My car is stuck in limp home mode and I cant get any codes from the VC it says my pad is bad can I take the pad out and clean it or do I need to replace it the car is a 1990 xj6 4.0 automatic car runs great but will not shift the trans light is on car runs great right now I can take it on the freeway do 65 mph at 3100 rpm but will not shift only other lights light on dash are brake light and coolant mixture light what can I do to fix this problem bad part is I drive this car every other day and put 160 miles on it every time is there a way to trick the TCL into shifting for now till I get a chance to look at it

 

Tcu

 

Steve:
If I'm understanding, you are not getting ANY code on the VCM? Are you sure you are checking it correctly? (Turn the ignition off after running the car, switch the key to position II (just before cranking), and then pressing the VCM button and waiting for a code to show up on the dash display.)

The way to clear the code (and theoretically get you out of limp mode) is to detach the negative battery terminal for a short while. Make sure you have your radio code also, because that will be erased as well. When you hook it back up, if the transmission fault remains, there is an actual fault somewhere that will need to be resolved. There are many possibilities and many possibly solutions, with one common one being a dirty Throttle Position Sensor (TPS).

Somewhere on the forum there's a diagnostic checklist for the limp-mode problem. But I'd try the battery terminal and report back to us.

cheers,
Scott