1997 1.4 MPi Auto stuck in third gear ...

[foto2021]

My little Arosa auto has stopped changing gear and offers only third gear and reverse. It otherwise drives OK.

This seems to have happened since I did two jobs on the car. The first job was changing the rear lights for the Mark II type, including re-wiring the connectors. The new lights work fine except the reversing light which doesn't work at all. No reversing light + gearbox not changing gears ... could they both be symptoms of the same electrical problem?

The second job I did was changing the pollen filter from inside the engine compartment. That was straightforward. However, there is an ECU next to the pollen filter housing and I wondered if perhaps I may have disturbed a connector or something.

Has anyone experienced this problem before? I would like some suggestions before I investigate ... I don't want to make things any worse, or in other words, more expensive!.

 

[HalfOfZero]

Sounds like your linkage dude.. Happened to me. Had to drive 30 miles home with only 3rd n 4th gear.There's a temporary fix, Cable Ties!! Whish has been working quite fine for me right now. Till I pull my finger out and order a new linkeage..

 

[foto2021]

Problem diagnosed as electrical - a blown fuse. Changed the fuse but the new fuse blew in spectacular fashion when I put the gear selector in reverse.

When I changed the rear lights I was left with a spare wire on the offside and a contact in the plug that was shown on the wiring diagram as "not used". So rather than have a loose wire hanging around I put it in the "not used" contact. Problem is, the 'not used' contact turned out to be a spare earth.

The wire is the live supply for the offside reversing light, which isn't needed as the Mark II rear lights have only one reversing light on the near side. So as soon as I energised it by engaging reverse, the fuse blew. The same fuse also supplies the ECU for the auto gearbox, so that was in 'limp home' mode with only third and reverse available.

The solution was simple - remove the wire from the socket and tape it up safely. With yet another new fuse in place, everything works!

 

[HalfOfZero]

Glad to hear man, that sounds like an easy fix!

I still need a linkage though Haha.

CABLE TIES FTW!

 

[foto2021]

Glad to hear man, that sounds like an easy fix!

At least it was cheap ... I thought it might have been the gearbox ECU, which costs £££. The fuses cost £1.81.

I still need a linkage though Haha.

I expect that will be next. Have you tried breakers?