Taxi Driver Online

I used to have a old manual FX4..BMC engine and its was a fabulous beastie, so I just bought a Fairway Lti (Auto) and drove it back from London..did fine on the motorway..slow off roundabouts but ok...no green overdrive light was on all the way back even if I pressed the little square button, but it went fine even up to 70ish....The electrics are a nightmare and I have been up to my elbows in wire fro two days sussing out various issues, although its all quite straightforward despite some horrendous bodges (so far!!!!) However............
There was a fuse on the cab floor, and a gap in the fuse box that seemed the perfect place to put it (second row down second in from the left (have no diagram) Fab!! The green light came on and went off again when I pressed the overdrive button, so I left it there and got on with what I was up to, An hour or so later I got in it to go and pick the kids up and dang..it accelerated better than before in D then got to the end of the range of the gear, coughed and spluttered, blew out loads of white smoke, refused to change up and acted like a complete bellend..I changed down to second it was happy at that, but when I tried I realised it wouldnt even click into first,,, I limped to the bus stop and got the kids then took it out again..this time I pulled out the fuse suspecting that to be the culprit and it went ok again..very sluggish and laboured though...fine once I was going but slow to accelerate..and still no first....
So any ideas??? Do I need to get a whole new gearbox..should I go ape and change it for a manual (is it easy or a nightmare..I'm a pretty ok mechanic, mostly on old lorrys and buses?) or can I fix it..i it electrical, mechanical or just plain metaphysical??? Please please!!! Any advice would be very gratefully recieved!!!!

Try changing the oil and filter inside the box, then refill to the correct level

Sounds great but what about the total lack of first? If I click down from neutral there are only two clicks..one for d and one for 2...will 1 come back with an oil change? What do the electrics affect? Thing is it'll cost me £50 or more to do an oil and filter change, if it fails I might still have to get a new gearbox but they are only £150 so would it be worth just doing the job? I reckon I could change one in an afternoon so the work is not a problem..just the cash!!!

Think about what you said.....look at your fuel filter ?

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

As Mr T says the splattering of smoke could be fuel related.Have you changed fuel filter,check for any cracks or leaks in fuel lines going to it,does it prime up if you pump it by hand.If it does turn out to be gearbox,150 quid sounds like a bargain,get me a couple while your there.

Tell him about the fuel cut out.in cab...and front..

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Start from basics. Change the gearbox oil and filter,check the fuel lines and the fuel filter too. On my fairway I've twice had the primer pump fail and let air in. The engine being reluctant to start,and then reluctant to rev. The last time after a buying a duff replacement from Midland car Spares I made up a system using an inline filter and a bulb type primer pump. Massive improvement.
There's a picture of the arrangement on this taxi forum.

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Selling Imperial tools for old cars.

Fuel system fine..will get a service shortly but revs lovely in neutral and starts first time on the button..I sussed the fuel cutoff buttons as I downloaded a drivers and workshop manual. The spluttering i think is just cos it got to its max speed in first gear without the gearbox changing up and it was pretty cold..I have since read others have probs with it changing out of first in drive when cold so tomoz I will take it for a run to warm it up and have another go.....

It's a common problem to not change properly when cold.A change of fluid and filter can't do any harm.

It might be ok on tickover ...but whats it like at higher revs..does it splutter..

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Have been busy the past couple of days but I will give it a razz today and see how it goes..still the fact it wont go into first at all seems a bit odd, even if the rest could be solved with a good service.. I will change all the filters and blast some decent injector cleaner through it anyway as it is a little sluggish..but not smoky even when very cold....

ok..gave it a warm up and a razz...goes ok but does splutter at high revs so a service is gonna be a sooner rather than later thing....still does the weirdness with the fuse in though...wont change up in normal or overdrive...pull the fuse up and it accelerates through the gears slowly...no kickdon at all though..and wont even select 1st

I seem to remember that they have a problem with a cable that seizes up and stops it going into first

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

My old fairway is slow to change when cold and always has been,it seems less reluctant though with the overdrive turned on.

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Selling Imperial tools for old cars.

Still waiting for service kits and filters but shes getting better the more shes used....Was wondering is comma AMQ ok to use in the gearbox? Says Dexron 3 on some threads and it says amq on the motor factor's computer..but amq says its equivalent to dexron II or IID Anyone have any ideas?