Hi all,
I have a 2002 x308 3.2 with a strange auto transmission problem.
From cold start it stays in 1st gear until you manually shift gear, from then on and for the rest of the day it shifts perfectly in drive. Next morning with a cold start it sticks in 1st gear again.
This problem developed after the car had been left standing for a few months.
Today as I was pulling out of a side turning I lost drive momentarily and a message flashed up on the dashboard 'ABC' for a couple of seconds then it went out and drive re-engaged.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

 

Sounds like 2 different issues to me.


I think you mean ASC.
That is the Automatic Stability Control.
You will fell the car "bog" down when this activates.
That is normal.


As far as the "stuck in 1st gear" issue, that seems to be a completely different problem with the ZF transmission OR control module. Any qualified transmission mechanic that works on BMW's will be able to fix this.


You won't know if its the module or the transmission unless you have a qualified IMPORT transmission specialist look at it. These ZF tranny's are hit or miss as far as longevity.

 

Thanks for your rapid response.

My thoughts exactly regarding the 'ASC' but it was definitely 'ABC' above an amber bar accompanied by a rise in revs and no drive (just liked it had slipped in to neutral)

 

Staying stuck in first gear unless the shifter is moved from "D" to "4" (and this symptom only happening with a cold transmission) might be a stretched shift cable. I had the same symptoms and adjusting the shift cable cured it completely.

I have no clue about the "ABC" message.

 

I had this exact same problem today. Cold start -> drove away in 1st gear. As I increased speed, it should have shifted but didn't. The tach hit about 5000 rpm. I shifted from 'D' to 4 and back to 'D'. That seemed to fix it. I drove about 80kms and stopped for a few moments. I had it in 'Park' (of course). When I drove away, it happened again, stuck in 1st. I released the accelerator and let the tach drop to about 1000rpm. When I pressed the accelerator again, it shifted normally. I didn't notice the ASC indication either time. There was no amber fault indication either.

So, Samilcar, how does one adjust for a stretched shift cable? What did you do?

Thanks.

Edit: I removed the centre console to have a good look at the cable. I cannot imagine the cable getting tighter with time and use, so I shall adjust the two nuts to make the cable a bit (technical term) tighter instead of looser. I hope this works.

Samilcar, you mentioned that this might be a fix if the symptom appears with a cold gearbox. Of course, after driving 80kms, the gearbox was toasty the second time it happened. Mind you, it only required a drop in rpm to enable proper shifting that time.

These gearboxes don't require additional fluid, I understand. Could a loss of fluid due to a leak also cause the same symptoms? Thoughts?

Thanks again.

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...then-d-158298/

Adjusting the cable involves loosening the lock nuts by the shifter, placing the gear shift into "N", then ensuring that the transmission switch (attached to the other end of the cable underneath the car) is in it's proper "N" position. Once both the shifter and transmission switch are in "N", tighten the cable lock nuts back down.

Note: the manual instructions in that link call for disconnecting the cable at the transmission. If all you're doing is adjusting the cable, this doesn't need to be done.

Low fluid can also cause strange symptoms. When I was having my transmission problems, I first checked the fluid level and it was OK.

 

When the rain stops and the ground dries, I will get underneath the car and check it out. Thanks very much for the quick response, Samilcar.