Auto Cappuccinos

[Ian Linden]

This sounds to me like gummy valve(s) in the hydraulic logic. See Fig 38.

I have done some research, and found a number of similar instances have been fixed by changing the AT fluid, and adding Sea Foam TT-16. I know it sounds like snake oil, but there are plenty of very happy bunnies in the US who have had their AT shifting problems fixed by it.

Click here

At £15.99, it's worth giving it a try, before paying £60 to £80 an hour for stripping and refurbishing the box.

[Murray Betts]

I'm with Ian on this. It's a shame you haven't been able to find an auto transmission place that really knows its stuff. Maybe they just don't want to get involved in a "one off" problem.

Bear in mind the Capp is from an era before really clever electronic gearboxes, late 1980's technology. Fluid change (and whatever filters it has) would be the very first thing, and that cleaner sounds worth a try (such trivial cost).

[Helen Bird]

The latest e-mail from Levoi's:
'Paul our tech has cleaned out the gear box and checked the servo’s etc. Sadly it hasn’t solved the problem. He could spend more time checking the feeds from the ECU, but without having a manual, this could be a bit of a task. We’re disappointed that Suzuki GB couldn’t get hold of any info as we don’t like to let cars beat us! Sorry we couldn’t do more for you.'
As the Sea Foam was available only from the US, and I was missing the Cappuccino, having had it only a couple of weeks before surrendering it for a month, I have ordered some, so can try adding it anyway later, but should be driving the car (manual style again) home at the weekend £200 worse off. Ah well. It's an import after all.

[Ian Linden]

Helen,

Assuming the box is similar to the old Swift, you might like to take a punt on this. The index shows that it includes the auto transmission. It is from the right time period.

[Ian Linden]

Helen,

Any news?

If not, there is this, which definitely includes the auto "transaxle".

[Helen Bird]

Hi Ian
Thanks for asking. It's been good to have the car back again the last couple of weeks, as there have been a couple of sunny days, and I have been about to take it out with the roof off
I'm still waiting for the Sea Foam to arrive from the US. I have got both service manual and supplement. The plan is to take it for MOT soon at my local garage (due 7th May anyway) and ask them to add the Sea Foam then to see what happens. If no joy we can try the diagnostics in the Swift manual to see what happens.
Thanks for all your help, and I will keep you posted.

[Helen Bird]

I cannot get the Sea Foam transmission treatment, as apparently it is restricted from posting into this country (perhaps because it is petroluem based?). I have bought a can of Wynn's transmission treatment which might be worth a go when they do the MOT next week. The local garage are unwilling to try any diagnostics using the Swift service manual I have, so for that I think I would have to take it back down to Colchester.

[Ian Linden]

Pity about the Seafoam, but I hope the Wynn's will help.

If not, I did a Google search for "automatic transmission specialists in Cambridgeshire", and quite a few popped up. I think that would be the way to go.

[Helen Bird]

The Wynns TSM treatment did improve the transmission. Not perfect, but better. The UK people on Ebay who sell the Sea Foam also got some more in stock, so I now have some of that too. Worth trying at the next opportunity. It also sailed through its MOT with not even one advisory

[Ian Linden]

Glad to hear it helped. I know that Americans swear by Seafoam for auto transmissions, so, if it does not continue to improve, it would be good to try it.

To satisfy my curiosity, could you describe the improvement?

[Helen Bird]

To satisfy my curiosity, could you describe the improvement?

Hi Ian
Previously from a standing start in 'drive' it would be extremely slow to get going (dangerously so at junctions / roundabouts, and especially so when cold). If I could keep just a little momentum, rather than coming to a complete stop at a junction, it was fine, and from standing I would only need to get it up to about 15mph (as long as not uphill) to be safe to put it into 'drive'.
Now it is noticeably quicker from stationary, but still not what I would expect. I'm still putting it in 'L' to be on the safe side if any other cars are anywhere in view.

[Ian Linden]

Hi Helen,

I believe it has three forward gears. It sounds like originally it could only get 3rd gear when in D, but it can now also get 2nd. Do you think that could be correct?

[Helen Bird]

I believe it has three forward gears. It sounds like originally it could only get 3rd gear when in D, but it can now also get 2nd. Do you think that could be correct?

You could be right, but (when selecting manually) while 'L' is very low, '2' is barely different from 'D', unless that is part of the problem. Having said that, I haven't tried selecting '2' since the additive. Hmmm.

[Ian Linden]

As I understand it, '2' should allow the box to start in first, change into 2nd as the speed rises, and change back to first as the speed falls - i.e.' D' without 3rd gear. The rev counter should show when it changes gear. It would be interesting to know what it does now.

[Chris da Silva]

Hello from Van Diemen's Land (more precisely, Perth).

I'm a bit concerned that Helen is having so much trouble with her auto box. Yes, it's a 3-speed unit and a scaled down one at that! So logically, regular maintenance of it should be quite routine and easily carried out by any auto gearbox specialist, right? Well, reading the thread tells me otherwise - this poor girl is having a lot of aggro about getting it to work properly. I wonder whether the previous owner has been using the correct auto gearbox oil while he still had the car... or did he top it up with ordinary [manual] gearbox oil instead which could have [possibly] gummed up all the valves in the auto box, causing Helen to drive the car "manually" to pull away from standstill ...???

That said, I looked up Auto Transmission repairers in the classified section of Classic and Sports Car magazine and came across a name: G. Whitehouse Autos Ltd (Tel: 0121 559 9800; Web: http://www.gwautos.com) in the West Midlands area. These guys (on paper!) look like they can tackle all the usual (and unusual!) types of auto gearboxes fitted to classic- and collectors' cars. (I think you will agree with me if I told you that I deem the Cappo to be "classic and collectible" ) Has anyone dealt with these fellas recently?

I must admit that I never heard of this repairer before; but it could be just another specialist/point of contact to add to the Club's list of repairers (and maybe just the ticket to finally put right all of Helen's woes with the automatic box). I still think the only way to get the box working as it should again is to remove it, strip it down and rebuild it. Auto boxes regardless of size are usually very hardy; and unless it has been mistreated/badly maintained, it should last (or even outlast) the life of the car! Putting in the Wynn's auto transmission fluid may have partially freed the sticking valves; but the valves themselves may now need replacing.

Any thoughts, please, from anyone?

[Ian Linden]

As I understand it, '2' should allow the box to start in first, change into 2nd as the speed rises, and change back to first as the speed falls - i.e.' D' without 3rd gear. The rev counter should show when it changes gear. It would be interesting to know what it does now.

Hi Helen,

Any news?