so you don't notice it as much in the higher gears. With new oil in, the oil pressure will be maintained right across the engine and transmission rev range and should give seamless gearchanges and a return to normal operation. If that fails to make any difference, then the gearbox will need to be checked by an auto box specialist (obviously the Vauxhall dealer can do this). vauxhall automatic gearboxes don't have a great track record though, it has to be said