Automatic

[Robert Greenway]

Hello there

I have just bought a 71,000 mile 02 plate 2.2 petrol automatic. By and large I am very pleased with it. However, on a motorway run at 75 mph ish the gearbox seems to change down a gear and, by taking my foot off the throttle, I can get it to change back up. My question is - is this normal or do I have a fault? I have six months guarantee so it would be nice to have some idea now, rather than after the guarantee's run out!

Many thanks, in advance, for your replies.

[Gsi3.2]

if you mean it changes down when you try to accelerate at 75mph, then yes it's quite normal for it to change down.. likewise , so is the changing back up a gear as you come off the pedal..

all sounds normal from here..

[Robert Greenway]

Thanks for that. The thing is, I don't have to be accelerating, just driving normally and when I reach 75 it happens.

[Robert Greenway]

This morning I, as I was doing my usual 70 mile drive to Nottingham, I kept putting the box into manual, just to check it was in fifth gear. When I came to a stop after getting off the motorway, it went into limp home mode. I was able to drive it to work and then switched off and re-started. It now seems OK. The thing is - is this my fault for switching to manual so often, is it a gearbox fault or is it just one of those things?

Many thanks
Robert

[Signum Dek]

Hi Rob, I've got a 2.2 petrol signum with the autobox, and once up to speed (usually down the slip road) it pretty much stays in top gear, unless like has been mentioned I ask it to accelerate a bit harder, then it will drop to a lower gear but change back up a soon as I come off the gas, as for switching between manual and auto causing the car to go into limp mode, never had a problem and I do tend to play with it sometimes.

Dek

[Robert Greenway]

Thanks for your reply. It's booked in to the garage on Monday as, as I've said, it's still under guarantee. I've had automatics since 1983 and never had a problem before!

[bigcarman79]

Did you get the car with spanner symbol in the tacho display? or was it the engine management light (orange engine shaped symbol to the right of dash)?
obviously limp home mode is not the norm, thankfully you have a guarantee!

[Robert Greenway]

Neither. It just acts the way I've described no warning lights at all!

[poves]

There's def somert not rite there mate , my 3.2 is auto and once your at cruising speed it stays in 5th until you change rpm dramatically , I also use the tiptronic alot and never had any probs either , the only thing I can notice is the change up and down is a bit jerky , not quite what you would expect from a 23 grand car but never mind . get it sorted before your warranty expires. good luck mate.

[Gsi3.2]

thing is...the 3.2 has a LOT more 'grunt' than the 2.2.. we've had both now..and Mrs GSi's old 2.2 auto used to hunt up and down the gears on the motorway just like your one does.. the 3.2 won't hunt up and down as it makes a heck of a lot more torque so the box doesn't sense the need to change down..neither of our 3.2 autos do..but my freinds 2.2 auto will still change down..