406 2.0SV Automatic --- No reverse!

[enfant1996]

Hello-
this board is my last chance really...

I have an 10.2000 Peugeot 406 2.0 SV with an automatic gearbox. No gearbox problems so far. (190,000 km) The car never had any accidents or any issues (outside a terrible calculation of mileage remaining on the gas tank from the onboard computer.)

Last week while on trip with the family, the reverse started becoming increasing hard to engage. This means I would need to push the gas pedal really hard before I could move to the reverse direction. Finally after 4 days it has failed completely (I go to 7000rpm without anything moving.) No issues on the moving forward; all settings work: 1,2,3,D,N,P and "Sport" and "Snow".

Peugeot says the problem is the automatic gearbox that they can change at a cost of 7,000CHF plus labor. This is more than the remaining value of the car in Switzerland.

An outside expert on automatic (apparently quite reputed) is offering two options:
1. without removing the automatic gearbox, he will do something (not sure exactly what) that will make the reverse work. However I am cautioned that any problems inside the automatic gearbox will still be there and can face on other occasion(s). Estimated cost ~900CHF.
2. complete revamping of the automatic gearbox (i.e. removing it from the car, disassemblying, cleaning, fixing, putting it together and back into the car) for ~3,800CHF.

I would appreciate any input or advices! Thank you,

enfant1996

[steve_earwig]

How much?!! I'm not sure what the price of cars is like in Switzerland but that does seem a bit extreme.

Did you try changing the oil yet?

[enfant1996]

No I did not try to change the oil but why would this help? I mean shouldn't the oil affect all positions of the gearbox and not just the reverse one?

I am told that the remaining value of my car is ~3,000CHF (sell to a garage) or 3,800CHF (sell to an individual.) So paying 3,800 CHF to revamp the auto gearbox is out of the question and the 900CHF quick-n-dirty is somewhat appealing....

I'd appreciate any input...

best,
enfant1996

[steve_earwig]

Two reasons - firstly because the old oil will have thinned, what it sounds like to me is the pump isn't producing enough pressure to run the gear properly so thicker oil might help

Secondly 'cos there's damn else you can do to it

Quick-n-dirty sounds like a winner to me too

[swiss]

Well if your cost estimates are accurate, your options are a) scrap the car b) sell the car for parts c) gamble the 900 Fr ^_^

Selling the car for parts can be very lucrative if you have the time, inclination and an Ebay account.

[Welly]

Quick-n-dirty maybe the cost of clearing the fault codes, an oil change and replacing the shift solenoid(s)?

Although I have no idea how much 900CHF's are in Gordon Brown Pounds

[steve_earwig]

900.00 CHF = 575.798 GBP

[highlander]

From http://chf.cer24.com/gbp:

Swiss Franc British Pound Rate

900.0 CHF = 576.211459007 GBP

[Welly]

Well pardon me all over the place

[mjb]

Last week while on trip with the family, the reverse started becoming increasing hard to engage.

Standard first answer to ANY auto box problem is "change the gearbox oil, and make sure the level's perfect". It does solve a lot of problems with these things, and it's VERY cheap and easy compared to the alternatives!

Peugeot says the problem is the automatic gearbox that they can change at a cost of 7,000CHF plus labor. This is more than the remaining value of the car in Switzerland.

Do you have small independent garages in .ch? If so, use one - they'll be a LOT cheaper, and probably able to fit a 2nd hand gearbox for under 1/10th the price of a dealer would sell you a new one for