Transmission Fault Warning

[Chapelhillchuck]

Lately I have been having problems with my SMG transmission. :cry:

There have been 4 occasions in the past 10 days when after the car is started the transmission will not engage and I get the Transmission Fault Warning (TFW). I turn the car off and let it sit for a while (5 to 10 minutes) and start it again. This time the transmission engages with no TFW. I am also getting the "check engine" light.

In another case I turned the car off with the transmission in 1st. When I went to move the car I could not get it to shift into "N" so that I could start the car. I let the car sit overnight and was able to get the car back into "N", start it and move it with no problems.

Finally, my wife drives the car in the "auto" mode and complains about the rough shifting and poor acceleration.

While I have booked a service appointment I am wondering if I continue to drive the car if there will be damage to the transmission? Is this a software issue or a mechanical issue?

[Gran Turismo]

Sorry to hear. It is most probably a SMG control module issue which is hard to tell if it's software or hardware (could be just some flaky electric connection).

The mechanical part of the transmission is exactly the same as with the manual transmission models - it won't be damaged by the problems you've described. Just imagine a manual transmission car driven by someone driving a stick for the very first time...

Edit: The poor acceleration could well be caused by something else than the SMG, unless it's not using some gears anymore...

[Chapelhillchuck]

The problem has been diagnosed. The hydraulic transmission pump was putting out less than 50% of its capacity. I am told that as a result the following happens: 1) the "auto" mode shifting lags and is very rough. 2) the car will not go out of gear or into gear from a cold start after it has been driven. This is what caused the Transmission Fault Warning and Check Engine emmission error messages. The new pump is being sent from Germany and is suppose to have improved performance over the origanial equipment. We will see.

They are also replacing the front brakes pads and reprograming the car with V25.02 software.

I lost the fog light surround and part of the black grill to a pot hole. It is going to cost about $300 to replace the missing parts and repair. The damage to the bumper would require a new bumber which I am not going to purchase. I am now looking for an Atlantic Blue 6 that has been totaled with a pristine front bumper that I can buy at salvage prices.

[cobradav]

Thanks for the feedback and follow-up Chuck. I guess if I dig WAY back in the archives when SMG first came out there might have been one or two of these instances but not sure.

[gbelton]

Thanks for the feedback and follow-up Chuck. I guess if I dig WAY back in the archives when SMG first came out there might have been one or two of these instances but not sure.

You're correct, my 645 SMG had a similar issue which I posted sometime back.

[mauidreamer]

Hi,

I was in a panic over the winter because of similar problems. The car was towed twice to the dealer and because no fault was generated, they wouldn't acknowledge a problem. Today, I am cruising along the highway and it shifts itself into neutral. I got it to clear by putting it in automatic mode (which has always been a dog for me) and back into manual. I'm turning the car in soon anyway and I will go back to a straight six.
At least your posting validates the issue with mine.:)