Gear problem in my Mini C 2002 Automatic

Hammyman

When was the last time, if ever, you checked the gearbox fluid level? If you can't be bothered to check the coolant there's a good chance the autobox is very low as well which at best will cause gearchange problems and at worst kill the gearbox. Check the owners manual to see whether you need to check the gearbox oil with the engine running or not.

forgotmyname

CVT trasnsmission doesnt use fluid does it? Thats why i thought probably not the cooler.

vikingaero

Most CVT boxes do use fluid. You can't have a metal belt mash against the transmission cones without lube. Where a CVT has juddery problems the easiest attempt to fix is to change the CVT fluid a few times.

forgotmyname

Gearbox uses fluid like a manual box but not a pumped supply with coolers like a standard auto.

zudecke

It's difficult to illustrate the problem really.

The car starts and I move off.. No noises, no smoke, nothing and as soon as I reach about 10mph, the car sort of stutters and what "feels" like jumping gear and then it runs relatively smoothly once the speed reaches about 15-20mph.

But then you have the same problem when reducing speed/braking down to 10mph, where the car will stutter to a stop, again, almost as if it's jumping gears, or the gears aren't clicking as they should.

I know it's a CVT and, although I don't know much about gears, mechanics or cars really, the best way I can describe it is as if the chain on a pedal bicycle doesn't connect with the cog on some gears sometimes and it sort of jumps..

I think that's the best I can explain.. Again, no noises, no smoke, no stalling etc.

I've taken some pictures of the tank in the middle of the car that appears to be empty. Does anyone know what is supposed to go in this tank? Again, I don't know if the fact that it's empty is the cause or the result of the issues I'm having...





Any help gratefully appreciated, as always!

Z

zudecke

anyone care to help?

vikingaero

I'm pretty sure the tank in the middle is the MINI Coolant tank. If it's empty then you have a leak or head gasket problem which would also give rise to the judderyness. A lot of early MINI owners mixed up that tank with the windscreen washer tank which is located in the drivers side wing. On later models they put a picture of a windscreen/wiper with a cross through it embossed on the tank or as a sticker.

vikingaero

If you look on the side of that tank it should have MIN/MAX markings which means it's definitely the coolant tank.

vax2002

Thats the water header tank, look on the side it will have a min and a max line on the side of the tank , top it up when the engine is cool between the lines, take note how much water this takes.

wolfehouse

had similar and the garage changed my fluid. when that didn't work they changed the spark plugs
and all has been fine since.