2004 2.0 16v Xara Picasso Auto Gearbox Oil Top Up

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ldare2000
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2004 2.0 16v Xara Picasso Auto Gearbox Oil Top Up

Post by ldare2000 »

Hi,
I really need to top up my gearbox oil (auto box) and I've spoken to an ex Citroen Mechanic who says it's fairly easy, but as the auto box is quite rare I can't find anything really on the internet and the ex Citroen Mechanic has advised against following the stuff on the net in case it's not right. I can see he's dead right as many links on the internet say this gearbox can't be topped up so does demonstrate there's a lot of rubbish out there.

He said he thought there should be a tray under the engine bay which needs to be removed and then there's like a drain hole which has a screw inside a bolt, he said the centre screw is used to fill as the outer bolt controls the level and removing the outer screw will drain. He's not able to work on the car for me as he doesn't work on cars anymore.

Has anyone done this ? Would you have any diagrams to help me locate exactly where this bolt/screw is and how easy the job is?

Thanks
Louis
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Re: 2004 2.0 16v Xara Picasso Auto Gearbox Oil Top Up

Post by RichardW »

It shouldn't need topping up unless it's been leaking. However, if you post up the last 8 digits of the VIN I'll see if I can find the procedure.
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ldare2000
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Re: 2004 2.0 16v Xara Picasso Auto Gearbox Oil Top Up

Post by ldare2000 »

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your reply, I'll check and post when I get home.

The car is 12 years old and when cold can get unhappy and require me to pull over and switch off ignition and switch on again - then will be fine all day. The guy I know who is ex Citroen explained whilst he was there almost all of these gearboxes were recalled and reconditioned under warranty and that hopefully when cold the oil level may be slightly low etc. If it's not oil level it sounds like it's not economically viable to resolve.

Cheers
Louis
ldare2000
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Re: 2004 2.0 16v Xara Picasso Auto Gearbox Oil Top Up

Post by ldare2000 »

RichardW wrote:It shouldn't need topping up unless it's been leaking. However, if you post up the last 8 digits of the VIN I'll see if I can find the procedure.
Hi Richard, 39776282 - Looking forward to your reply.

Thanks
Louis :-)
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Re: 2004 2.0 16v Xara Picasso Auto Gearbox Oil Top Up

Post by RichardW »

Here you go. By the looks of it, there is a combined level plug . drain plug on the bottom of the box. The inner hex is the level plug and the outer hex will drain the box. I like the last line about low level :lol:

It appears to be the AL4 box - which is well known for problems with the valve block that gives gear selection problems - this can be replaced in situ and is not disastrously expensive.

Remove the oil level plug ( 3).
Distance "X" 81 mm .
4.1. Stream of oil then reducing to a sequence of drips
Refit the oil level plug ( 3) Tighten to 2,4 daN.m.
4.2. Sequence of drips or nothing
Refit the oil level plug ( 3).
Stop the engine.
Add 0,5 additional litres of oil in the gearbox.
Repeat the top-up procedure.
N.B. : The level of oil is correct when the stream of oil becomes drop by drop.
Refit the oil level plug ( 3) (equipped with a new seal) Tighten to 2,4 daN.m.
4.3. Check the oil level (continued)
Refit the filler plug ( 2) (equipped with a new seal) Tighten to 2,4 daN.m.
Too high a fluid level can cause :
Overheating of the fluid
Fluid leaks
Too low a level causes destruction of the gearbox.
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Re: 2004 2.0 16v Xara Picasso Auto Gearbox Oil Top Up

Post by Mandrake »

It should be pointed out that the oil leveling through the level plug can only be done at the correct gearbox oil temperature, which is 60 degrees, and on perfectly level ground.

And the only way to find what the oil temperature is is with a Lexia...

Also if you do an oil change (rather than just a small top up) then you also need a Lexia to reset the oil wear counter.

The service manual for the AL4 including the top up procedure and full diagrams is widely available on the internet as a PDF, here is one such download link:

http://kit-group.ru/sections/AL4%20Transmission.pdf
Simon

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