SMT woes - 1st and Reverse only !

[Rowland]

It never rains it pours!

Having sorted the recent battery issues out on my MR-S Turbo I've had a major problem this morning.
Car started up fine, selected reverse to move off the drive followed by 1st or rather 'S' to accelerate down the close.
It wouldn't select 1st.
After a minute or two of fannying around and restarting the engine, 1st was engaged and I was on my way - only I wasn't.
The car wouldn't upshift from 1st.
Reverse and 1st were the only gears that worked so I pulled it back on the drive.
Also noticed I had a red warning light illuminated. It's the symbol next to the ABS light, An exclamation mark with a cog round it.
Am I to presume it indicates bu99ered gearbox or low hydraulic pressure perhaps?

Anyway I dashed off in another car leaving the MR-S on the drive.
Ok, any pointers as to what to check first when I get home?
I'll be totally honest and say that I haven't really looked under the front bonnet in any detail since buying the car in September.

I *do* hope the gearbox isn't mullered after less that 30k.

Any advice or suggestions kindly welcomed as always.


Rowland

  s:( s:(

[Tem]

Also noticed I had a red warning light illuminated. It's the symbol next to the ABS light, An exclamation mark with a cog round it.
Am I to presume it indicates bu99ered gearbox or low hydraulic pressure perhaps?

You mean like this?


Either your handbrake is on, or your brake fluid is low. Might be a good excuse for the SMT to refuse driving at speeds  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[Rowland]

Possibly. I'll check when I get home.
The handbrake light is towards the top though and is a different light albeit with the same exclamation mark.
First thing I'll do is check relevant fluids to eliminate that though.

[SteveJ]

The fault light that Rowland described is the one for the SMT ECU (doesnt appear on non-SMT instrument clusters)

[Rowland]

Hi Steve, I was hoping you might pop a long to contribute to this thread!

Anyway I get home and brush 2 inches of snow off and risk taking the MR-S for a VERY gentle drive.
Absolutely fine, all gears no warning light everything hunky-dory. Most odd.
Shall keep an eye on things but there appears to be no odd noises or anything else untoward coming from the SMT gearbox.

For now all is good once again.

  s:D s:D

[Tem]

The fault light that Rowland described is the one for the SMT ECU (doesnt appear on non-SMT instrument clusters)

Ah, thanks.

Just wondering, but how's the weather? Been blow 0C? Sometimes the first times under zero make moving things freeze over, if they have gathered some moisture. And then they sort of fix themselves.

[Chris]

it sounds very similar to the intermittant problems i've been having over the last few weeks...

the pattern is usually the same: start off with no lights, but the smt light comes on after a few minutes, sometimes accompanied by refusal to change gears and/or a completely dead gear display.  After restarting it is usually ok for a random period of time before happening again.  Sometimes the car stalls when the smt light comes on and then when restarting i get the cel, trc off and vsc warning lights as well.

Mine's booked in for friday, so i'll let you know what the outcome is..
current thinking is either a faulty seal, sensor or battery or even maybe a knackered clutch..