Stagea Auto Fourth Gear / Tiptronic Problem... Help!

[nDuDut]

Hi fellas,

Just bought a Series 2 Stagea last week. Not long after, I took it to get a stereo head unit and alarm system fitted. When I collect the car, the auto box is messed up!!! It won't shift to fourth gear / overdrive. I had to shift to tiptronic mode using the gear lever and 'force' it to shift to fourth. If I move it back to 'D' it shifts down to the third gear and will not shift up. Also, the tiptronic button on the steering wheel does not work now.

Took it back to the guys who installed the alarm and they have no idea... FYI, I've fitted an AutoWatch alarm system with the turbo timer...

Please help!!!

[leetom]

Hi fellas,

Just bought a Series 2 Stagea last week. Not long after, I took it to get a stereo head unit and alarm system fitted. When I collect the car, the auto box is messed up!!! It won't shift to fourth gear / overdrive. I had to shift to tiptronic mode using the gear lever and 'force' it to shift to fourth. If I move it back to 'D' it shifts down to the third gear and will not shift up. Also, the tiptronic button on the steering wheel does not work now.

Took it back to the guys who installed the alarm and they have no idea... FYI, I've fitted an AutoWatch alarm system with the turbo timer...

Please help!!!

if you bought it of a dealer and have got warranty your gunna take it back...... i've got a s1 so don't know if theres a little trick...s2 guys will help there.....sorry i got no idea, hope someone else can help, good luck,

fingers crossed for warranty

leigh.

[Appealing]

There could be a couple of problems, compounding the situation, or could be something else entirely.

One, I wouldn't suspect the box, until you've looked at everything else.

1st, I'd check fuses, BUT... I'd be suspicious of wires that may have been cut or tampered with under the centre console.

The tipronic switch, when pressed will show a light on the dash (near the speedo). If nothing happens, then suspect that the switch may have been disconnected.

Also have a a look at the other buttons.... see if you have the "Snow" button.... this engages the box at 2nd and misses first.... I don't know if it affects 4th gear.

I would think that the problem is under there somewhere. They may have used a feed pick up for the radio, that they shouldn't.

I was just wondering if it goes better on FM or AM..... just kidding.... I don't think that it is major, but may take some sorting out.

Good Luck

[nDuDut]

if you bought it of a dealer and have got warranty your gunna take it back...... i've got a s1 so don't know if theres a little trick...s2 guys will help there.....sorry i got no idea, hope someone else can help, good luck,

fingers crossed for warranty

leigh.

Yes... I do have warranty from the dealer. Have arranged to see them next Wednesday.

[nDuDut]

There could be a couple of problems, compounding the situation, or could be something else entirely.

One, I wouldn't suspect the box, until you've looked at everything else.

1st, I'd check fuses, BUT... I'd be suspicious of wires that may have been cut or tampered with under the centre console.

The tipronic switch, when pressed will show a light on the dash (near the speedo). If nothing happens, then suspect that the switch may have been disconnected.

Also have a a look at the other buttons.... see if you have the "Snow" button.... this engages the box at 2nd and misses first.... I don't know if it affects 4th gear.

I would think that the problem is under there somewhere. They may have used a feed pick up for the radio, that they shouldn't.

I was just wondering if it goes better on FM or AM..... just kidding.... I don't think that it is major, but may take some sorting out.

Good Luck

Thanks, I'll ask the service guys to look at the wiring under the center console first.

I did try to use the steering wheel buttons, but I didn't see any light comes up. If you're talking about the light that shows which gear I am in, it does show though.

I do have the snow button, I'll check whether it will affect the 4th gear. There is also a button that looks like a steering wheel right next to the shifter, I'm not sure what it does.

Also, what do you mean by using a feed pick up for the radio?

[RS4StagMan]

To use the tiptronic function via the steering wheel controls you have to turn the switch next to the auto shifter to "ON".

This switch has a picture of the steering wheel on it. When you switch this on, there will also be another light that comes on in the dash. The dash light also has a picture of a 'steering wheel'. It is a different light to the one that shows which gear you are in.

This simply means that you can change gears via the steering wheel buttons when the dash 'steering wheel' light comes on.

With the button "ON" you can choose to change gears manually with the steering wheel button or the shifter (move shifter to left position).

Give it a go and see what happens. Hope that helps in some way.

[Appealing]

Thanks, I'll ask the service guys to look at the wiring under the center console first.

I did try to use the steering wheel buttons, but I didn't see any light comes up. If you're talking about the light that shows which gear I am in, it does show though.

I do have the snow button, I'll check whether it will affect the 4th gear. There is also a button that looks like a steering wheel right next to the shifter, I'm not sure what it does.

Also, what do you mean by using a feed pick up for the radio?

I mean that they might have done it the lazy way and cut into one of the wires that controls the tiptronic in order to get power for the radio... thereby stuffing the auto about..... I don't know I am only thinking out loud. But worth checking. The button next to the shift is as Stagman describes it.... I would be looking under the console in this area first. The other thing that is possible..... is that the shift lever is now somehow out of alignment, and isn't really going into D.... maybe it just looks like it is.. and it is actually in 3rd.... that'd do it....maybe they didn't put the console back together properly, the more I think about the more likely it seems.

[nDuDut]

To use the tiptronic function via the steering wheel controls you have to turn the switch next to the auto shifter to "ON".

This switch has a picture of the steering wheel on it. When you switch this on, there will also be another light that comes on in the dash. The dash light also has a picture of a 'steering wheel'. It is a different light to the one that shows which gear you are in.

This simply means that you can change gears via the steering wheel buttons when the dash 'steering wheel' light comes on.

With the button "ON" you can choose to change gears manually with the steering wheel button or the shifter (move shifter to left position).

Give it a go and see what happens. Hope that helps in some way.

Thanks, I'll give it a try...

[nDuDut]

I mean that they might have done it the lazy way and cut into one of the wires that controls the tiptronic in order to get power for the radio... thereby stuffing the auto about..... I don't know I am only thinking out loud. But worth checking. The button next to the shift is as Stagman describes it.... I would be looking under the console in this area first. The other thing that is possible..... is that the shift lever is now somehow out of alignment, and isn't really going into D.... maybe it just looks like it is.. and it is actually in 3rd.... that'd do it....maybe they didn't put the console back together properly, the more I think about the more likely it seems.

You could be right, maybe they cut something out. I heard them talking about pulling a loom that "doesn't seem to do anything"... With the shift out of alignment, it sounds like a mechanical problem. But worth a try.

Anyways, I'm not going to touch the car because I'm not a mechanic. I'll wait until Wednesday for the dealer mechanics to have a look at it, and I'll give him all the suggestions.

If anyone else can offer a suggestion, please don't hesitate...

[chook]

There is an Auto ECU fault code diagnostic mode as well, flashes the code via the A/T dash light, bit tricky to activate, but have used it before with success. Dont have it on hand, can post it tonight if you are interested.

Edited January 25, 2008 by chook

[nDuDut]

There is an Auto ECU fault code diagnostic mode as well, flashes the code via the A/T dash light, bit tricky to activate, but have used it before with success. Dont have it on hand, can post it tonight if you are interested.

Yes, please do... Any suggestions's a good suggestion What does it do though?

[chook]

If the ECU detects a fault, it will store it in its memory, when you perform the diagnostic test it will flash a code, check the code to the list, which ill provide, and hopefully will steer you in right direction.

Can be done for ECU, Auto ECU, Hicas, Attessa(4wd).

Sounds like your alarm/stereo installers werent too skilled.

Where are you located ? Wouldnt go past Chris Rogers for these type of installs in Brisbane.

Edited January 26, 2008 by chook

[nDuDut]

If the ECU detects a fault, it will store it in its memory, when you perform the diagnostic test it will flash a 2 digit code, check the code to the code list, which ill provide, and hopefully will steer you in right direction.

Can be done for ECU, Auto ECU, Hicas, Attessa(4wd).

Sounds like your alarm/stereo installers werent too skilled.

Where are you located ? Wouldnt go past Chris Rogers for these type of installs in Brisbane.

I'm in Perth... Well, the dealer recommend me to go to them for the alarm. Seeing that they have stereo systems, I went and bought a new head unit as well. What a mistake it turns out to be.

[Appealing]

Hi, after having another think about it. I forgot to ask if the auto is showing "D" on the dash.... if it is, well then it may need more sorting.

Where in Perth are you? I am in Coogee, feel free to PM me if you want to have a look at anything in mine.

I don't like the sound of that "loom that does nothing"!! Car manufacturers don't put very much in any car if doesn't have a purpose.

You just reminded me why I don't like other guys installing things...

Best of luck on Wednesday.

[RS4StagMan]

Just another thought.....have you checked the snow button to see if it is on yet?

If it's on, it will make you take off in second gear, as others have suggested, and you should only 'feel' two gear changes...2-3 and 3-4 in normal non tiptronic mode, so you think your are in third gear but actually in 4th as you take off in 2nd gear.

What are your revs at 100km/hr in top gear?

Turning the 'snow button off' should get you taking off in first and then feeling 3 gear changes before you get into top gear.

[chook]

Some S2 auto information:

[nDuDut]

Just another thought.....have you checked the snow button to see if it is on yet?

If it's on, it will make you take off in second gear, as others have suggested, and you should only 'feel' two gear changes...2-3 and 3-4 in normal non tiptronic mode, so you think your are in third gear but actually in 4th as you take off in 2nd gear.

What are your revs at 100km/hr in top gear?

Turning the 'snow button off' should get you taking off in first and then feeling 3 gear changes before you get into top gear.

Thanks... I made sure I turn the snow button off. Just to make sure, I turn it on and tried launching... Sure enough, it accelerated very slowly (so definitely not the snow button). I also tried using the steering wheel tiptronic instead of the gearshift, and it works fine as normal.

My revs at 100km/h in top gear is just below 2500...

So, thanks to all the earlier suggestions, I managed to narrow down the problem only in the auto "D" mode.

[nDuDut]

Some S2 auto information:

Thanks for the manual... But I can't find my Overdrive button???

[chook]

Thanks for the manual... But I can't find my Overdrive button???

Use the M-AT (tiptronic) instructions, not 4AT

Edited January 26, 2008 by chook

[pixel8r]

I really cant believe no one has mentioned this yet, but I'm willing to bet you have nothing wrong with your auto box.

The default behaviour of the Stagea auto (not sure if its the same for s1) is to not engage 4th gear until you either go over 80km/h or until its warmed up enough. So when cold it will not engage 4th at all, until it warms up - often about 2-5 mins into the drive...

It wont let you force 4th gear in any way other than going over about 70-80km/h...and in that case the auto will warm up fairly quick anyway...

I only noticed this when I got an exhaust fitted - because this made it way more noticeable. I could tell something was different before but hadn't put it down to which gear it was in.

you will also notice the car is not very responsive until the engine is warm anyway, which can take longer than the gearbox to warm up. I usually keep an eye on the temp guage and just go easy on the throttle until the needle is horizontal. You'll notice the car suddenly ease up and drive more smoothly once it warms up. It runs fairly rich when cold so probably switches to another fuel map once its warm or something like that.

We probably should have a page of info full of little stagea quirks like this one. I only found this out because it was in the little book I got with the car from the dealer.

If it wont do 4th even when its well and truly warmed up, then maybe you have a fault? in that case, take it to a qualified auto transmission specialist who can open it up and fix it. Hopefully its all fine though...