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[albitz]

Should be able to get some Dex 3 at Halfrauds.

[Nickbat]

Should be able to get some Dex 3 at Halfrauds.

OK, Albs, thanks.

BTW, do you think that the fact that the light is now out points to a low fluid level?

Also, I just found an unopened can of STP auto-box stop leak in the shed. Could it be worth adding if I have lost fluid - just until I get it properly serviced? 

[RobG]

I presume the code stored doesn`t aid diagnosis??

[albitz]

Dont know the signifacance of the light going out tbh Nick. Additives to autoboxes arent generally recommended by those who know about these things afaik.

[Nickbat]

Dont know the signifacance of the light going out tbh Nick. Additives to autoboxes arent generally recommended by those who know about these things afaik.

Me neither. The other thought that came into my mind was a piece of road grit (they've been gritting like there's no tomorrow round here) getting into the selector mechanism. Bit of a long shot, mind. 

[albitz]

Doubtful imo.Its just a rod connected to a switch.The switch is sealed,although over time, moisture and small pieces of dirt find their way in and cause problems.
No knowledgeable forum members in your locality Nick ? Im a bit fa away and working nights at the moment anyway.

[Nickbat]

Doubtful imo.Its just a rod connected to a switch.The switch is sealed,although over time, moisture and small pieces of dirt find their way in and cause problems.
No knowledgeable forum members in your locality Nick ? Im a bit fa away and working nights at the moment anyway.

'fraid not, Albs. I'm just putting all my hope on low fluid. I may add the STP if it is. Remember, the dodgy oil stem seals as well? My car looks great, goes well, but is frankly becoming a bit of a shed (albeit a nice one) and only worth two bob and a bag of marbles...

[Nick W]

Should be able to get some Dex 3 at Halfrauds.

A proper motor factor would be a better bet; I just bought 5 litres of D3 for £22 off the shelf. It's hardly exotic stuff.

[Cliffo B]

This happened to miggy at about 75,000mls
had a slight stall when moveing away from traffic lights
I read the stored code and now can't recall what it was
Anyhow under advice from TB
I changed the ATF and filter etc a few weeks later
Still used miggy for a hundred or so mls
My impression since is it was the autobox asking for a service
30,000mls later (many of those mls tugging a caravan) miggy has a box smooth as silk with no problems
As Albs advises I most certainly would NOT use that additive as you will contaminate the total fluid content of box and fluid flywheel
And I don't think it's possible ever to drain out all the fluid only about 50%
There are lots of guy's more qualified than I on here (with better memories)
I just felt I needed to add my thought's and a cautionary note with regard to the additve
Best of luck Nick,hope you get it sorted OK

[Cliffo B]

just read your comment about lot's of gritting
My thoughts are could it be the corrosve salt water content thats got in to the electronics of the selector switch contacts??
Just my thoughts

[albitz]

Thats possible Cliff.
If the fluid level is ok Switch is the next likely culprit. Maybe not DIY for Nick in his circumstances though.Shouldnt take a mechanic any longer than an hour to take it off clean it and reinstall it as per the guide.

[Nickbat]

Thanks for all your help guys.

This morning I phoned a mechanic who had been recommended to me (and had done work on SWMBO's car last year).

The conversation went like this:

ME: Could you check the auto box oil my Omega, I think it may be low.

HIM: What makes you think that? You checked the dipstick?

ME: No, it doesn't have a dipstick, but the warning light came on last night for a short while when the car was on an incline.

HIM: That means there's a fault with the box. Nothing to do with fluid levels.

ME: Well can you check it for me?

HIM: Nah, I've got a Porsche on the ramps, a Smart Car with a blown turbo...

ME: (Thinking am I interested in what cars you have there?) OK, forget it.

Took it into the Vx dealers. Will let you know the score later on. Incidentally, it drove fine all the way to the dealership with no warning lights   

[Kevin Wood]

It would be good to get the codes from the gearbox ECU. Hopefully the stealer can do that (get them to tell you the codes, not their interpretation thereof!).

If it just slipped into limp-home without any other symptoms and now drives fine I doubt it is fluid level, TBH, and I very much doubt it's a mechanical failure given the mileage. Always good to check the fluid level, though.

Getting the gearbox codes read would shed some light on it.

Try moving the selector over the whole range of positions and check the LEDs follow the lever position accurately without any flickering. If the switch had a momentary issue it would have dropped into limp-home for the rest of the journey.

Ditto for a loose electrical connection between gearbox and ECU.

Mine has done it once on ice, by the way. Think the TC got upset trying to calibrate the wheel sensors after pulling away on ice and it put the gearbox into limp-home. Just a thought given the current temperature....

[Nickbat]

It would be good to get the codes from the gearbox ECU. Hopefully the stealer can do that (get them to tell you the codes, not their interpretation thereof!).

If it just slipped into limp-home without any other symptoms and now drives fine I doubt it is fluid level, TBH, and I very much doubt it's a mechanical failure given the mileage. Always good to check the fluid level, though.

Getting the gearbox codes read would shed some light on it.

Try moving the selector over the whole range of positions and check the LEDs follow the lever position accurately without any flickering. If the switch had a momentary issue it would have dropped into limp-home for the rest of the journey.

Ditto for a loose electrical connection between gearbox and ECU.

Mine has done it once on ice, by the way. Think the TC got upset trying to calibrate the wheel sensors after pulling away on ice and it put the gearbox into limp-home. Just a thought given the current temperature....

Aha!

Thanks, Kevin. That has cheered me up a bit. Could have just been a momentary glitch. Glad it's in the stealers, even though it will cost. They should get to the bottom of it with a Tech2.

Nick

[Entwood]

It would be good to get the codes from the gearbox ECU. Hopefully the stealer can do that (get them to tell you the codes, not their interpretation thereof!).

If it just slipped into limp-home without any other symptoms and now drives fine I doubt it is fluid level, TBH, and I very much doubt it's a mechanical failure given the mileage. Always good to check the fluid level, though.

Getting the gearbox codes read would shed some light on it.

Try moving the selector over the whole range of positions and check the LEDs follow the lever position accurately without any flickering. If the switch had a momentary issue it would have dropped into limp-home for the rest of the journey.

Ditto for a loose electrical connection between gearbox and ECU.

Mine has done it once on ice, by the way. Think the TC got upset trying to calibrate the wheel sensors after pulling away on ice and it put the gearbox into limp-home. Just a thought given the current temperature....

Also had a similar glitch .... but not on ice .. on a wet and muddy field pulling someone out ... lots of wheel spin/traction control lights going mental, slipping from drive to reverse and back to get traction .. pulled it out eventually ... once on the road it went into limp mode at 20mph... stayed there until switched off and back on. I put it down to the gearbox "thinking" there was a problem as wheel speeds/engine speed/gearbox selections had been all over the place.

So if you had a bit of TC action it might just be the reason .......