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[laurie]

This morning when driving to work, the MID displayed automatic gearbox error.
Obviously this put the car in limp mode until i got to work. I then turned it off, then back on and all workig fine.

Is this a dodgy sensor? Do i need to do the paperclip test or has this been covered alot before.

Many thanks

[MutantCav]

Always worth trying paperclip...

When is the last time the gearbox fluid was checked/topped up?? Good chance its just low and its easy to sort yourself...

[laurie]

Not sure when it was last done. Bought the car in september, been fine, until this morning.

How long does the fluid top up take?

[MutantCav]

Its slightly awkward to do properly...but total about 15-20 mins max...

Get some Dexron 3 atf, probably a litre will do but may be worth getting 2 litres...get the engine warmed up to running temp...turn off engine and jack up drivers side front wheel...

Undo gearbox level bolt (on the drivers side of the large gearbox sump half way down and towards the back...generally 13mm bolt)

Pour in a litre of gearbox fluid or 2 if you have the money and limited time (best to get a bottle that has a filler tube so you can squeeze the fluid out of the bottle into the hole)

Un jack the car so its level (on a flat surface as much as poss) and start car to keep/get it back up to running temp...if there is atf fluid running out then let it come out till it stops (going through the gears once for good measure)...worth having something under the hole to catch the atf cos the stuff is horrid and often stinks!!

When no more fluid coming out...its at correct level...if you dont have any come out...needs more fluid so repeat...but shouldnt need more than 2 litres max...

If the stuff that comes out is reddish then great...if its black or brown sludge then probably need to replace all the fluid anyway and have the filter changed...again very doable yourself with only very limited skills required

[laurie]

excellent , thanks i will give it a go at the weekend.

[Andy B]

I wouldn't have thought that dirty/old fluid would put your gearbox into limp mode, although obviously a fluid change wouldn't be a bad thing.
I got the same message after I'd forgotten to reconnect the throttle position sensor after I'd done my cam belt.

[laurie]

Well i will do the fluid and show how it goes. Nothing has changed and nothing has been moved, it has just happended over night.

[unlucky alf]

just to add to what MC said, if you are taking the plug out with the engine off then put a bowl under the box, cos if its o,k for fluid itll empty a fair bit the moment the plugs out, if you take it out running you shouldnt get a soaking , it is also the way to fill a gearbox properly, perhaps if youve got a length of hose & a funnel you will find filling easier, put the hose in the filler hole[might want to find something to go in the hose thatll fit in the g/box hole],jam a funnel in the other end of hose & fill it up[make sure its higher than the box], it saves trying to squeeze the fluid uphill to the hole as you will only get half the bottle in , but as i say it must be running when filling, when it starts coming back out the hole its full

[feeutfo]

paper clip and pedal tests only read the engine ecu, wont hurt to do it but it wont give any gear box codes, so no codes does not mean a healthy gear box, you need tech 2 or similar for all other ecu's incl. Gear box. Fluid level got to be first thing to check as said...