The car changes from first to second o.k.
When changing from second to third there is an "over-rev" and after 10 seconds or so in third the service light comes on and I'm stuck in "limp home" mode.
If I stop the car and restart the light goes off but the same thing happens when it changes from second to third.
I have changed the gearbox oil, I got about 3.5 litres out of the sump and I added 3.5 litres back in per Haynes manual. This didn't fix it.
Is it possible that the clutch is slipping due to lack of oil ? The Haynes manul says"From dry" 4.6 litres, "drain and fill" 3.5 litres. Would it do any further harm to add an additional 0.5 litres?
I had the car at a Renault dealers for a diagnostic test before when the car was doing the same thing more than a year ago and they said I needed a new gearbox. I later found out that vent pipes from the crankcase to the airfilter were blocked with yellow "goo" and when this was cleared the apparent gearbox problem cleared-up!! So I'm a bit sceptical about the auto gearbox expertise of my local renault dealer!!!
Thanks.

Ian Ringland, January 2006

Thanks Richard. As the car would be worth £450 if it was in good condition and I'm looking at probably £500 worth of work (assuming I could source a 2nd hand/ reconditioned box as new ones seem to be approx. £1000!!!), it looks like the cars a gonner.
Just passed it's MOT 2 weeks ago and has served me well for 7 years. Oh well!
Thanks again, Ian

Ian Ringland, February 2006

Hello sounds like a very common problem i see a lot on this type of car with that type of gearbox.
If it was low on oil it would not pick up drive or reverse properly or pull away from a stop.
The common problems are the valve body wears out,they brake a sealing ring inside the gearbox causing oil pressure leak off making it slip or flare on the 2 to 3 up-shift,they also break the ruuber moulded pistons that apply the wet clutch,s for the gears.
So from what you say with out see,ing the car i would say your gearbox is faulty and needs re-conditioning or replacing im afraid.
Richard Butler
rbtransmissions@aol.com

Richard, January 2006