Galaxy 2002 Tdi Auto Reverse Gear Problem

[bbjohhny]

Hi all

 

After a long motorway stint (7 hourse, in very bad traffic), I seem to have lost reverse gear in my 2002 TDI auto. The lever moves to reverse, and the reverse lights come on, but the car doesn't move, just revs. Occasionally it will try to move a little bit, but soon reverts back to just revving. Fluid level is fine, and the fluid itself is fairly recent. All forward gears work spot on. VCDS shows a fault code of 00281 - Vehicle speed sensor (G68) No signal. Could this possible be the cause? If it's worth changing, can anybody please point me in the right direction of thew location - is it external to the gearbox? Also, does anyone know the correct part number for this sensor?

 

Many thanks in advance. Car is otherwise pretty good, but not sure I can afford a new gearbox at the moment.

 

 

[sparky Paul]

First of all, check that the brake lights work. I know this sounds a bit odd, but the gearbox uses the brake light switch signal and this can cause some weird issues.

 

Once you have proved everything there is working, you could be looking at a problem with the gearbox itself. The VCDS fault could possibly be as a result of the symptoms. Losing reverse is a common failure with these Jatco boxes, and the most prevalent cause is a cracked reverse clutch piston.

 

If that is the problem, the only good news is that replacement does not require complete dismantling of the gearbox, as far as I can work out. There are some on Rover forums that have repaired this fault on the Jatco gearbox in the Rover 75 while the gearbox is still in the car, but I suspect the gearbox may have to come out of the Galaxy to get the end cover off and gain access.

 

I'm no expert on this, so there may be other options to explore, but the reverse piston seems to be the weakness.

Edited December 31, 2015 by sparky Paul

[bbjohhny]

OK, thanks for the info. All electrics seem OK, and all lights work as they should. Think I may look to get rid, as it's had new temp sensor, alternator pulley, tensioner, etc. in the past few months, so think I need to cut my losses. Thanks anyway.

[sparky Paul]

That's a shame, but I can understand where you are coming from.

 

At the end of the day, it is a 13 year old car, so things are going to start failing... Not sure of the miles on yours, but 70-80,000 miles and you are running into dangerous territory with the auto boxes - they are definitely a weak link on the Galaxy.

[deeppockets]

If same as the petrol auto-box there is a multiswitch located on the end of the box by the LH drive shaft which senses the engaged gear. I have had ATF leak into connector causing incorrect reading, a good clean out with spirit cleared the fault. If so, like due to aging rubber seals - there is mixed opinion on ATF additives but I have added seal reconditioner to my '98 auto-box after an ATF sump change.  If you have VCDS-lite you can diagnose this on the transmission module which indicates the selected and engaged gears.