147 Gta Selespeed Issues...desperate For Advice

[Fridge 0]

Hi, a few months ago i bought my 147 GTA. Had the usual water pump issue which I've had replaced but still having problems with the selespeed system. So after driving the car for a couple of months now, I've tried to take note of all the symptoms with the Selespeed.

1. , When changing gears without feathering the accelerator, the engine revs high during the change if I keep my foot down. Usually the revs jump between 400-900rpm above where they were when I commanded the gear change (depending how hard I'm pushing at the time).

2. If I downshift whilst slowing down (without the accelerator applied), then reapply the throttle quickly, the engine revs high as if the clutch is still applied, then after a couple of seconds, it's like the selespeed suddenly drops the clutch and the gear suddenly grabs and the car jerks and accelerates.

3. Sometimes, after shifting up a gear, the engine appears to settle in gear for a few seconds (at a slightly higher level of rpms than expected), then suddenly it drops another 200rpm to settle where it should be for that particular gear, it's only then that I actually get full power.

4. Occasionally when changing up whilst accelerating, when the next gear is engaged the tacho looks as if it's bouncing a bit (and the engine/car sounds and feels the same way), then after a couple of seconds it settles.

5. Sometimes it still seems as if the system is applying the clutch of its own accord. It seems to happen when I'm cruising and come to a slight rise in the road. It's as if the system senses it's under more load due to the incline and decides it needs to downshift. Problem is I haven't commanded the change and the rise is only very slight, nowhere near enough to warrant a gear change.

Any ideas or advice?

 

[Smaky 73]

My first thought here is that there is 2 issues,

 

The first being that the clutch is worn out/ way out of calibration.

 

The second that the EV0 valve on the clutch block has blown a seal and this is allowing pressure through to the release port, allowing the rod to push the clutch and just release it enough to allow the revs to climb, but the speed sensor should pick this up and cut the revs, though if it's uncommanded then it will have to think about it and this could be the delay.

[Fridge 0]

Thanks for the help Smaky. That's the first time I've been told anything specific. Up until now mechanics have just said ill need to replace the whole selespeed and actuator!!

The mechanic didn't seem to think the clutch was worn out because sometimes when you accelerate hard and change, it will engage the next gear perfectly, no slipping. Wouldn't it slip all the time if it was worn? That was my first guess though.

When you say out of calibration, do you mean the actuator or plunger needs to be calibrated? I was told the plunger in the 147 GTA selespeed auto-calibrates. I there another calibration I can have done?

 

Reading a few other posts related to EV0 problems, I think I understand what you're saying. Is it difficult and expensive to replace the sensor or something I can do myself?

 

Thanks again.

[Smaky 73]

Thanks for the help Smaky. That's the first time I've been told anything specific. Up until now mechanics have just said ill need to replace the whole selespeed and actuator!!

The mechanic didn't seem to think the clutch was worn out because sometimes when you accelerate hard and change, it will engage the next gear perfectly, no slipping. Wouldn't it slip all the time if it was worn? That was my first guess though.

When you say out of calibration, do you mean the actuator or plunger needs to be calibrated? I was told the plunger in the 147 GTA selespeed auto-calibrates. I there another calibration I can have done?

 

Reading a few other posts related to EV0 problems, I think I understand what you're saying. Is it difficult and expensive to replace the sensor or something I can do myself?

 

Thanks again.

 

Replacing the solenoid requires diagnostics to calibrate the system again afterwards and clear the codes, Also when you remove that valve there is a lot of pressure stored behind it and it WILL squirt out about 200ml of fluid at upto 55 Bar, so unless you are confident with hydraulics I wouldn't attempt it, there is one more possible fault that can cause this, after thinking longer it is possible for a sticking accumulator to do this too as if it's not building up the correct pressure then it will be struggling to control the itself, cold temps allow things to shrink and it's not unheard of, but I would say 9/10 times this will be the EV0.

 

As for clutches, they wear alot faster on seles, and epecially if they wear unevenly and cause the rod to pulse as they spin, this makes the sysem think the clutch isn't engaged properly and causes the clutch rod actuator to pulse thus make the ride jerky or slippy, as the clutch heats up and expands it may even out and the figures stabalise ending the pulsing. Aclutch can often be removed from a car doing wierd things, be fitted to a normal manual and still go for 50K miles happily, I wouldn't recommend it as it's a lot of work on a V6, but if you couldn't be bothered with a new one then...