Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: mgrolimund99 on 04 December 2007, 09:46:27

Title: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: mgrolimund99 on 04 December 2007, 09:46:27
Hi,
The latest problem with my Omega surfaced again. Automatic Gearbox 'check' warning displayed. The light indicator goes mental flashing etc and seems to be stuck in 2 or 3rd when in drive. 1,2,3 work ok. Bit of a rapid change into 2nd for some reason like the clutch is being wiped off too quickly. If i park up and then drive off later suddenly everything is back to normal. Although this morning I noticed it was driving ok, but the lights were still going all mental flashing etc. When the gears wont change all the lights are on.

I think its the gearbox selector (or gear selector?) if thats the name for it. Doesnt seem mechnical or maybe thats just me hoping it isnt..............
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 04 December 2007, 10:29:39
Sounds like it might be worth removing the selector switch and checking it for damage / damp. Driven through any floods lately?

Would be worth checking the fluid level is OK while you're down there too.

Kevin
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: mgrolimund99 on 04 December 2007, 11:50:36
err yes i have, p*ssing rain all week, floods everywhere been driving straight through them. Where is the gear selector?
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 04 December 2007, 13:52:20
Quote
err yes i have, p*ssing rain all week, floods everywhere been driving straight through them.

Ahh.  :( I suspect it's got damp then.

Quote
Where is the gear selector?

On the side of the gearbox - passenger side IIRC. It's a square box with a cable bundle exiting the top through which the gear selector shaft passes. I think there's a howto on here for more details. Hopefully it'll just be a case of drying it out and sealing it up again although sometimes the PCB contacts inside break up. In this case it should just be damp, hopefully. :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: mgrolimund99 on 04 December 2007, 15:38:00
ok, stupid question. In the car? or under? Its not the box that displays the lights for D P etc?  :-[
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: ians on 04 December 2007, 15:56:24
Under.  TBH I thought it was drivers side but I've never been down there to look.
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 04 December 2007, 17:01:13
Yes, sorry. It's on the gearbox itself so you'll need to get underneath. I could well have the wrong side of the gearbox now I think about it :-/ Difficult to tell which side's which when your mind's eye remembers it from lying under a car.

Kevin
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: Pitchfork on 04 December 2007, 18:38:36
Without a doubt it's ingress of water
Happened to mine when drowned in July, the lights danced around like the decorations on a Christmas Tree & car went into limp mode sporadically
Same gearbox used on Ford Granada's so if looking for a S/H switch you're not limited to Omegas
IW
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: TheBoy on 04 December 2007, 18:50:30
Passenger side, bolted to side of gearbox itself
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: MartinP on 04 December 2007, 21:19:51
When its in bits it looks like this

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/issunaz/Omega/AR30%20Gearbox/AR30Gearbox19.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/issunaz/Omega/AR30%20Gearbox/AR30Gearbox16.jpg)

When i had mine apart I cleaned out a collection of greasy gunk and belled out the contacts to check continuity for the circuit
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: arthill on 04 December 2007, 21:55:38
Hi

Had same problem, fitted 2nd hand, fine since.
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: mgrolimund99 on 05 December 2007, 11:38:17
nightmare.... dropped it off at the garage they checked the sensor visually from outside said its dry. Got error code auto transmission range sensor fault. checked with vauxhall garage and they dont recognise the code and asked it to go to main dealer, or so thats what my garage just said. I asked them to check the sensor internally.
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 05 December 2007, 11:55:46
It may look dry from the outside, but once weather gets in there, it will take a long time to dry out. The symptoms you are having, and recent exposure to water, make it a dead cert, IMHO. Shame the garage think they know better ::)

Kevin
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: mgrolimund99 on 05 December 2007, 17:24:22
ok, garage say they looked and cleaned, it was dry and still dont work. They say got to go to vauxhall garage. that sounds expensive..... >:(
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: TheBoy on 05 December 2007, 17:47:16
Take the sensor apart yourself.

Failing that, I may have a spare in the garage that only owes me £25...
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: mgrolimund99 on 06 December 2007, 09:36:07
Dont think I have the skill, patience or tools to do it myself unfortunately! You think it needs replacing then? Cos Im worried vauxhall will say that then it will be £100s+ for a brand new one
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: mgrolimund99 on 07 December 2007, 13:14:13
okay. So i got it back from that garage. But its different. Lights dont flicker now. When in drive it doesnt like 2nd. Doesnt like it when I select it manually. So I thought oh dear its mechnical....... £££...
But got it home tested all the gears no noise, no crunch etc. This morning all is back to normal! wierd. Must be damp in there likeyou guys said. Booked into Vaux next week for them to check it properly..

by the way, im after the following bits for my car assuming the car isnt written off. Need air bag cover as mine is all warped. Need coin tray gear surround, heated seat swtiches and instrument surround (sliver if poss)...

I have a few items available too. Complete interior in Grey Cloth. Centre Console, Pre Facelift Irsm spoiler, Pre facelift air bag cover. Pre facelift sunvisors with the lights.
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: Pitchfork on 07 December 2007, 17:13:49
Don't want to worry you but mine appeared to rectify itself a few times
Once water is in there there is a strong possibility that the contacts will corrode and the problem will return
To be save suggest you remove & dismantle it to clean it all up or fit a replacement
As I said earlier other cars like the Granada & BMW share the same gearbox type so you should be able to source one from a breakers
IW
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: arthill on 07 December 2007, 19:58:20
New switch from dealer £235+vat approx. got mine through Parts Gateway next day delivery, fitting simple job for mechanic.
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: mgrolimund99 on 13 December 2007, 12:11:42
Okay, so somewhat predicably Vaux say it needs a replacement selector. £231 + VAT plus £48 + vat fitting, plus £48 + vat for diagnosing that fault that everyone said I already had......

The question is should i spend all that money or get a secondhand one and hope it doesnt happen again? And if so anyone got one, I think someone offered me one on here.
Title: Re: Gearbox trouble?
Post by: MartinP on 13 December 2007, 22:01:19
Quote
Okay, so somewhat predicably Vaux say it needs a replacement selector. £231 + VAT plus £48 + vat fitting, plus £48 + vat for diagnosing that fault that everyone said I already had......

The question is should i spend all that money or get a secondhand one and hope it doesnt happen again? And if so anyone got one, I think someone offered me one on here.


If "The Boy" cant locate one for you, I'll take mine off for the same price + postage.