Automatic gearbox

[Ronebald]

Has anybody had the experience that the automatic gearbox gave up? (While driving).
It has happened 3 times to me in a short period exactly on the same point!
(Close to a Mobile phone provider building (Mobistar) near Brussels)

[bombus]

Hello Ronebald!


Such thing never happened to me.

Can you give some more description about what do you mean in "gave up"

[schpountzator]

Never ever did it happen to me. Yes, please, describe what happen to you.

I just experience some delay when "shifting manually" through the automatic gearbox.

Also I get a better mileage when shifting manually, this gear is really no "tiptronic". The logic could be improved, and I think the 4th gear is to short: we've got to many RPM on the "Autobahn".

It's still a good choice for the comfort it procures! And my family like my cool driving style .

[bombus]

Originally Posted by schpountzator

... the 4th gear is to short

It cannot be engaged below 70 km/h so it is not too short.

The real problem is that there's no 5th gear.

[qzdcg8]

Originally Posted by bombus

It cannot be engaged below 70 km/h so it is not too short.

The real problem is that there's no 5th gear.

No no the real problem is that the power range on the 2.0L petrol is too narrow so the jump from 3rd to 4th gear and vice-versa keeps taking the rev's out of the best range - more power and power gears are required

[Miguelito]

Originally Posted by Ronebald

Has anybody had the experience that the automatic gearbox gave up? (While driving).
It has happened 3 times to me in a short period exactly on the same point!
(Close to a Mobile phone provider building (Mobistar) near Brussels)

No problems for me too since now (4500 km).

Originally Posted by qzdcg8

No no the real problem is that the power range on the 2.0L petrol is too narrow so the jump from 3rd to 4th gear and vice-versa keeps taking the rev's out of the best range - more power and power gears are required

I completely agree with you!

[Ronebald]

Originally Posted by bombus

Hello Ronebald!


Such thing never happened to me.

Can you give some more description about what do you mean in "gave up"

Let you know exact message next time it happens but gearbox stays in 4th and I have to turn off & on the key and it works again

[DirkS.]

Usually, the control units (in this case for the gearbox) are being heavily tested for EMI and EMC. So it's hard to believe that this effect could be due to the phone provioder building. The field strengths on the road are so little that there is most likely no effect. Strange....

[Frank AM]

Originally Posted by Ronebald

Has anybody had the experience that the automatic gearbox gave up? (While driving).
It has happened 3 times to me in a short period exactly on the same point!
(Close to a Mobile phone provider building (Mobistar) near Brussels)

Never happened to my !
Does it happen driving in automatic or manual shift ??

Frank

[Ronebald]

Thank you everybody but it didn't happen again since the first maintenance!
Now I have another problem. (posted 23/09/2005) but I still love to drive my Phedra.

[jimbo63]

Originally Posted by Ronebald

Has anybody had the experience that the automatic gearbox gave up? (While driving).
It has happened 3 times to me in a short period exactly on the same point!
(Close to a Mobile phone provider building (Mobistar) near Brussels)

Hi folks,

as I wrote in another threads, the problem is relatively common on
Automatic Phedra after 50K Km.

What you get over the RT3 is the following message "Anomalia cambio
automatico" (Automatic gear-box malfunctioning).

After you get the massage it'd not be possibile to use manual shifting
and car looks like to run always in 3rd gear.

If you switch off and switch on again the problem disappear.

Be carefull that after it appear for the first time it'll reappear again till
it would be a real problem.

I got it in the beginning of july for the first time, and now after several
attempt of fixing it, the car is at service waiting for the complete change
of the gear-box mechanical and electronic.

So, take care and watch the due date of your guarantee, because in
if it's expired it'll cost around 6K Euros in order to fix-it.

Good luck !

[MRW]

Hi Ronebald

I have pasted below a response to an earlier concern of a fellow euro owner, there is a problem with these boxs and I have personally been in touch with the taxi company in london that has had this problem, do not take the offer of a reconditioned unit, with Addison Lee they didn't get out of the workshop before they had overheated.


Previous response
I notice you have a concern with you automatic gearbox, so do I. In fact I am impatiently waiting for Citroen UK to authorise my 4th autobox in 21,646 miles. The problem they have is kepping them cool. The symptoms you will experiance are, having to rev very high in order to change gear a very lumpy change down and when you choose the option to manualy change, a D for drive is still displayed where you would expect 1,2,3,4. There is a serious problem with these gearbox's, however nobody wants to take responsibility. A taxi company in London purchased 240 Fiat euros, 210 have already had a new box, some of them 4, they tend to last between 10,000 and 30,000 miles. A very expensive fault when you consider a new box supplied and fitted is £5,000. You may find that you have been suffering with these problems but just putting up with them thinking them to not be very serious, initially I did the same.

My fight continues and my car has been of the road for 3 weeks!!!!!

End of previous response

I feel we are in one of those situations where the manufacturers are hoping that such time will elapse as to iradicate themselves from any monetary lialbility. They no longer produce the box in question and are fitting a new design box into their new vehicles, 6 speed auto, I think their was an American influence with Borg Warner, although I am not sure of this

Do not back down from your dealer if you are in warranty, demand a new box or as I am, a replacement manual vehicle.


Regards



MRW

[Griso]

Hi MRW, hi all forum members
I drive a C8 2.0 petrol automatic with allmost 28000 miles on the clock. Until now I did experience a problem when the car was quite new. After a long drive (it was very hot outside) it was not possible to change gears at all when I departed from a traffic light and I had to continue with the 1st engaged for more than 30 seconds. After that short problem all was fine again.
Now, I am getting a bit concerned hearing your information, which does not sound very promising. This since my car is coming in that "end-of range" as predicted by you. What do you think, is the automatic gear box not covered under a special warranty like the engine or so?

Regards, Griso

[Ronebald]

Well
I've been 7 times to the dealer, he changed the gearbox and other stuff, he really is doing his' best, BUT I'M FED UP!!!!!!
Every morning (and afternoon) driving slowly up to the moment 'it blocks', still driving slow for the second time because it can happen again. Finally after 20 km I can accelerate.
It's a nice car but this is a disaster!!
Wrote to the dealer in Belgium but I don't think there will be much of a reply (or solution)
Why did I buy Italian? The Espace I tried wasn't that bad
And I can't sell it in this condition.

C U

Ron

Originally Posted by jimbo63

Hi folks,

as I wrote in another threads, the problem is relatively common on
Automatic Phedra after 50K Km.

What you get over the RT3 is the following message "Anomalia cambio
automatico" (Automatic gear-box malfunctioning).

After you get the massage it'd not be possibile to use manual shifting
and car looks like to run always in 3rd gear.

If you switch off and switch on again the problem disappear.

Be carefull that after it appear for the first time it'll reappear again till
it would be a real problem.

I got it in the beginning of july for the first time, and now after several
attempt of fixing it, the car is at service waiting for the complete change
of the gear-box mechanical and electronic.

So, take care and watch the due date of your guarantee, because in
if it's expired it'll cost around 6K Euros in order to fix-it.

Good luck !

[wardiessix]

Hi this is my first reply on this web site so please forgive me if I do not follow the rules accurately. I was interested to read about your auto gearbox problem.

I own a 2004 Citroen C8 2.0 HDI Auto with 30,000 miles on the clock. Recently a warning came up on the RT3 screen "automatic gearbox fault detected". Shortly after the box would not shift into top gear. Also each time a new gear was selected the car would shudder violently.

My local Dealer, Duxford Service Station in Cambridge were very supportive and did a number of things to fix the problem. The downloaded new software, changed pressure valves and other things. Unfortunately none of the attempts to fix the problem were successful. Finally Citroen agreed to supply a replacement gearbox and it was fitted under warranty. The new gearbox is working fine now.

The speed at which a new gearbox was supplied to the dealer suggest that this is not an uncommon problem.

Hope this info is helpful