Eunos auto question

[Xtriple129]

Just bought a 96 (P) Eunos Auto 1.8. In front of the gearlever there is a little switch that seems to be sprung loaded. Any ideas what this is for?

I don't mean the switch on the gearlever itself but the one just in front of it.

Many thanks for your help.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Photo?

[Digby]

It's not the button to hold it in gear or to turn overdrive on/off is it? Never been in an auto, so am not even sure where they are located or what they look like!

[dg45]

It's just to allow you to take it out of park without the key in the ignition .
Think the only time I ever used it was when changing the stereo to move the gear lever out the way .

[Xtriple129]

dg45 said:

It's just to allow you to take it out of park without the key in the ignition .
Think the only time I ever used it was when changing the stereo to move the gear lever out the way .

Thanks for that. I was hoping that it was a "sports" setting or something. I don't like the way the O/D drops in and kills the power and if you turn off the O/D then it loses fourth gear as well, or is it just O/D and then lock-up?

[VeeFour]

Xtriple129 said:

Thanks for that. I was hoping that it was a "sports" setting or something. I don't like the way the O/D drops in and kills the power and if you turn off the O/D then it loses fourth gear as well, or is it just O/D and then lock-up?

They're a 4 speed box, so 4th is 'overdrive'.

[Xtriple129]

Not on this little bugger! It's definitely got four gears and then a big drop into O/D. According to the manual (which I've finally read) this is correct. When the "hold" button is pressed it just uses the first three gears.

Pain in the rear when it does drop into this gear as it really does kill the acceleration stone dead - good on the motorway though. Seems to be good on fuel as well - 30 odd to the gallon. Okay, not exactly "spirited" driving as I'm a gimmer and the wife, well, she's a bloody girly.

[VeeFour]

Don't understand - MkIs are all 4-speed autos.

All I can think is that 'overdrive' is locking up the torque converter, but you shouldn't get a massive drop in revs just by doing that.

[dg45]

I know what your saying about the 4 speed auto mine is the same as yours , you press the o/d button for fourth gear but it's almost like a two speed 4th gear / split ratio type , soon as you lift the trottle a touch or hit a certain speed it changes up another 1/2 gear giveing the impression it's got five gears , i find it most annoying at 40 mph when it can't decide between the higher ratio or the lower one and goes up and down between them until you get fed up and decide to do fifty ..!
I did drive a mk2 auto the other week though and that was a totally different setup to the mk1 .

[Xtriple129]

You got it - feels weird doesn't it! Revs drop right dooooowwwwn in "fifth" and it really wouldn't pull a boyscout off his sister.

Mind you.....

Because it'd been so well looked after (new shocks, discs, pads/ exhaust etc) I was almost inclined to the thought that a service was going to be a waste of time and money. But, I always service cars when I first get them so carry on....

The air filter and plugs were the filthiest things I've seen in years! The oil looked better (but still needed clean stuff) so it looks like the old girl hasn't had a proper service since 59000 miles when the cambelt was changed.

Just took it for a quick run up the road and it feels much "punchier" already.