Isuzu Trooper Owners Club UK™

[dconnrt]

Hi,

A week ago or so my 1993 3.1TD LWB automatic trooper (a "Bighorn" import) developed a strange intermittent gearbox problem:

It feels like overdrive is kicking in and out (RPM up and down) and then the O/D light in front of the gear selector flashes on and off but it flashes on and off in a neat diagnostic type way rather than a flickering bad connection type way so I'm pretty sure it must be trying to say something.  I'm not sure if there is a pattern to the number of flashes or not.

I've been reading through posts on this forum about similar issues (and mentions of speed sensors, etc) but nothing seems quite the same (in particular the flashing O/D light).

Has anyone here come across something like this?

I'm a bit worried that my gearbox is packed in as the car is probably too old to be worth the potential gearbox replacement bill.

thanks for any help!

Derek

[Google]

[markymoan]

Check the fluid for level and colour, it should be as it comes from the bottle a nice pinky red, if its brown it needs replacing,
Some have also changed the filter in the gearbox and that worked.
Theres a thread in here with step by step instructions on how to do it.
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[dconnrt]

[markymoan]

You will have to do it several times as half is in the torque converter, you have to change whats in then run it and repeat until its the right colour, sadly thats about 2 gallons of the stuff  
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[dconnrt]

Well - I changed the auto box's ATF today and and almost used 10 Litres.  I drained and filled in 2 litre volumes and, in between, I took the vehicle for a drive up and down the road to mix up the fluid.

Initially the fluid was really dark and had a nasty smell.  After the final fill I found it difficult to get the fluid level right on the dipstick because the new fluid was, while pink, almost see-through on the dipstick.

Anyway I have no change to my "intermittent flashing O/D light" problem.  I'm also finding that the overdrive disables on its own just as if I had pressed the "O/D disable" button on the drive select.  Other wise no funny sounds or anything from the gearbox.

Is there any way to find out what the flashing O/D light means?

I am concerned by the dark ATF - until checking the other day on all previous checks the fluid had not been that dark (so maybe by auto box has some major problems).  But is there any other things (sensor faults, etc) that can cause the O/D to disable and the O/D light to flash on and off (usually for between 7 and 14 flashes).  Note: my speedo is working perfectly it would appear.

thanks,

Derek

[dconnrt]

Well - I changed the auto box's ATF today and and almost used 10 Litres.  I drained and filled in 2 litre volumes and, in between, I took the vehicle for a drive up and down the road to mix up the fluid.

Initially the fluid was really dark and had a nasty smell.  After the final fill I found it difficult to get the fluid level right on the dipstick because the new fluid was, while pink, almost see-through on the dipstick.

Anyway I have no change to my "intermittent flashing O/D light" problem.  I'm also finding that the overdrive disables on its own just as if I had pressed the "O/D disable" button on the drive select.  Other wise no funny sounds or anything from the gearbox.

Is there any way to find out what the flashing O/D light means?

I am concerned by the dark ATF - until checking the other day on all previous checks the fluid had not been that dark (so maybe by auto box has some major problems).  But is there any other things (sensor faults, etc) that can cause the O/D to disable and the O/D light to flash on and off (usually for between 7 and 14 flashes).  Note: my speedo is working perfectly it would appear.

thanks,

Derek

[giannitech]

also having this flashing O/D off light on my bighorn is this a major concern?

[richiewelsh]

Did you ever fix the "jumping out of overdrive" problem???
If so how, mine does the same....