F1 gear indicator flashing, cause?

On my way to work this morning, car up to temp, pulling into an intersection I started to down shift from 4th, the gearbox did not shift and the gear light began to flash in 4th.

I tried to select N no response, then tried to up shift, still no response. after about 40sec it shifted down to 2nd then first still flashing, tried to select N again, still nothing, tried to move the car and the gearbox would not engage, finally it sorted its self out and 1st stopped flashing, at the same time it beeped and a light came up on the dash, the light resembled a gear stick and centre console (?) gearbox check light (?) once the light went green again I proceeded and the gearbox acted normally, when I looked back down at the dash to check for the warning light it was gone.

Any ideas what’s causing this, is it safe to continue driving the car?

Did the gearbox just get confused for some reason?

 

Clutch was replaced under 3000kms ago so I don’t think it would be that, but I have not had the wear checked.

Trans fluid could be low, it is leaking trans fluid and I have it booked in to be fixed at the end of the month, I could not find the dip stick to check the trans fluid level, so not sure where it is at, but defiantly could be the problem, should I stop driving it? Does anyone have a photo of the hex key I need to remove to check the Trans fluid level?

Also I have not checked the F1 fluid level, what is the procedure to check this?

Thanks for your help guys.

 

I have just checked the F1 fluid, its full, i have checked this before i just forgot i had.

I think i have located the bolt to remove inorder to check the gear box oil level, can anyone confirm the size of the hex key needed to remove this? it does not seem to be 5mm or 6mm seems like 5.5mm maybe? anyone know?

 

Thank you No Doubt, your a legend.

Ok, I’m about to get the dip stick out.

If it needs oil, what oil do I use? Will most gear oils work or is there something specific I need.

Where do I full it? In the dipstick hole?

Im stuck at work, but have all the gear i need other than oil, i have a shell petrol station near by that i can get oil from provided the oil from there will be ok?

 

I have now checked the Trans fluid, it is half way between the marks, seems perfect, also the F1 pump fluid is full.

I can start the car, I can hear the F1 pump running, but when I select 1st or reverse it beeps and dose not engage the gear, it only beeps while I hold the paddle.

Any ideas?

 

HAHAHAHAHA Doh!

Found I was trying to engage the gearbox with the engine cover open, hmmmm some smart person decided that was not a good idea and programmed the computer to not allow it. Good thinking!

So I can now engage 1st gear and I’m about to take it for a drive and see if it’s all sorted.

Thanks to all for there help!

 

It is a good safety feature, as is the level sensor in the gearbox, i assume they have this as it is the only thing i can figure that caused my problem today.

Fluid level was on min on the dip stick, topped up to half and away she went. Lovely!

Ill take her out for a run in the daylight and make sure its fine, Love the 355! personality plus!

 

It's not fixed!

I added about 500ml gear oil and it brought the level up from min to about half way between min and max, i thought that had it sorted but....

Same problem again yesterday, not shifting and flashing the gear light and gearbox warning light.

Only thing that makes sense to me would be if the F1 pump is not making enough pressure, would that cause the symptoms im talking about here?

 

Its booked in next week for the problem to be fixed, so i will report back once fixed.

Bleeding the F1 system sounds like it could be the go, new fluid is cheaper than a new pump

 

Ok, I have just heard back from the shop, they had to contact the factory to solve the problem.

Turns out it was the relay switch that controls the brake lights, it also sends a signal to the TCU that controls the gearbox, just a simple clean and contact lube and its all sorted, hopefully.

Thanks to everyone for there input, I’m heading to pick the car up and bring her home tomorrow, can't wait.

 

So I went to pick my car up today, great service and the service manager was very nice.

Got in the car and 10min down the road it did the same thing again, so it’s not fixed. I took it back and the service manager was very apologetic, he is now at a total loss as to what is causing the problem, they have contacted the factory and did what the factory told them to do, but still it has the same problem. The service manager was comforted by the fact that I am not too upset by the whole thing, I figure I could get upset and say some strong words, but what would this prove, all it would say is that I am a ass.... that has a temper problem, I just said fix it and ill come get it when its done.

So the problem remains the same, when selecting a gear while driving it slips into neutral and the gear indicator light flashes, it seems to be related to 4th gear, as every time I can remember what gear I was in when it happened I was either shifting up to 4th or down from 4th it has given the problem.

Now the waiting game again.

 

They said they tried to pull the codes but there were no codes in there, this is why they are having trouble diagnosing the fault.

I will mention the hoses to them, but it would seem funny that they have spent the best part of 10hours working on the car and have not noticed a kink in a hose.

I have already mentioned the bleeding of the F1 system fluid to them, I am not sure if they have done this or not though.

So the best plan is the same plan we had weeks ago, bleed the F1 system and see what happens.

Hay No Doubt, would there be codes if it is the F1 fluid?

 

It looks like you were on the money with that, they have found the sensor that measures clutch wear was adjusted wrong, once the adjustment was corrected they found the clutch is 95% worn, they used the sensor to give me my ppi and said it was under 25% worn.

So they have fitted a new clutch and I am waiting for there testing to be completed, if the problem does not resurface, I will be able to pick her up by the weekend.

 

Ok, it was NOT the clutch causing this problem, the new clutch has been fitted and the problem remains.

The workshop has been in contact with the factory again, they have advised that it could be the actuators that select the gears or the adjustment of the arms inside the gearbox that select the gears.

The workshop has advised me of the situation and is going to start by bleeding the F1 system. Hmmm. i recall asking them about that ages ago.

Now I’m really starting to miss my car, I drove it for 5 weeks, then returned it to the workshop to fix this problem, so far they have had it for about a month, if they have it much longer they will have had it for longer than i did.

I need a magic wand that can find the fault and sort it out.