Hi all,

Well I guess it had to happen... my new Abarth (02 with 43k miles) has started flashing the "Auto Gearbox Failure" warning and I've only had it 2 weeks... oh well.

I've had a look at the issues others have had with the gearbox and this seems to be slightly different - the box will be working perfectly and then will suddenly flash the message and not let me select a particular gear (so far 1st and 3rd), all the other will be fine though. It's also the same whether I leave it in auto or switch to manual, that particular gear will not work. After a few minutes though, the problem will seem to clear itself. The strange thing is, when the issue has happened, I've also had a "Foglamp Failed - Return To Dealer" message pop up at roughly the same time... very strange.

The Selespeed pump sounds fine when I open the drivers door, so I don't think it's that, plus, I can select other gears but just not the failed gear.

Cold it be the ECU or maybe the clutch sensor? Any suggestions welcome! Going to get it on an Examiner as soon as I can... hopefully my Fiat dealer in Bishop's Stortford has one though...

Cheers in advance guys.

Greggers

Well, I've just had the pleasure of the AA's company for the afternoon

I was driving along and noticed that the gearchange was getting a bit "clunky' like the clutch was getting engaged too quickly. I didn't think too much of it though as it was still cold. A few minutes later, I was heading up the M11 when the "Auto Gearbox Failure" warning cut in whilst in 5th. The alarm wouldn't stop until I took it out of 5th and into 4th but then it wouldn't let me go back into 5th. I pulled over to turn the engine off and on and then discovered that I didn't have 1st or 3rd anymore as well! I could double flick past 1st to 2nd, but it just wouldn't let me engage 1st.

Anyway got the AA out, who took me to my parents-in-law's house which is around the corner from the Bishop's Stortford Fiat dealer. The AA did an ODBD (is that right?) read on the ECU which was showing a P1481 alarm. This is apparently "Fan Secondary Low With High Fan On" but this doesn't really sound like anything to do with the gearbox. When the car was unloaded off the truck, the issue had totally cleared up and all gears were working properly again...

Does anyone have any ideas on this as to what the issue is? I'm hoping it's just a sensor problem and not something more serious but knowing my luck...

need examiner to correctly (thoroughly) read errors in all systems.

T14086 said:

need examiner to correctly (thoroughly) read errors in all systems.

Click to expand...

Thanks for replying T.

Yeah, that's what I figured. I'm going to try to get it into the dealer in BS as soon as possible tomorrow for them to hook up but in your experience, but given the symptoms I've described, do you know what the most likely culprit might be? That might be asking alot and I apologise if it is...

aa can't read selespeed faults, has to be examiner like T said

nigh on impossible to diagnose over internet but could be gear position sensor? Had similar on a alfa that didn't like going into 4th but otherwise was 100%. A quick test drive with examiner recorder and the fault was spotted straight away.

Good luck

T14086 said:

nigh on impossible to diagnose over internet but could be gear position sensor? Had similar on a alfa that didn't like going into 4th but otherwise was 100%. A quick test drive with examiner recorder and the fault was spotted straight away.

Good luck

Click to expand...

Thanks T, much appreciated. Here's hoping it's something simple like that and they can spot it quickly

Out of interest, I take it that an EOBD reader can't read the Fiat specific error codes relating to the Selespeed gearbox? is that correct?

Greggers said:

Out of interest, I take it that an EOBD reader can't read the Fiat specific error codes relating to the Selespeed gearbox? is that correct?

Click to expand...

Generic code readers can only read faults from the engine ECU. They can't read faults from others computers ( or nodes) in the car like gearbox, ABS, instruments/ alarm, body etc.

have a look at my post,hope its as simple...

Camelot Knights said:

have a look at my post,hope its as simple...

Click to expand...

Sorry, what was the issue with yours again? Was it the brake switch? I've checked that on mine and it's definitely not the culprit... Unfortunately.

I'm also pretty sure it's not the pump as well as this sounds strong when I open the drivers door. I guess it could possibly be the actuator? But given that I can get some gears and not others makes me think that it's a sensor... Well, you've got to be optimistic haven't you

Well, the car has gone in with John Whalley in Bishop's Stortford this morning... fingers crossed that I don't need to sell a kidney to get the gearbox fixed!

I'll make sure to keep this updated with how the car progresses and what the issue is...

Greggers

Heard back from John Whalley and they had hooked it up to Examiner and found that the gear engagement sensor was faulting intermittently. Sounds like this is the source of my Selespeed problems.

They also found that the throttle sensor had faulted intermittently but they tested the circuit and felt that it was fine so the the cost of the engagement sensor... £38 plus labour of 2-3 hours. Not too bad I think. Looking forward to getting the car back... I've only had it 2 weeks but I already miss it like mad... God I love that car!

My father-in-law dropped the car off at the garage for me and the guys at John Whalley were kind enough to give him a lift home... in a Ferrari engined Lancia Delta!:slayer:How gutted am I that I wasn't able to drop the car off myself! :bang:

glad everthing is ok,and it wasnt major,done about 500 miles since last week when fiat cleared the fault on mine so far so good...

The main problems with Selespeed are electronic (sensors).
I suggest that next time you have a problem with the clutch (I hope not) you disconnect the battery from + and - during at least 5 minutes.
You can also open and close the driver door for 10 times.
That will do a hard reset...

I've just got my Abarth back John Whalley in Bishop's Stortford. Selespeed issue looks like it's been solved by a replacement of the odd gear engagement sensor.

I have to say, It's great to have the car back and I can't praise John Whalley enough... really helpful and nice guys... plus they know their stuff