Technical gearbox failure warning )-: !

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Technical gearbox failure warning )-: !

froggie 666

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Hi guys, the missus was on her way to work this morning, and the auto gearbox failure light came on with a warning "ping". The car was in manual mode and she says it was driving ok, i know its chucking it down with rain today, or is that just wishfull thinking its a damp sensor? Anyone had similar problems or any advice? thanx Steve......... ps its of course a selespeed!
 
mmm... is is still on or has it gone out? If it just flashed on and went out immediatley and doesn't come back on then I'd just keep my fingers crossed. Esp. if the car is driving OK.
 
I aint got no experience of the selespeed thingy - but unless someone pitches up in a minute with a horror story, I'd just chill and monitor the situation.

If it starts to come on any more or you start to notice a difference your gonna have to contact the dealer. Are you still under warranty?
 
I might have the same issue on my 53 plate abarth, so far it seems to appear after about an hour of driving in either manual or full-auto, same alert "gearbox failure", it always clears between 2 and 10 seconds later, then it'll come back on again a bit later - the timing is random and the alarm going off is just as unexpected. The car has run for weeks without a peep, then when driving up to Manchester and back it decides to start going off when I've done over 200miles. In terms of how the car feels, it's as normal, changes fine - swapping modes is normal.

I've called my local dealer and they have confirmed that even though the alarm isn't going off they will see the previous alerts through the engine management - so she's booked in for this Thursday.

I'll let you know.
Chris
 
Thanx Mick and Chris, car is 2 years old, only had it a week, apparently I have a form to change over for 3rd year warranty to fill in and pay for? £23 or there abouts. would appreciate you keeping me informed about your faults Chris, best regards, Steve.........
 
There are essentially 3 reasons for the Geabox Failure Warning:-

1) Failure of the ECU controlling the Selespeed system.

2) Problems with the switch under the brake pedal confusing the system.

3) A build up of dirt/crud on the electromagnetic sensors near the clutch which are used by the Selespeed system to measure clutch rotation speed.

Yup, I've had all 3 on my present Stilo :-((
 
Thanx Neil, car hasn't been a problem since yesterday mornings episode, will be keeping a close watch on things. Did your problems ever stop or cause a breakdown with the car?
 
Nope, they never stopped of their own accord and yes, it did cause a breakdown.

I was being plagued by seemingly continuous gearbox failure warnings and it was becoming silly. I told the dealer how to fix it (yes, really....) by changing the switch under the brake pedal, as this is a common cause. That cured it for a few months and then it returned. Then the selespeed computer was changed and that cured it for another few months.

Then, I was driving down the A38, in a contraflow lane. Crawling along slightly uphill, got all the bells and whistles as yet again, gearbox failure warning comes on. Left me with no forward or backwards gears and stranded, immobile. Two people pushed me into a coned-off zone (not a nice place to be with HGVs passing by you) and I phoned the AA. Whilst waiting for them, I tried the little-known 'selespeed reset procedure' which, believe it or no, involves opening and closing the driver's door 9 times in a row.

Did that procedure twice and it came back to life, albeit badly changing gears - slipping clutch at high revs. This got better, seemingly as it re-learnt its settings.

I took it back to the dealer and had a major showdown with the dealer principal as I'd absolutely had enough. Long story follows, but the upshot is that I'm trading it in for a new 54 plate one, as I have no confidence in this one, long term. If it would have been financially viable (and it's not, due to bank loan and effective negative equity on the value of my car), I'd have thrown them the keys and walked away from Fiat totally. As it isn't viable, they've pulled some strings and I'm getting a new Stilo Abarth at a *very* cheap price as I'm now effectively classed as 'staff' at the dealers....

I once seriously gave thought to taking a sign to put up in the service bay with my car's registration number on, so it could have a permanent, dedicated service bay as it seems to spend so much time there. I also took them a cake on the 21st visit to fix yet another fault.
 
Have had the same problem on three occasions. My local dealer have been excellent in the way of customer service, (probably the only garage, according to some of these post.)

Anyway the first time they replaced the ECU device, second time, they cleared and reset the software issues, and third time they adjusted and checked the sensor, since then have had no problems with it. The warning flashed up only for a few seconds, they said it wasn't the ECU, but changed it just in case, I think its move of a dirty sensor problem.

If you notice anything with the driving, in the way of gear changes becoming rough or the light and message stay illuminated, then pull over, switch off the engine, open and close yr drivers door ten times, re start the engine and may solve the problem.

you can only try
 
:eek: F**K ! sounds like you're the expert on my problem Neil, heres hoping the new cars more "reliable" :rolleyes: mines behaving at the moment so fingers crossed ! Its a great shame there seems a somewhat "chequered" reliability issue with these cars, I have never owned a FIAT before, but I do love the Abarth, perhaps with so much hi tech kit on board problems should be expected. Have to say one "bonus" of buying the car was finding this forum, I think its brilliant :) best wishes Neil thanx for the info (I think)? Steve.......
 
Thanx jg its nice to know a few tricks to solve problems, hope to never have to sit at the roadside "flapping" my door like a maniac, but if you see a black abarth stood doing this, give us a wave!!! :p regards Steve........
 
That opening the door thing 10 times is mind blowing! f*ck me!!!!!

F666 - keep everything crossed mate - it may never happen to you :cool:
 
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Well it's Thursday and the car has been in for it's checkup. Ancaster Fiat plugged in the engine diagnostics kit and it failed on two of the checks, even though there wern't any alarms on the car - To be honest I was pleased ... trying to tell someone there is a fault when there is no visible sign is a nightmare.

On the way to the garage I'd noticed some clutch-slip in stop start traffic, the only way I can describe it is how ABS feels through the brake pedal or when you try to pull away in second under hard acceleration. They concentrated their efforts around the selespeed clutch mechanism. 40minutes later the timing had been reset along with the engine management unit, and apprently the selespeed gearbox ... I listened so hard, hoping to hear someone opening the door and closing it ten times, but sadly nothing!!

So far so good, nothing on the journey back - I'll see where we are in a weeks time.

Chris
 
Glad everything went well mate, mine seems to have "cured" itself at the moment :rolleyes: keep me posted how you go on with yours, thanx Steve.....
 
I had exactly the problem you describe - occured 2 or 3 times, then went ages without any problems, then threw a total wobbly one day - whilst the gearbox failure message is up, the Selespeed will NOT let you change gear. As long as its only a temporary glitch your ok. Dealer checked it and diagnosed it as the clutch sensor (it was logged in memory) and simply cleaned it and rerouted the cable loom that they said was very tight. So far its been ok (fingers crossed). So its probably worth getting it put on the diagnostic tool as its probably logged the fault, and they should be able to fix it before it gets worse.

Paul
 
Thanx for that pjp, waiting for my 3rd year warranty to be transfered over, would this type of fault be covered does anyone know? what does - dosen't the 3rd year cover? :confused:
 
Well, the alarm cleared for about 3 days, then this weekend, whilst driving down to the south coast I had the delight of listening to gearbox failure alarm. It must have gone off over 100 times. Since being in the garage, the symtoms now seem worse;

1. Very "clunky" gear changes.
2. Poor power delivery (at 20-30% throttle the power seems to stutter).
3. Occaisonally a loss of ability to change gears.
4. And of course, that damn alarm going off - clearing itself, only to go off again a minute or so later.

Needless to say I am trying to get the car booked in, only problem is my local dealer has no courtesy cars, am I supposed to walk back to work?
Chris
 
Hi Chris, sorry to hear about your reccuring problems. Mines been in Cornwall for 10 days on business wth the misses, still giving gearbox failure warnings most days, but with a bit of door flaping (10 times) the check "OK" light comes on and it seems to reset itself till the next time. The car drives fine, changing gear in auto and manual modes ok, so hoping for a dirty sensor and reset! :confused: Shes driving home today (300 miles) apparently the air bag warning light has joined in now! Have booked it in on wednesday at the dealers will keep you informed, regards Steve :rolleyes:
 
I've now formed the view that the level of electrical faults in Stilos is totally unacceptable for a modern car and I genuinely can't understand what on earth is going on. They were never great but this is now unreasonable.

Anyone any thoughts on why this is?
 
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