Verada KJ wave spring 4 speed auto transmission rebuild problem

[Pombonted]

Hi,

I had the wave spring go in my 4 speed auto transmission in my 2001 KJ Mitsubishi Verada. I found an Auto-Trans place that offered a warranty on a good repair i.e rebuilding and/or replacing everything back to the wave spring. They offered a 12mth or 24,000km warranty.

The car came home fine but after several weeks it would not go into "Drive" of a morning when the car was cold. I called the Company and they told me to check the trans fluid. I did and it was way below the low mark. He said to bring it back in. I did and he filled it and drove it and it seemed fine. He did admit that it could not have burned through that transmission fluid in that short time, so clearly it was not filled up properly after it was repaired.

I brought it home and it continues to not go into drive when cold. I have to sit and rev it and change gears a thousand times and wait 5 to 10 mins before it will engage. It's only doing it with the "drive", reverse seems to engage. Can anyone tell me what the issue might be please? I'm taking it back under warranty but just want to be a little clued up before I do, so that I can deal with any issues.

Thanks in advance.

[mcs_xi]

Check for leaks at the radiator

[Ensoniq5]

Have you checked the fluid level again?

[Pombonted]

Check for leaks at the radiator

How would that affect the trans?? I'm pretty sure it's ok but will check but I park on concrete so I would have noticed leaking oil or water. I don't think it was filled up once it was put back together but I don't know how that would affect the transmission not moving into drive. Once it's warm it's generally ok. Unless it has another chance to sit for a very long time. I'm confused???

[Pombonted]

I did several times and it didn't seem to move.

[Ensoniq5]

Ok, I just wanted to verify that leaking fluid could be eliminated, which it can be. That's pretty much the end of my knowledge of auto transmissions (ie. no fluid = no go), hopefully someone with better auto-fu can help

[Madmagna]

Transmissions do not "burn" through fluid at all, there is no combustion in the transmission at all

The issue you have is most likely a sticky solenoid when cold, I see this quite often with cheaper rebuilds, a little bit of grit gets into the fluid circuit and then is all over. When it is warm it then expands and the solenoid operates normally

You need to take this back to the place that did the work and simply tell them to fix it.

Also, this is the AWD forum not the FWD forum, yours should be in the third gen section, may get more attention then

[Pombonted]

Ok many thanks I will move the thread. I've also been told that because it was running with little or no transmission fluid it could have wrecked the clutch pack or run the pump dry and would need to be rebuilt. Is that a real concern and will it need to be rebuilt??

[ADM]

As Madmagna said, take it back to the transmission place, discuss with them the potential solenoid issues & also mention concerns over potential clutch pack damage from low fluid level (yes it's a legitimate concern)
They've given you a warranty, so take it back & tell them to find what the problem is and fix/rebuild the transmission as per their warranty, given that they gave you back the car with low transmission fluid levels which was no fault of your own.
Also, ask them what transmission fluid did they use? Magna auto transmissions have been known to play up when using anything but genuine Mitsubishi Diamond SP3 auto trans fluid. It's very reasonably priced and is the best type to use.