1990 Espace automatic gearbox

[renaultsan]

Well, finally after 152100 miles, the original MJ 3 automatic box has failled. Started by losing 3rd gear and progresseddown until only first worked. That said, despite 91 F temperature outside, she did not overheat sndmsde it home thanks to the low temperature thermostat and fan switch and the bigger fan we fitted a couple of years back
We have managed to find a complete rebuild kit here in the USA for $300 and it includes all seals and plates, both friction and steel.
The car is in our workshop right now and the job will be started tomorrow and the whole job will be documented with pictures for the benefit of anybody else who may need to take on the same project. More to follow as the job progresses.

[renaultsan]

Well the box is out and the rear jalf containg the automatic bits has been dismantled. The cause of the failure was, as expected, worn out friction discs. I found a company here in USA that can supply me with a complete rebuild kit for $247 which is not bad. Luckily I have the complete MJ3 automatic box rebuild manual on pdf and the job is not as complicated as some like to make out.

Our Espace is a rare one having been fitted with the automatic at the factory, it was a special order only item when the originalowner ordered the car, it was not a generally known option in 1990.
What Renault did, was to fit the MJ3 from the Renault 25 (2.0 and 2.2 they are the same box) and to
make it fit, they cut two "ears"  off the rear transmission casing, fabricated steel mounting brackets in place of the R25 aluminium castings and used two Renault 25 V6 automatic gearbox mountings.
There is also the matter of the speedometer drive. On the R25 MJ3 it is via an electronic sensor whereas the version used in our Espace is a mechanical drive.

If anybody is interested I can e-mail a copy of the MJ 3 repair maual in pdf form,

[renaultsan]

With the gearbox out and dismantled, it was easy to see the cause of the failure, worn out friction discs, repair kit on the way

[renaultsan]

Progress,the repair kit we ordered was delivered this morning. Has everything in it to recondition the box.
Will be starting tomorrow with the rebuild seeing as it is already 3.30pm here in Louisiana.

[renaultsan]

well the box is now reassembled and back in the car. The last piece arrived today, the oil filter. The oil cooler
originally fitted by Renault at the factory had to be replaced as the connections refused to come loose. In addition, Renault located it in the top left corner of the engine coolant radiator, right in front of the top hose connection where the hottest part of the rad is due to the return from the engine to the radiator.
A new cooler kit was purchased locally for $30 and fitted in a new position. (see pictures) This locates it at a much cooler spot of the radiator, with greater airlow and right in front of the 15 inch electric cooling fan.
Hopefully tomorrow the car comes off the stands, gets new fluid and drives.

[renaultsan]

Got it all together and first test  run gave usreverse and first. Took it back in the workshop to investigate and it boiled down to a shift solenoid not wanting to work with the extra strain created by all the new parts inside the box
We had spaer  solinoids, changed them and second test run hadall the gears including manual selection of 1 and 2.

If anybody is contemplating similar MJ 3 rebuild, I can forward the Renault pdf which is a fine publication

[GrahamT]

Nice work dude. If I could find a complete set of parts, any special tools, a manual and the b gumption to do my NG3095 box, I'd give it a go now, having found the inspiration!! 

[BrianM]

Well done you
Its a great feeling when it all comes together & works. I remember fitting a citroen gbox in my jeo v6, after changing the bell housing. its documented on the site here somewhere.
Trust it all holds together.
Brian.

[Anders Dinsen]

Very well done, always great to have an Espace running again

Note, that I merged the posts on the same subject. Please keep posting about the autobox in this thread so subjects stay together. That way, others can learn from our collected experiences.

/Anders