Auto Gearbox Problem

[chromedome]

When I start my Galaxy first thing in the morning the gearbox selects 3rd gear and will not change up or down, however, I can select neutral, park and reverse ok.

 

If I restart the vehicle everything is ok and remains ok all day until the next morning.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks

[Guest p1948040]

mmm, at a wild guess I would suggest that the car is going into 'limp home mode' possibly as a result of low battery voltage ?

 

This is based on my only experience of a similar problem I had with a BMW 735 auto, which behaved in a similar manner.

 

The fault was caused due to the battery failing (I think one or two of the cells had gone open circuit). When the battery voltage dropped below a certain threshold - probably 9v or so - it would evidently interfered with the cars 'brain' (the ECU) and caused the ECU to put the car in 'limp home mode' which resulted in the auto box being stuck in either 2nd or 3rd gear from memory.

 

Could be your battery is going slightly flat overnight, and / or when starting the engine the massive current draw which is required by the starter motor might be pulling the battery voltage right down, with the resultant affect on the ECU....

 

all conjecture of cause, but as I say was the cause of my woes in the past.

 

If you can monitor the batt voltage when starting the engine in the morning - with an analogue meter - will confirm this.

 

NB -

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Yup,my first thought on reading this was low battery voltage as I've read of some strange things happening on other vehicles which turn out to be batteries on the way out. Do you have a proper auto electics place nearby who can do a test on the battery? They place a special bar across the terminals which has a load built in, and it measures the voltage drop that could be expected when trying to start (cranking). This will tell you instantly if the battery needs changing, and if it does, get it done straight away! Modern batteries seem to have a nasty habit of being perfectly alright one day then suddenly dying overnight.

[chromedome]

Been some time I know, however, my auto box is now stuck permanently in 3rd gear.

 

After three days at the dealers and with some help from Ford Technical the fault is the electronic gearbox controller. This thing works out what gear you should be in depending on road speed, acceleration, etc.

 

Sounds expensive, good job it's still under warranty (just).

[Ivor_E_Tower]

hmm, out of interest, filled my Gal up with diesel tonight. Bloke at next pump in private hire taxi asked me if my Gal was auto (it isn't) as he had one as his own car, and had just paid out