We have just driven down to Spain and I have been able to assess a problem with the non changing of gears problem.



Our caravan is a light one and not carrying what I would call a heavy load. Going down on the fast roads to Bordeaux there were no problems - kept in automatic all the changes occurred when they were required. Crossing over from France to Spain over the open plains with gradients that were sometime very long uphill climbs, she wouldn't change down automatically when I could see from the rev counter she should have - so I pushed the gear lever over to manual and without jerking the stick down to change, she changed down automatically.



On some of the long climbs, when the refs when below 2000 I manually changed down as it seemed it was not going to do it automatically. There were a couple of times I didn't change down and we came to a grinding stop - the engine kept running and I could go forward just very slowly. If I turned the key off and starting immediately, we were up and running as though nothing had gone wrong ?



I've got to get it sorted, it would be dangerous in traffic - any thoughts!!! Could it be simple one of the turbo pipes has become damaged? Any advice gratefully taken and if a pipe could be the problem......which one am I looking for?



Regards from Spain (not very sunny at the moment)



Andrew Andrew Kennedy

will the engine rev properly,are you sure its not gearbox in limp mode i.e. sticking in one gear ,if it is i don't think i would drive it to far silverRRS 2.7 TDV6 22"WHEELS FULL COLOUR CODE,STEPS,REMAP..gone
Rimini red rrs 2.7 tdv6 steps. Full c code. Recon engine!!loved but!gone ,thank god !!
Gone rr sport supercharged. Loved but 11mpg !!!
current,triumph stag mk2...current bmw 325 sport convertible

Oh dear - hope it keeps going whilst you are away.

If the Transmission Control Module (TCM) is detecting a fault and entering limp home mode you should be seeing a message on the dash:

Default (Limp Home) Mode
If a transmission fault is detected by the TCM, the TCM adopts a limp home mode strategy. 'TRANS. FAILSAFE' is displayed in the message centre and, if the fault has an effect on engine emissions, the MIL will also be illuminated.

In default mode, P, R and N functions operate normally (if the fault allows these selections) and the TCM locks the transmission in 3rd or 5th gear to allow the driver to take the vehicle to the nearest dealer. The torque converter lock-up clutch is disabled and reverse lock-out will not function.

If the vehicle is stopped and subsequently restarted in the default mode condition, the TCM operates normally until the fault which caused the condition is detected again.

When limp home mode is active, the gear position indicator will show one of the following letters which defines the fault type:

'F' - transmission is operating in limp home mode
'H' - transmission has reached overheat threshold temperature and transmission is operating in limp home mode
'E' - CAN bus is off and transmission is operating in limp home mode.

If electrical power is lost and the transmission is operating in mechanical limp home mode, the selector lever will not be locked in the 'N' position by the shift interlock solenoid. The lever will be locked in the 'P' position and can only be released by using the interlock emergency release lever or by correcting the electrical fault. 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Thanks for your Paddi - I hope your girl friend/wife found what she was looking for in the car? I have kept a print out of your comments and next time the problem occurs I will check to see if any info is displayed in the message box on the dash. There only a few times I have had this problem, never when I am not towing, and when I am towing, always on the same long slow incline roads. The car will always start up after turning off he ignition and then on again. Problem is I am miles from home!! Do you think I might be wise to use manual gear changes only when I am towing in hilly areas? Breaking down on the Spanish Plains would be disastrous!!! Andrew Andrew Kennedy