Barry
Welcome to the forum.
When you had the reverse lights working, presumably the selector lever was in R then?
That implies to me that you can move the selector lever but the tranny simply doesn't do anything.
Providing the fluid level is correct when you check it (provided that it has a tranny dipstick as not all of the E34s do!) and it doesn't smell like toast or is brown in colour..........
It could be a fault with anyone one of the gazillion components in your autobox. Yes it could be electrical or it could be hydraulic or it could be a mechanical failure inside the box.
Autobox problems are notoriously difficult to diagnose and ideally should be left for an Automatic Transmission Specialist to check out as they have all the fancy kit required to check a suspect tranny.
A faulty/clogged filter will not stop a transmission from working in the way you have described.
What was the engine doing when you were trying to engage a gear? Were the revs dipping?
Could just be a loss of fluid, no fluid no drive. Have you noticed any leaks from around the box sump. If it has a tranny fluid cooler, then check the cooler lines from the tranny block to the cooling matrix which will be either integral with the radiator (if so check the fluid unions) or a separate matrix. Check all components in this fluid circuit for leaks as you may have pumped your sump dry on the test drive and on the drive on the way home. It is not un-heard of for the tranny oil cooler pipes to corrode.
Keep us informed.
HTH
Andrew
Auto gearbox won’t engage (’93 520, 5HP18
Topic Options
bazmonaut wrote: