Selespeed System Failure!

[Alfa Kiwi 0]

Hi

 

I love my Alfa, but am no mechanic.

 

I had issues last year with gear selection, after lots of $ at the auto electrician via the mechanic the brushes were replaced - I wasn't getting any error messages - fixed!

 

Now I am getting the message "Selespeed System Failure", occaisionally while driving the car goes from gears into neutral, then I stop select 1st and drive off (while every 20 seconds or so the dash reports the error and beeps. Have also noticed there is a delay with gear changes.

 

The gears have been graunching when going from 2nd-3rd and 3rd-4th - mechanic said it needs a new gearbox.

 

The mechanic has plugged in diagnostics and wants to take it back to the auto electrician - for the Selespeed fault.

 

I would so appreciate some advice from people in the know , so I can get my car fixed without having to replace unnecessary things as I feel that they aren't too sure themselves - but pretty scarce to find a mechanic who knows anything about Alfa's where I am.

 

Cheers

Edited April 1, 2015 by Alfa Kiwi

[Smaky 73]

The accumulator has stuck and will need to be replaced, http://www.alfadriver.com/forum/index.php/topic/2176-guide-accumulator-replacement/

[gbernard 0]

wouldn't the FES report low pressure or pressure drops if the accumulator was stock, I have been getting slow changes, and dropping into neutral as well.

 

Along with selespeed errors .

 

in my other thread re my 147 GTA sele issues, I have been experiencing late change of upshift between 1st and 2nd, for the last year or so, and now recently, dropping into N with no warning, and it goes straight back into the right gear when i shift it back, it is also getting stuck in in 3rd every now and then, which requires an engine restart to restore normal operation.

 

every component right down to wiring looms was replaced, a new actuator with accumulator was the first thin replaced 14 months ago, to cure a jerky clutch valve, which a clutch valve alone did not fix.

 

only recently did I actually get a selespeed error recorded on the sele ecu, and it was low pressure , and a new pump was installed 4 months ago, along with a new pump relay.

 

Smaky you mentioned in an earlier post the accumulator getting stuck , what did you mean exactly, the dealer I am dealing with seems to be unable to diagnose this, but I read this thread and noticed the symptoms are the same as mine.

Edited April 12, 2015 by gbernard

[Smaky 73]

The accumulator has a spring loaded bellow inside, sometimes these seize up and the pressure isn't there to make the change, but a bump in the road can release them and all goes back to normal, I suspect that could be happening to yours, and just because something is new doesn't mean it's not faulty.

[gbernard 0]

Thanks smaky exactly what i needed to know !!!!

 

is there any pic of a cutaway of an accumulator ? i googled but could not find one.

[Smaky 73]

I've never seen one, so I think it's time to break out the grinder on a duff one.

[gbernard 0]

no matter, the dealer has confirmed while monitoring the pressure during it falling into neutral pressure did not drop below 38 or exceed 55, they want to drop the gearbox, as they beleive either synchros or the selector shaft is fouling , anyway I m close to AUD$14K and 18 months spent on ttrying to rectify this bloody thing, and I am almost ready to dump the car.

[Smaky 73]

They don't need to drop the gearbox, they only have to remove and inspect the clutch speed sensor for damage, that will then let them know if it's a shaft problem, but there is a possibility that the loop which holds the selector arm may have snapped off in which case it's time for a new gearbox casing.

[Alfa Kiwi 0]

Thanks Smaky for the advice, I am in the process of getting an accumulator and relay from the UK as it so much cheaper than sourcing them from the dealers here. I'm hoping that will solve the problem. They told me a relay would cost me $100 NZD and they are only 6.50 GBP.

 

Can I get your advice on explaining how the accumulator can be causing the issue just for piece of mind as it seems if you mention "accumulator" people seem to be scared by the word and think it's some highly complicated part that can't be understood.

 

In simple language, if it is not functioning correctly, because it holds the pressure which enables gear selection then you will get intermittent faults of not being able to select gears or as in my case it pops out of gear. So the malfunctioning accumulator tricks the computer into thinking that the relay that controls the selespeed pump is not working properly because the pump is getting the message from the relay?

 

One other thing, with the graunching of gear changes between 2-3 and 3-4 using both the gear stick and paddles, does that indicate that the gear box needs replacing, or is there something else to investigate.

Cheers

[Smaky 73]

It's only a standard 4 pole relay, and even £6:50 is steep.