The DeLorean Owners Club UK Forum

Does anyone have a spare set of auto tranny solenoid valves in good working order?
Old, or new, it doesnt matter. So-long as they're in good shape and work ok?

Thanks

Pictures of my current ones for Rich to see


LARGE IMAGE http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/1.jpg


LARGE IMAGE http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/2.jpg


LARGE IMAGE http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/3.jpg


LARGE IMAGE http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/4.jpg


LARGE IMAGE http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/5.jpg

Paul, have you tried putting 12v across the wires to see if they move in or out? Do they work ie the solenoid moves in or out?

Maybe someone has some info about the solenoids and maybe they could be rewound in a similar fashion to the central locking solenoids.

I wonder if an auto gearbox specialist can cross reference this to the renault alpine gearbox or similar !

Ive tried that nick. Neither of them make any noise whatsoever. Which is very weird. They're not standard solenoids, but solenoid valves. It looks as if the copper ball inside gets moved from one end to the other, but I didnt see anything like that happening. Yet, when I put it all back together again with new o-rings (Not the right size either), it all worked as before without first gear!

OK, from the photos I think I've sused out how these work

You need to blow into the end with the O ring on it. I'm not sure how hard though.

It appears they release fluid from the valve body under pressure. I assume when they activate they open up. Or perhaps they close up.

Either way, the only mechanical moving part will be the tiny valve inside which probably doesn't move at all until it's under pressure.

Maybe the valve is blocked? The O rings just provide a seal against fluid leaking past the valves I guess.

Good batting thinkman!

That certainly seems very plausable. Could do with a squeezy bottle full of transmission fluid, some tie wraps (or zip ties as the Americans say), a piece of flexi pipe and a 12v supply for the test rig. I'll give this a try during the week sometime.

Looking at the photos now, it does seem like they're both sat in different possitions (The internal balls I mean). (If thats what they are) Whether that means anything or not I dont know.

My god there's alot of supposition here!

Hope you're right Rich.
On the other hand, I may have the record for the most amount of Transmission Fluid changes in 6 months! lol :lol:

Its just one of those parts of the car that most people never see or know much about.

Birksie Wrote:Ive tried that nick. Neither of them make any noise whatsoever. Which is very weird. They're not standard solenoids, but solenoid valves. It looks as if the copper ball inside gets moved from one end to the other, but I didnt see anything like that happening. Yet, when I put it all back together again with new o-rings (Not the right size either), it all worked as before without first gear!

Paul, can you make up a temp setup where you can change the wiring so swapping the solenoids over electrically?

This way if your computer is selecting second then it will in fact operate first. I am assuming from the workshop manual that 1 solenoid operates first and the other operates second and no solenoids operating selects third. (Assuming that both solenoids are NOT operating together to make 1st or 2nd).

If it does operate 1st gear then goes to third then it would be the computer.

Just a thought.

Nick.

I was going to phisically change the solenoids around. That way, if it is a solenoid problem (From Drive) I would get only get third gear.

Explaination: (SV=Solenoid Valve)

Both energised=1st
Im currently getting only second, which means only SV2 is energised. If I were to swap these round (presuming SV1 is innoperative) there would be neither working. Hence third.

Only SV2 Energised=2nd
Again if Valve1 isnt working, all I would get is second, but if they were swapped round, Id have neither working. Hence third.

Neither energised=3rd
Whatever the case, third should always work.

Im a bit weiry about swapping them round though, as there is no gear sequence available for SV1 energised and SV2 off. Ive no idea what would happen.

If swapping them round gives any other result apart from third gear (assuming this works), then id imagine both solenoids are working fine and it must be a blockage problem in front of one of the solenoids or the main valve body.

OR.......The computer is still knackered. But we need a test rig for this, even though ive had all the components replaced, there's no guarantee its 100%.

Im dizzy, im going to lye down.

Grrrrr. Another day at it.

As most of you know, I use my DeLorean as a daily driver, so it has to be in GWO. Pfff, Tsssk Tut ! Yeah right!

I got to work today only to find transmission fluid had poored all over the road. Luckily there wasnt too much wasted, and I had enough to get me home (only 1 mile away). I had over filled the gearbox anyway.

I got home and decided to yet again strip the whole thing apart again. But seeing as I was late out of work, I didnt have much natural daylight left, so I had to get a move on.

I started by emptying the Auto trans sump, then removing the sump itself, only to find my gasket was totally shot, hence the aweful mess.

I took this opertunity to remove the solenoid valves once again.
I have circled where they have been removed from.

Larger Image http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/10.jpg

I decided to take the oversized O-Rings off the solenoid valves, as I was getting some strange gear changing! And replace the originals.

Larger Image http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/11.jpg

Knowing that there could be a problem with one of these things, I decided to "Blow" in one end of the solenoid valve to see what would happen.
Apart from getting a gob full of DextronIII, I found air passed straight through the solenoid, until I lightly touched the copper ball at the back. Thats when it performed like a valve, and stopped me blowing through it.

Larger Image http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/12.jpg

I did the same with the other one, and found it was blocked. So I attached a piece of hose to the o-ring side of the solenoid, and filled the pipe with WD40. I proceeded to blow down the pipe whilst intermittently tapping the copper ball at the back. Eventually it seemed to free up some what. Now.... I was hoping this would work. So I put them back into place.

Larger Image http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/13.jpg

It was then, I realised, my gasket !!!!
Damn, id have to improvise.
I had a tube of orange instant gasket which I thought would work by itself. I put an adequate amount of sealant around the sump lid and fastened the whole unit back up. I gave the sealant a few minutes to cure then began to top the tranmission back up with DIII.

Done at last...................until............I see all the fluid Ive just put in, running past my feet !!!! Arrrrrgh.

Drain, and remove AGAIN!
By this time its nearly 11PM!
I needed a solution FAST. I took a tip from someone I know, and decided to have a go at making a temporary gasket from a cardboard box!

I spent plenty of time on it, and made sure everything was as close to the original gasket size, as possible.

Upon finishing the cutout, I coated both sides of the cardboard with silicone sealant.

Larger Image http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/14.jpg

Then with my finger, made sure it was evenly spread.

I put it all back together again, and..............................it still leaked !!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
DONT TRY THIS AT HOME !!!! :lol:

Larger Image http://www.aqzj73.dsl.pipex.com/solenoids/15.jpg

It always goes wrong when you need your car the most!
I have a payed hire to attend on Sunday. I've sold my business, and start my new job in Sheffield City Center on Monday. Typical! LOL

Anyway, I put my car back on my drive with loads of cardboard down and a sink bowl under the sump.

Looks like Im walking to work tomorrow !

Lend me your D Nick

LESSON FOR TODAY.... There's right tools and right parts for the right job. Dont skimp!

Dont suppose you have any pan gaskets do you Dan?

Hi Jan
From memory (Without looking in the manual), Reverse has neither solenoids energised (same as third gear I think). But reverse is also mechanical and has a direct link from the stick to the gearbox.

Oh yes,

The red river of ATF is great and it smells so nice to, NOT!

Yep they can be a b*stard to seal. We had one that was leaking out of the dipstick tube and took ages to seal.

I have an auto box in the workshop Paul, I cant rember if it changed ok but I'll have a look for you today.

Dan

Nice one

Wouldn't it be better to get nice new ones rather than inherit any problems from a non-known working gearbox?

It would probably same time and effort in the long run.

It probably would save time and effort, but I need a solution before Saturday, even if its temporary. After that, I'll go ot and buy all new bling bling.

Should be-able to afford it with my new job now! lol :lol:

if ed uding has them n stock he can send them overnight - he did with my hub and bearing

NickT Wrote:if ed uding has them n stock he can send them overnight - he did with my hub and bearing

And dont forget to buy another Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Gasket