Auto shifter stiff

[Erebus]

Another nice day, and more experimenting. I disconnected the shifter cable at the transmission end, and the shift lever and cable move very freely.

So the problem has to be in the transmission.

Does anyone have any suggestion besides trying a complete oil change, or Mardy's changing the shifter module?

Thanks in advance.

[loki]

Another nice day, and more experimenting. I disconnected the shifter cable at the transmission end, and the shift lever and cable move very freely.

So the problem has to be in the transmission.

Does anyone have any suggestion besides trying a complete oil change, or Mardy's changing the shifter module?

Thanks in advance.

Change the whole tranny?

[Erebus]

It's looking like Mardy is right. Kirkham has a mechanic who is quite familiar with Mitsu transmissions, he's going to have a quick look tomorrow. He checked, and normal suppliers in this area cannot get the "module" for the V4AW2 transmission that the L300 automatic is. So it will have to be through the usual Delica forum suppliers if I need one.

More info as it comes available.

[Erebus]

Kirkham checked, and said the module is FUBAR. Now if only Mardy or Rocky Mtn. Imports would get back to me on availability.

The funny thing is after I got the Deli back from Kirkham, it is behaving better than it has in ages, there is barely any hint of a problem. But then again, it has been much warmer today than it has been -- it got up to 16 today!

[Erebus]

Everything is working fine right now, but it is broken. It appears that if, when it first got stiff, I had sprayed the mechanism with lubricant or cleaner, it might have been fine. But too late now!

[Erebus]

Okay, now that I know what and where it is, here are photos for everyone else.

They are taken from the right side of the Deli, behind the driver's door, facing the left side. First, an overview; you can see the fuel tank and sliding door's step in the background:

Tranny module 1.JPG (63.08 KiB) Viewed 5881 times

And now a close-up shot:

Tranny module 2.JPG (59.04 KiB) Viewed 5881 times

Oh, and before someone tells me I have a tranny fluid leak, those stains are all WD-40, Liquid Wrench, or silicone lubricant.

Hopefully this helps someone else.

[mararmeisto]

What's in that thing anyway? Electrics? Cable? How does it work? Moving the shifter pulls a cable, does the cable go in there? Are the wires for tellbacks to the dash and the computer?

[Erebus]

What's in that thing anyway? Electrics? Cable? How does it work? Moving the shifter pulls a cable, does the cable go in there? Are the wires for tellbacks to the dash and the computer?

When you move shift lever, it pushes cable, which pushes lever on left side of transmission, which rotates a shaft that goes horizontally right through the tranny. It has, on the inside of the tranny, what has been called a rooster comb on. That does the actual shifting of the tranny, other than the electrically operated overdrive.

The shaft comes out on the right side of the tranny. On the end of the shaft is this module. The module detects the rotation of the shaft, which tells the module what position your shift lever is in, which normally is also the gear the tranny is in. The module then tells the dash display which light to show. It also tells the computer, which controls the overdrive and perhaps other things too.

In the close-up photo, there is a rectangular plate that is on top of a 1/4 of a circle. The rectangular plate moves with the rotation of the shaft, telling the 1/4 circle what position the shift lever is in.

Hope this makes sense.

[Green1]

The shaft comes out on the right side of the tranny. On the end of the shaft is this module. The module detects the rotation of the shaft, which tells the module what position your shift lever is in, which normally is also the gear the tranny is in. The module then tells the dash display which light to show. It also tells the computer, which controls the overdrive and perhaps other things too.

So do you need a "new" one? or would simply taking that module off and cleaning the electrical contacts likely solve your issue?

[Erebus]

So do you need a "new" one? or would simply taking that module off and cleaning the electrical contacts likely solve your issue?

I need a "new" one. If I had known then what I know now, I probably could have cleaned it. But now it is broken.

[Erebus]

Oops, never posted the final result. CVI had the neutral safety switch in stock. We went to Vancouver for Easter, and dropped in on CVI. They had a lot of trouble getting the old one off and putting the new one on. And it was stiff once more. So, off comes the new one, and some more grinding, and more lubrication, and now it is okay.

Seems like the seal had gotten a little bent out of shape (literally or figuratively) and was binding.

[bear]

Hello,

firstly, Thank you for posting this thread and updating on the status of your findings. I am in Thunder Bay and going through this same issue. It is fairly cold and snowy so I am thinking that it probably froze up a bit after a slushy drive. I fear that I have pushed it past the repair stage as you have by this point as my systems are bang on to what you described. Any advice on getting it fixed. Is this something that should be taken to a tranny shop or a regular garage?

Thanks,

Tim

[Erebus]

It is fairly cold and snowy so I am thinking that it probably froze up a bit after a slushy drive. I fear that I have pushed it past the repair stage as you have by this point as my systems are bang on to what you described. Any advice on getting it fixed. Is this something that should be taken to a tranny shop or a regular garage?

I'd suggest spraying lots of lubricant onto that area in the hopes of freeing it a little or preventing freezing. Getting it fixed? First get the part. Rocky Mtn, CCAuto, or Marty should be able to help with that.

As far as I can tell, any decent mechanic should be able to do it, since it doesn't require opening the transmission. It seems that the binding comes mostly from the seal where the shaft comes out of the transmission drying out, and that breaks the module.

[bear]

Thanks Very much for the response. I will see what I can do about the lubricant and sourcing out the part.

Cheers,

Tim

[Miloki]

Hey Tim - if you can locate the part, ask if they have 2 and let me know!!! I'm trying to find one - before my van just won't start any more!