Holden Epica - Gearbox fucked?

[RELEASE]

need help for a mate. his mrs has a 2008 epica auto.

apparently she was driving home and the car stopped. starts and idles fine but doesn't move at all.
i know the epica's are a heap of shit before people make comments.
apparently 3 guys have seen it with one of them taking it to his workshop for "free" and all say the gearbox is fucked.
She paid $9K for it, they want $4.5K to fix it

i havent seen it yet nor has my mate hence why i keep saying apparently.

Anyone know what it might be? (i know lack of info means its a guessing game)
Who is best to look at it? Its in jandakot apparantly so doesnt bother me if someone nearby decent or will just have him tow it where it needs to go
Surely a second hand or a rebuild for the auto is less than $4.5K

[joshg123]

Unfortunatly, to do it properly. With fitting/oil and a converter. Its not far off the mark.

2nd hand auto's are a dangerous area, approach with caution

[Niva]

R154 for 2k, keep change

[pgc]

If she switches it off, can she then start it while in Drive or Reverse? If she can, then it'll be an electronic glitch.

[RELEASE]

Unfortunatly, to do it properly. With fitting/oil and a converter. Its not far off the mark.

2nd hand auto's are a dangerous area, approach with cautionfor a brand new one or rebuilding her one?
assume you have done a few since you know the price?

[RELEASE]

thanks Karl. Will get mate to try. i thought autos dont start in gear though?
apparently the car has only done about 50,000km so seems odd for a gearbox to go so quick

[pgc]

thanks Karl. Will get mate to try. i thought autos dont start in gear though?

That's the whole idea. It shouldn't start while a gear is selected, so if it does, there's a selector-switch issue and it's not really in gear properly (hence why it won't move).

[RELEASE]

Thanks, will give it a go.

[S85FI]

Alfred Cove Auto's in Shields Crescent, Myaree. Ask for Nigel. Owns the joint. Grumpy dude, only does Drivelines and P/S Stuff.

Has all the software to diagnose electronic boxes. Only downside, the guy is always booked out - week wait time.

Wont rip you off, does the job right, if you need a performance box.... (unlikey) he can build one too.

30 Shields Cres
BOORAGOON, WA, 6154
(08) 9330 1306

[joshg123]

for a brand new one or rebuilding her one?
assume you have done a few since you know the price?

At previous shop subletted a few, and they all end up around there. That would be rebuilding, most shops would charge me around 2500-3 depending on what it needs. Then fit it, put oil in it and perhaps a cooler if its had a blowup and the above mentioned figure is not outragous for this day and age IMO

Like the above comments mention, it could well be something else, and id explore that first by all means.

[RICEY]

These can have issues where the shift solenoid gets stuck. There are specific tests to carry out to determine whether the issue is the transmission or just the TEHCM module but they require a scan tool.

[RICEY]

<a href=http://www.filedropper.com/7b-2053ajgepatnodriveorstucksolenoid><img src=http://www.filedropper.com/download_button.png width=127 height=145 border=0/></a><br /><div style=font-size:9px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;width:127px;font-color:#44a854;> <a href=http://www.filedropper.com >file upload</a></div>

PDF with all the info ^^

[RELEASE]

Cheers Ricey.

Forgot to update this.
Had mate get the car towed back to his mrs place. Did tests that Karl said and seemed to be electric issue with the box. She called Holden customer service, explained situation, explained car only 50,000km old etc. they sent one of the dealers mobile service cars around and determined the gearbox chip/computer was fucked.
Dealer fixing it and she is only paying apparently a third of the cost which comes to $552.

Better that the $4500 quote for gearbox so all it well.
Thanks all that had good input in this thread :)

[pgc]

Glad it worked out well.