Automatic Gearbox Issues.

Post by **nomified** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:19 pm

Hi guys,

I recently bought a 1996 model GPX FTO with 76000kms on the clock which ran flawlessly.

I took it out to lithgow on the long weekend easter break and done a lot of country/mountain/uphill type driving.

Everything was going great till i came back and just got off the M4 and then the gearbox started having some issues with gear selection, getting stuck in gear etc.

I've done a diagnostic test and the outcome is,

The engine light flashes very quickly, while the car is in park the neutral light flashes while park light is on and lastly the light on the bottom right corner with the side ways car skid thingo probably lsd? is flashing.

Would anyone be able to work out the issue?

Whenever i drive it it goes ok then it starts having issues in 1st 2nd and 3rd.. then when i get to 4th and go back to 3rd it gets stuck and wont come out of 3rd.. also when its in drive plus in 3rd gear neutral flashes.

once i turn the car off everything goes back to normal.

Ive driven heaps in the wet, plus on dirt roads on the weekend and up several major mountains so the car has been put to the test this weekend.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:33 pm

It sounds like your engine ECU is flashing at a constant rate (1Hz or once per second) so there is no codes stored.

If your gearbox ECU is flashing out at a constant rate but is faster then the engine one (2Hz) then it is likely to be an input or an output sensor or the gearbox is overheating.

And it sounds like your ABS is flashing in the corner to tell you its okay.

You really need to count out the long and short flashes to tell what the error codes are though...

spency · Post by **spency** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 9:27 pm

sounds like "limp mode" also. many many threads around here about it.

Post by **nomified** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:58 pm

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies, yeah im pretty sure its in limp mode thank god for that.

Im going through all the sensors and resetting everything.

Hopefully it was just the dirt roads, and the hill driving that messed up the sensors.

Thanks again.

Post by **nomified** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:30 pm

Can anyone let me know which sensors i should focus on mainly? and let me know where they are located.

Thanks

Post by **dstocks** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 6:31 pm

Well, input and output speed sensors are on the top of the gearbox. You cant really do much with them though. The flashes that the light gives you designates a code made up of long flashes and short flashes (bit like morse code). Once you have the code, it should tell you exactly which bit is wrong. what you need to hope is that you are getting an error code.

Post by **nomified** » Sun May 01, 2011 5:05 pm

Just got around doing the diagnostics properly.

The N is the only one flashing a code which went like this,

4 Slow flashes then 3 quick ones.

After looking at the chart i assume its the 3rd gearbox ratio?

Makes sense when it gets stuck in 3rd gear.

Does this mean the gearbox is goneskies?

Thanks.

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun May 01, 2011 6:14 pm

Nope, it'll be the input or output sensor as mentioned above. I'd just replace 'em both.

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Sun May 01, 2011 6:28 pm

When your gears are "out of sync" it means your sensors aren't matching up to what the ECU thinks they should be. Change the sensors as Ben says.

Post by **nomified** » Sun May 01, 2011 6:58 pm

Thanks so much guys, makes me much happier.

Where would i be able to find these sensors? any info so i can pin point it down?

Post by **nomified** » Sun May 01, 2011 9:07 pm

Just had a look around is it the two plugs next to the oil filter on the gb underneath the pod filter?

What would be the best way to clean them? blow them with air and some wd40?

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:24 pm

After a long drive park your car on flat ground and put in n. Pull the dip stick with car still started and check the oil is at hot. Is the oil red? Does the oil smell burnt??

If it's red, at the right level and is not burnt get some contact electrical cleaner pull the 4 plugs on your transmission and give them a good spray. Let it dry plug all back in and see how it goes.

Disconnect the battery if you want to be safe but I don't.

Post by **nomified** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 3:56 pm

Hey guys,

Been so busy havent touched the car in a while, i've done a full service to the gearbox and nothing has changed.. its time to do the sensors.. would anyone be able to meet up with me so i could try out their sensors? so i know which one to replace.. i really would appreciate it if anyone can help..

Post by **nomified** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 11:40 pm

anyone at all...?

pleaseeeeeeeeeeee

xj265 · Post by **xj265** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:20 am

sorry if you have mentioned it before but where are you located?

Post by **nomified** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:29 am

Sorry about that, Sydney area, the car is at my mechanics in Horton park near Liverpool.

Sucks you are in the sunshine coast

..

maybe you can send the sensors via post.. haha

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:19 am

Storm wrote:It sounds like your engine ECU is flashing at a constant rate (1Hz or once per second) so there is no codes stored.

If your gearbox ECU is flashing out at a constant rate but is faster then the engine one (2Hz) then it is likely to be an input or an output sensor or the gearbox is overheating.

And it sounds like your ABS is flashing in the corner to tell you its okay.

You really need to count out the long and short flashes to tell what the error codes are though...

Bit confusing but in diagnostic 2 flashes a second for the neutral light is normal.

vandit · Post by **vandit** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:20 pm

borrow a gearbox tranny ecu and do a reset see if this fixes it ,, if not then the sensors ..

silverGPX · Post by **silverGPX** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:01 pm

Just change the output sensor, had the same problem. It runs fine now.

FTO AUSTRALIA