Omega 3.2 Auto Box

[Opomes]

Hello,

After changing my gearbox fluid and the filter (plus a DIY home wash) a few months ago I have noticed that at cold starts the box is reluctant to change to second during the first 500m of driving.
Also when accelerating slowly at slow speeds it changes from second to third in a slightly noticeable "bang". And when overtaking someone and accelerating a bit harder it changes from 3rd to 4th in a more noticeable "bang".

Can these problems be linked with the 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 solenoids? Or is it a more serious issue?
The car has one ~215K kilometers (~150K miles if my calculations serve me correct) and I presume I was the first to ever change the fluid on the box. It seemed quite brown and the magnet was covered in some gunk.
Also is the AR35 box synonymous with the 4L30E GM box from various other cars (BMWs E36s and early E39s, Isuzus and so on)?

Best regards.

[JamesV6CDX]

It's normal operation to hold first gear from a cold start

[Shackeng]

I assume no sign of any bits of thrust washer in the small forward sump during the ATF change. Not a difficult job to replace, but does require the box off the car.

[Opomes]

Hi again,

No obvious metal pieces in the smaller sump. At least I didn't spot any.
Is there any possibility to clean the solenoids? Or is changing the solenoids the only viable way to get the changes smoother?
Still curious about the 4L30E and AR35 marriage. Are the solenoids interchangeable?

Best regards.

[Andy H]

The standard thrust washer is plastic - you can buy a metal replacement (Sonax?)

The thumping is probably a function of how the gearbox ECU is programmed rather than a physical fault in the gearbox.

AR35 (& AR25) are Opel/Vauxhall designations for the 4L30E box so there should be no major differences in the internal components between manufacturers.

[Opomes]

Hello,

I'm wondering which oil is better for the Omega auto box - considering between Mannol Dexron III and Mannol Dexron VI. I would do a flush as well, so in the end very little mixing between III and VI would occur.
Dexron VI is ~1.5 times more expensive, but is it worth it? More consistent viscosity over extreme temperatures so on and so forth. Does anyone have any comparable episodes to this inquiry?

Best regards.

[biggriffin]

I use shell donax, its a synthetic dex3 for use in plant and hgvs, I think its called spriex now.