Vauxhall Corsa auto - automatic does not engage reverse unless revved

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Wed 9 Nov 2011 19:59
Vauxhall Corsa auto - automatic does not engage reverse unless revved - imsol

My wife's ancient V reg Corsa automatic is pretty reliable for it's age and regularly goes up and down the M1 between Herts and Yorks. About 70k on the clock

Occasionally when engaging reverse it refuses to move without a quick flip on the accelerator after which it performs normally. Unfortunately this is an unwise move in a car park.

From cold on a level surface it always moves off in reverse OK but then it is fast-idling at that time. Forward gears are fine.

Is this a case of a sticky valve or solenoid or is it symptomatic of something more serious (and expensive) in the box?

John

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Thu 10 Nov 2011 03:27
Vauxhall Corsa auto - automatic does not engage reverse unless revved - 1litregolfeater

Hazarding a guess, the clutch plate has worn down a bit causing the auto gearbox to need adjusting.

Or maybe the clutch is just worn out

Cue for more knowledgeable Corsa Auto specialists to disagree with me.

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Sun 13 Nov 2011 16:20
Vauxhall Corsa auto - automatic does not engage reverse unless revved - imsol

I am still try ing to debug this fault and have been reversing up all the hills in the district this afternoon to get more information.

After engaging reverse, the car will not proceed but just run down the hill. I tried holding the car on the footbrake until there was a noticeable drop in engine speed and a change in the engine noise, Releasing the foot-brake at this point, the car simply reversed up slight hills but not up a very steep one. So I do not think it is so much a worn quadrant as suggested by AHJ but a slow response from the box itself- ? clutch or brake-band slippage? Or could it be a slow valve actuation?

Forward gear operation is quite normal- given it's age, I am reluctant to scrap the vehicle as any dismantling or replacement is inevitably going to be very expensive; as a pensioner I'd prefer to fix it though. has anyone any ideas?

imsol

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