Rules of operation of automatic transmission AL4

Many French automakers switched to the use of automatic transmissions. The percentage of cars equipped with automatic transmission in the European market - more than 50. And it affected even cars of budget class. Now the automatic gearbox AL4 is installed on these cars. What is this transmission, what are the features of its operation and problems? About all this - later in our article.

Characteristic

Automatic transmission AL4 can be found on such cars as Peugeot, Citroën and Renault. This transmission is a four-stage "automatic". Initially it was labeled as DP0. AL4 automatic transmission has been constantly upgraded and now it is possible to meet such modifications as 4HP and BVA. All of them were installed on budget cars, such as the Peugeot 206-407 series, Citroën, starting with the C-2 and finishing with the C-5 model. Also it was equipped with "Reno Scenic". The box underwent considerable modernization in 2004. During the operation, she received a lot of conflicting reviews of motorists. Some say that repairs are reduced to oil replacement, others have big problems with solenoids and valves, the replacement of which delivers many difficulties and money costs.

Rules of operation

Every car owner tries to look after his car. And if the engine is very clear (this is a regular replacement of oil and filters), then what to do with the automatic transmission AL4? You also need to change the oil here. But the rules of operation are not confined to replacing consumables.

Warming up

As well as the engine, the AL4 automatic gearbox needs warming up. In the electronic system this function is provided. However, experienced motorists advise to further warm up this transmission. Regardless of temperature and weather conditions, the gearbox should be heated for at least 5 minutes. It is not necessary to hold the lever in the "Parking" position. At the beginning of the movement, you must avoid aggressive driving and sudden acceleration. Do not keep the box often in sports mode.

About oil

French manufacturers say that the automatic transmission AL4 is a maintenance-free box, and the term of oil change is not regulated. However, this is not at all the case. This lubricant is used differently than in manual transmissions. The fact is that the MKPP contains a crankcase filled with oil. The box is half full. When the gears move, the transmissions rotate, they need lubrication. Thus, they are kind of "wetted" in the crankcase and only then come into contact with the working part of the other teeth. The oil here does not overheat, although it also serves as a heat sink. As for automatic transmissions, here this liquid is "working". It performs the function of grip and transmission of torque from the engine to the wheels. On mechanical, friction discs are used. At the heart of the "automatic" is a torque converter, or the so-called "bagel". Inside it there are impellers - small turbines. When rotating, they are connected to each other and at the expense of oil transfer power to the engine. Thus, the temperature of the lubricant is colossal here. Oil is under heavy loads. Therefore, unlike the "mechanics", the automatic transmission AL4 requires regular replacement of the lubricant. Motorists say that it should be changed once in 40 thousand kilometers. If you buy a used car and doubt the regularity of the maintenance of the automatic transmission, it is recommended to flush the mechanism. The oil volume for this operation is about 15 liters (for several cycles). The box itself is filled with 4 liters. As a rule, working off always has black color, and on a crankcase there are traces of development - small metal shaving. The smaller, the better. It is also necessary to change the filter. Below we will talk about the problems that arise when operating such cars.

Emergency operation and error P1167

This is one of the most common mistakes with the AL4 box. The main symptoms are characteristic attacks in the automatic transmission at the beginning of the movement. The transmission is in emergency mode and includes a third gear. The Gearbox Faulty error appears on the dashboard. It usually disappears when the ignition is switched off and on again. However, the box does not stop kicking when driving. The reason for this is the low pressure of the automatic transmission AL4. It may differ from the one set by the computer by 1-1.5 bar. Perhaps this is due to the low oil level in the transmission. This is due to leaks due to the weakened attachment of the hydraulic unit.

How to eliminate?

If such symptoms occur, check the box for leaks. If the mileage of the car is more than two hundred thousand, you need to inspect the condition of the heat exchanger. Also, in old cars, the oil pressure spread is caused by a faulty or contaminated hydraulic unit. The solution is disassembly and washing of the element. After this, errors are cleared and a new gear oil is poured. It is worth noting that for AKPP it has a different viscosity. Do not pour grease on it, intended for "mechanics". If disrepair reveals traces of working and contamination, after 1 thousand kilometers, it is necessary to re-oil and re-check the level of its pressure in the hydraulic unit.

It is impossible to translate the gear selector from position "P"

If the box lever is not moved from Parking mode when the brake pedal is depressed, and when it is released, the drive mode is activated and the fault is lit, most likely it is connected to the brake system. It is necessary to scan the car for errors. There is a problem with ABS and ESP. The cause of the failure is a poor contact or an open circuit in the wiring of the brake pedal switch. Also, the "terminator" may be defective. The solution is to replace the element or the wiring of the switch (if the problem is in poor contact).

Error P0730

She talks about clutch slip. It can occur both on the heated box and on the "cold" one. Symptoms - shock transmission and transition to emergency mode. Sometimes when driving, the engine speed is floating (the accelerator pedal is still in the same state). This is the effect of the towing clutch. In this case, the AL4 solenoid valve is out of order. Also the breakdown of the hydraulic unit is possible. Further movement on such a car is prohibited, since there is a risk of breaking the tape brake "bagel". This malfunction usually occurs on older vehicles and is solved by replacing the valve and pulling the hydraulic unit. As in the previous cases, after the repair, a new oil is poured into the transmission and the AL4 sensors are checked for the spread of the oil pressure.

How not to overheat?

It is important not only to heat this box, but also not to use it at high temperatures. What is required for this? If you are standing in a traffic jam for more than 30 seconds, do not be lazy to move the lever from the "Drive" position to "Neutral". Do not hold your foot on the brake for a long time, since box faults may occur with this system.

About the sensor

When using vehicles with the AL4 box, there are problems with the oil pressure sensor. Its error according to factory requirements is 0.001 bar. This means that at the slightest fatigue of the sensor, it starts to "lie" and outputs an error to the control unit. Because of this, the box starts to work poorly. If you find a fault in time, you can meet a relatively small price - $ 100. This is the cost of the new oil pressure sensor. Further operation of the vehicle with a faulty component is prohibited, as this can lead to problems with the solenoid.

Brake Tape Malfunction

With frequent oil pressure surges (which may be caused by a sensor failure), a breakdown of the brake band occurs. Many motorists come to the conclusion that it is cheaper to order a spare part "on disassembly". However, most of the AL4 transmissions, which are "parsed", are far from in perfect condition. Almost all of them have exhausted their resource. Also note that this box has been constantly modified. The type of pressure regulator changed, the software. By the way, software on the first models of this box was of poor quality, because of what it often beat out a mistake. The solution is software overfilling, replacement with a newer one. But there is one feature. After 2004, the box has been substantially modified, and when reprogramming it is necessary to take into account the year of release of its car.

Watch the oil level

When the level is insufficient, there are variations in pressure. As a consequence - the occurrence of one of the previous errors. Once every 10 thousand kilometers, it is necessary to check the oil residue inside the transmission. Each box has a probe with marks MAX and MIN, and on the reverse side - NOT and COLD. Perform a check on the heated transmission. It is enough 10 kilometers to return it to normal operating mode. When checking, the car should not be tilted. Also it can not be silenced - the dipstick is removed on the working engine, at the position of the selector "P". If the level is insufficient, you need to return it to the maximum mark. Do not mix transmission oils. Therefore, the best solution is a complete oil change. It is expensive, but so you will protect yourself from other breakdowns.

Finally

Thus, the rules of operation of this transmission are reduced to a regular oil change and pre-heating of the elements before the beginning of the car's movement. If there are any errors, or if the box is in emergency mode (the third gear), it is not recommended to continue driving on its own. Also, you can not overheat the oil. This is not the best way to affect the electronics. The normal oil temperature inside the AL4 automatic box is 75-90 degrees Celsius. If you follow all the rules of operation, the resource of this transmission will be more than 300 thousand kilometers. However, if you ignore the warming up and the new oil, the replacement of the automatic transmission AL4 will be inevitable.

So, we found out what features this box has, how to properly operate it and repair it in the event of a breakdown.