"EP" mode and now lost reserve gear

[timborob]

Originally Posted by Greeners

You could try disconnecting the battery for 20 mins and see if that clears the fault....

Hi Greener

I had already taken the battery off and recharged it and i am no longer seeing the "EP" being displayed but there is still no reverse gear.

"D" is sluggish at present,I went round the block ( around 100 yards) to test and it does change up to second.
I have now parked her back up as don't want to drive like this incase it causes more damage.

Tim

[timborob]

I have now had my Thermostat replaced and had a T4 session done with Russell.

Hopefully its now the end of my HG and overheating issues.

T4 at first would not communicate with my car as said ECU was faulty ao Russell tested each one separatley and found i had 9 fault codes stored
which were the usual he said and ranged from battery short to past misfires.

The main problem is that the T4 could not connect to the Gearbox ECU
so there is a electrical problem somewhere at this point


I do now have reverse gear back and there is no error "EP" code being displayed but i don't know for how long and I'm not sure i should drive around like.

Is there any recommendations who i could take it too for the next step
whose's honest about gearboxes etc

Looks like i may need a new (secondhand?) gearbox ECU and a definate fluid change too

Regards
Tim

[stocktake]

Strange, you would have thought if it was mechanical then the reverse would not return

have read on here somewhere about poor electrical connections to ECU's causing strange problems maybe worth a search??

good luck with this one.

[timborob]

I'm hoping its better that it is just electrical connection problem
but now who do i take it to to get a proper truthful diagnose?


I do know I will be replacing the gearbox fluid as soon as i know what the main fault is.

[stocktake]

Trouble is Tim, as you say knowing who to take it to .

If it were me, I would first look in the haynes manual and see where the connector/s is/are for the auto box ecu. i would disconnect and clean all the contacts and reconnect. It's something you can try that will cost next to nothing as a start. If after that you find the T4 can talk to the auto box ECU it's problem solved.

[timborob]

Yes who to take it too is a BIG question!
I don't want to book into a specialist Autogearbox workshop and they tell me it needs a new gearbox which will cost £1000 + straight away

I will have to buy a manual/CD manual then and have a look into where it is located as you say.

Is there anyone in/around London who's more competent than me who would like to help out?
Please?
:lol:

I'm capable at doing a few small bits on my car aslong as it don't mean taking things apart as I'm known to be a bit heavy handed.

Regards
Tim

[BigRuss]

Tim, have replied to your p.m.

Have a look at the connectors and check for damaged wiring or corrosion to both the engine ecu and the auto box ecu, as the display in the IPK is working CAN-bus between the autobox ecu and the IPK is working, however this doesn't mean that the autobox ecu is communicating with the engine ecu properly.

Autobox ecu is located on the firewall to the right-hand side under the drop down cover for the interior fusebox located under the glovebox.

Un-plug and plug in the connectors a few times this should help clean up the contacts and/or use a electrical contact cleaner(disconnect battery first)

Russ

[timborob]

Originally Posted by BigRuss

Tim, have replied to your p.m.

Have a look at the connectors and check for damaged wiring or corrosion to both the engine ecu and the auto box ecu, as the display in the IPK is working CAN-bus between the autobox ecu and the IPK is working, however this doesn't mean that the autobox ecu is communicating with the engine ecu properly.

Autobox ecu is located on the firewall to the right-hand side under the drop down cover for the interior fusebox located under the glovebox.

Un-plug and plug in the connectors a few times this should help clean up the contacts and/or use a electrical contact cleaner(disconnect battery first)

Russ

Hi Russ

Thanks for this and the PM reply

As i don't have a workshop manual (yet!) I didn't have a clue where to start so thanks alot for the info on the gearbox ECU location.

I wouldn't have thought that unplugging/replugging would make a difference but obviously will give that a try, thing is how will i know if its done anything without re T4ing it?

Is there anyone with a T4 willing to go over this diagnose work with me
please?

I will take the car for a short drive later today to see if the "EP" comes back on,most likely it will


Regards
Tim

[timborob]

Well just tried car again and "EP" mode has come back on again
ALSO to top that off my cars heater is stone cold even though it was
tested after the new thermostat was fitted!

I'm really losing patience with these problems
in the 20+ years I have driven I've never had this much grief in such a short time.

I think once its sorted out (or not) it will be sold on and i will go back to being a motorcyclist

[SD1too]

Hi Tim,

Very sorry to hear of your problems.

Originally Posted by timborob

Well just tried car again and "EP" mode has come back on again

You charged the battery on the 18th. then started the engine and drove the car for just 100 yards which is insufficient to replenish the charge taken by the starter motor. The car then stood for six days when "EP" returned on 24th. The voltage could well have dropped once again, particularly in this cold weather, to a level which triggers this misleading message.
How old is your battery? For how long did you charge it on 18th? Has it been discharged fully before? Is it sealed or can you check the electrolyte's specific gravity with a hydrometer?
I still think there's insufficient evidence to suspect a gearbox fault.

Originally Posted by timborob

Also to top that off my car's heater is stone cold even though it was tested after the new thermostat was fitted!

I've looked at the cooling system layout for the 1.8 non-turbo engine and even if your thermostat was stuck shut, the heater would still work. Seemingly new, unrelated problems like this are common when there is an ECU electrical fault. I think you should follow BigRuss' advice and re-seat the multiplugs to your automatic transmission ECU. You said that you don't believe that unplugging/replugging would make a difference, but think about your home P.C. and "rebooting".

Hope you feel just a little bit encouraged.

Simon.