Vauxhall Omega Estate 2.2 Y22XE - Auto Gearbox fault | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Fri 10 Sep 2010 19:28

Vauxhall Omega Estate 2.2 Y22XE - Auto Gearbox fault - Paul K

please excuse my ignorance on these matters.... I have a 2.2 Auto fully loaded CDXi Omega ESTATE registered Oct '99 on a V plate with cruise control which I am reliably informed by the local Vauxhall dealer has a Y22XE engine (matched also in service booklet data) .... my gearbox has recently developed a problem ..... from cold it seems to take a long time to change from 1st to second then when the engine gets to 3500 rpm the orange engine management light comes on and the onboard computer dash screen states "automatic gearbox, check" - after registering this fault code the gearbox goes into "limp home" mode. My local trusted mechanic (who is not vauxhall main dealer and does not have access to a vauxhall diagnostic reader) is telling me that he has checked the fault code data with his machine and it would appear to him that the gearbox needs replacing as the fault is mechanical not electronic.

I have recently spent about £800 replacing the entire exhaust system, including a cracked manifold, the mass air flow meter, the throttle position potentiometer and new tyres... I am therefore now in two minds whether to cut my losses and sell the car for spares/repair or spend even more money on this car replacing the gearbox ???? I have seen an auto gearbox advertised for a 2.2 auto with a code number Z22XE ............. is this the matching gearbox to the Y22XE engine ??? Also is there any other possible reason(s) for the gearbox to register these faults

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Fri 10 Sep 2010 21:11

Vauxhall Omega Estate 2.2 Y22XE - Auto Gearbox fault - Dutchie

Hello Paul i reckon your car wil have done a fair milage and is problably due for a new or reconditioned gearbox.Usually when a car gets older cost will rise and it becomes make up your mind time.You could ring a auto box specialist and give the number you mentoned if it matches your engine.Or take the car to a vauxhall dealer to use their diagnostic reader if you want to make sure about the fault.I think your mechanic knows.

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Sat 25 Sep 2010 10:19

Vauxhall Omega Estate 2.2 Y22XE - Auto Gearbox fault - Paul K

Update for anyone that can offer advice ....... PLEASE ..... I have found out from Vauxhall that the codes previously mentioned all relate to engine types, the gearbox does not have any specific reference code ..... what they have told me is that the gearbox is a 4 speed sealed unit that requires no maintenance and if it has a fault is a specialist remove and repair/replace.

So armed with my new knowledge on a nice sunny day I went to a auto transmission specialist (?) he linked his fault reader to the car and told me there were so many faults recorded that he doubts it is the box as it is almost unheard off for all the part failures/faults to be recorded at the same time. So he cleared all fault codes and asked me to drive up the road and come back with some new fault codes .......................... Guess what .... car drove perfectly, smooth as ever, fast acceleration, sport mode, I tried everything that previously had resulted in "limp home" mode...... nothing. And this continued for the next three, dry, sunny, warm days (note weather!) then yesterday it was raining and yes you have guessed it, 5 minutes down the road, the car jolted slightly (almost like an engine misfire) and up popped the engine management light & message "automatic gearbox check" and into "limp home mode". This time though I tried something different.... switched off, removed key. Switched back on still in limp home mode so drove it using manual changes....... worked perfectly apart from very slight jolt between 1st & 2nd but it got me to the nearest petrol station, switched off, removed key and went for a much needed coffee. Returned to car, started up ..... no lights or message so thought I try my luck, into D, worked perfectly for the hour drive home in various types of traffic and dual carraigeway driving? This morning (still wet after overnight rain) switched on ignition, the engine management light stayed on and before I had even moved the "auto gearbox check" message popped up on the screen.

I am now seriously doubting any mechanical fault, but can anyone offer any suggestions, please as to where or what part I may focus my attention on.

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Sat 25 Sep 2010 16:03

Vauxhall Omega Estate 2.2 Y22XE - Auto Gearbox fault - wickerman

Hi Paul, Your problem is the selector unit on the side of the gearbox itself and can be a diy fix, remove unit , open ,clean out old grease relubricte and reasemble . The sliding contacts get tarnished and don,t know what you have selected and go into safety mode.This used to be known as " The vauxhall flashing s of doom" Hope this helps

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Tue 28 Sep 2010 14:14

Vauxhall Omega Estate 2.2 Y22XE - Auto Gearbox fault - RaineMan

I hope Wickerman's suggestion works. My Omega Estate had similar problems bur t got so erratic it had to be recovered to the local Vauxhall dealer. With some other minor work it absorbed another £800. It was rather a bottomless pit and I spent more on repairs and servicing than depreciation. In June it went for re-cycling!

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Tue 28 Sep 2010 17:08

Vauxhall Omega Estate 2.2 Y22XE - Auto Gearbox fault - injection doc

I used to change selector switches almost on a daily basis for all sorts of faults on Omega's.

Has the box had a replacement filter screen & Oil ? sometimes when the oil degregates or the filter is restricted it will cause problems when cold.

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Fri 30 Dec 2011 11:36

Vauxhall Omega Estate 2.2 Y22XE - Auto Gearbox fault - oobuc5

the fault does not have to be in the box on a chip car ,one bloke was looking at replacing his gm box when a bloke checked the egr valve after a clean up and and a zero for obe it ran like a rolls , if its done some miles you should drop the gearbox sump clean the filter and the pan anyway ,as for sealed for life thats b*****, the fluid needs to changed at 30,000 miles anyway here speaketh a 135,000 mile gm owner.

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