C3 Xtr Sensodrive Problems?

[Feva1]

My wifes got a 54reg 1.4i 16v XTR with Sensodrive, and when her cars cold and she sets off the auto gears are very sluggish :) , when the auto changes the gears from 1st to 2nd the car will hardly move until you put your foot right down on the accelerator and then it changes back down into 1st and surges forward :ph34r:

When the cars warmed up this problem goes away just wondering if anyone else has had the same thing happen to them? and have got any solutions?

 

Cheers

[smokescreen]

As none of the experts have answered I'll have a go.

 

My 1.4HDI SX Sensodrive C3 is marginally slower first thing to change gear in auto mode but not as bad as yours sounds. I suggest that it needs looking at.

 

Regards

 

Smokescreen

 

55Reg C3 1.4 HDI SX Sensodrive

[daffy4895]

i'm not to sure why the gear box is sluggish, but when the accelerator is pressed right down in an auto box, you will engage 'kick down' if the car is in the correct rev range it will drop a gear as it believes you need more power to do a manoeuvre, i.e climb a hill or over take someone this is a normal feature of all auto boxes. i would get it looked at, as suggested because it is sluggish

[Feva1]

I know the gearbox is engaging the kick down feature when i floor the accelerator, the car its self is not sluggish its just the gear change when cold in auto :angry:

but its fine once the cars warmed up.

its in for a service shortly will mention it again had it looked at before but was told there was nothing wrong.

its a great car apart from this little problem.

[smokescreen]

Just a thought, is there any difference if you change gear manually instead of using automatic when cold? That would allow you decide if it is an auto change function or the gearbox.

 

Smokescreen

[Feva1]

If you use the manual gear change it gives you a much better control, it's almost as if the auto wants to change gear from first into second to early and then once it's in second it's too high a gear, i know it sounds daft second being to high a gear.

It's just strange that once it's warm that it's ok, I was thinking of changing the gearbox oil for a better quality oil?

you would think if it's a gearbox fault that it would be there all the time?

 

cheers smokescreen.

[smokescreen]

I have too have experienced your situation but only when starting off with an immediate climb up a fairly steep hill. However, the HDI diesel engine has so much torque at low revs the car copes very well when the computer changes gear seemingly too early. With the petrol engine it looks like you will need some forethought - to give the accelerator some welly to ensure the up-change occurs when the engine rpm is in the max torque rev band. I hope this helps.

 

Regards

 

Smokescreen

 

55reg C3 1.4 HDI Sensodrive