PaulW

Went to go pick my car up.....it is absolutely gorgeous......then once I started the car I saw that the PRNDS display didn't have anything highlighted when in R.

We pushed it out of the driveway and the R was highlighted....and it went into reverse. At this point I figured it was an electronic problem....something that got wet or maybe slimy with engine detail stuff.

Drove away, when I put it in D, nothing light up....so it would stay in first gear.....drove it to the gas station to put 21.4 gallons in (I never drive it that low but forgot how low it was on the way over), and then it started back home.....after a mile or so it went into D (actually it was highlighted), then it started shifting into 2nd, 3rd, etc.

When I got to my garage, it wouldn't go into reverse again....but the tail lights would go on. So it's just something that's wet......no problem.

The engine bay looks like it is new.....I'm sure this is where it came from, it's hot, the hood is open, and I bet it will correct itself very soon, if not, it won't be hard to troubleshoot!

Will post pics tomorrow.

TwoTonic

Paul,

Please keep us posted on what you find. I also have a 2001 D2 that shifts fine in the forward gears... but won't highlight "R" and won't shift into Reverse. Also suspect electronic chicanery or a loose sensor connector back to the transmission controller.

Thanks!

PaulW

Very Interesting....

TwoTonic

... that indicated that the Transmission Control Module (TCM) might be getting bad data (loose, wet or defective) from one of the VSS speed sensors. To protect the ZF box, the TCM would inhibit shifting into gear if it thought the sensor indicated the vehicle might still be in motion.

I've wanted to short out the VSS input into the TCM sometime, just to see if this could address it for a test case, but haven't gotten around to it yet. If I get my "R" back on the panel and it actually shifts into Reverse, then it's a favorable clue. In it's current state, as I probed it the TCM didn't appear to be trying to shift the actual actuators into "R" at all.

Clearly if yours will shift properly into R on occasion, the bands inside the ZF transmission must not be totally shot.

It certainly 'feels' electronic, especially if it's intermittent. Naturally, I like the $5 solution instead of the $3500 solution!

skiracer

WooHoo! Bank account now healthier than expected ;-)

rangervr4.2

Especially since my S8 just turned 77,000 mi and I'm already paranoid after changing the fluid..

jfrahm

Water in there gets on the TCU. Drips maybe.