Jumps From 2Nd To 5Th When Hot

[ilikealfas 0]

Hi All, I've just bought a 2006 Alfa147 selespeed lusso with only 30K documented miles. It was great on the test drive. Unfortunately it turns out after around driving 30mins it starts jumping from 2nd gear to 5th or to neutral. Researching the net I can’t see the same problem anywhere. Seems strange and maybe significant it only happening when hot or at least when driven around town (lots of gear changes) I took it to two local independent garages mentioned on alfa forums who connected to their diagnosis equipment – no fault, oil in system checked and ok but when they took for extensive test drive and found same problem and could only suggest new actuator £1000 + or further costly investigation. I did have couple of suggestions that the high and low speed selection shaft inside the actuator is corroded as although the car is 7 years old the mileage suggests less its a worn part but corrosion or a new accumulator. Any ideas would be much appreciated not least because my wife is far from happy 'I've bought a broken car'

[Smaky 73]

What would really help here is if you had a cable and software, Multiecuscan is best, or find some one who has as this requires a few parameter to be checked.

 

Clutch plate travel, Hydraulic pressure and brake pedal position mainly.

 

But first you need to ensure the Clutch is set correctly and that the system is calibrated, then we can start to track down the probem if it persists into the 3 possible areas, actuator, gearbox or clutch.

[ilikealfas 0]

Thank you smaky for your reply. I've taken it to two independent Alfa specialist both of whom tell me they have connected to their diagnostic machines and find no fault? If I knew a could simply spend a couple of hundred pounds or so and it would be fixed I'd be happy to do so. Trouble is both specialists say they don't know, and sense without being a mechanic I could be pouring money into a black hole.

P

[Smaky 73]

Thank you smaky for your reply. I've taken it to two independent Alfa specialist both of whom tell me they have connected to their diagnostic machines and find no fault? If I knew a could simply spend a couple of hundred pounds or so and it would be fixed I'd be happy to do so. Trouble is both specialists say they don't know, and sense without being a mechanic I could be pouring money into a black hole.

P

 

With dealers in the UK having no-one trained on the system then it's no surprise you get that feeling and I don't know of any Indies that have a clue what they are doing either.

h

it's not the fault codes I'm looking for in this case, more the rate of pressure loss on a static system hot and cold and wether or not the system is calibrated correctly, if those both showed up fine then I'd be of the opinion the clutch was worn out, but once in a while it is simply a leaking seal accross one of the EV solenoids, which is why the pressures need to be checked hot and cold.

 

 

If you need someone fairly local who has the kit and knows what I am on about then Alfapat on the other forum may be able to help and he's just outside Elgin.

[ilikealfas 0]

Thanks again. But can,t find a contact for Alfapat in Eligin?

[Romek 0]

I Believe that

 

Smaky means Alfapat can be contacted via the alfaowner.com forum site

 

Ps I am also starting to experience the same problem/symptons with my Selespeed If I find a solution I will let you know as I am going to ask Smaky to give me hand to investigate.. I personally do not think this will be an easy fix due to the erratic nature of not selecting 3rd or 4th after a while.

Edited April 30, 2013 by Romek

[Smaky 73]

We'll figure this out.

[alfapat 3]

This thread must have resolved its self , I am intriquid to find the solution?

[Romek 0]

Hi alfapat,

 

I haven't contacted Smaky as yet due to home refurbishment and the garage is storing furniture , but I will be on Smaky case for his advise and help next week hopefully Will publish when cleared

[Smaky 73]

Best get the kettle on then...

[Smaky 73]

Best get the kettle on then...

[alfapat 3]

Kettle needs reboiled , in contact with ilikealfa, so hopefully we can resolve.

[Romek 0]

Alfapat kettle got reboiled ..Update

Smaky had changed the actuator as I had a spare, as my original was leaking from the clutch pudshrod area.

The EOL calibration was successful .Driving the car now ,it changes 1st and 2nd gear,but it now fails immediately to get into 3rd gear. It now goes back to 1st gear . Starting to look like a gearbox fault being masked by the selespeed actuator . next stage to remove gearbox and inspect...

 

Will let you know

[Smaky 73]

Hopefully weds morning we'll know if it's the box.

[ilikealfas 0]

Hi All and thank you to all those who have posted. My 147 selespeed problem continues although its become more erratic, sometimes jumping from 2nd to neutral change up again and it goes into 5th. Sometimes when stopped it does not go down to 1st, and can take a couple of goes to go from neutral to 1st?

After a couple of trips to the garage I'm now £800 lighter ( although this included cambelt change and repair to power steering) so funds are getting low and running out of ideas what to do. I'm no mechanic but this is what the garage have told me, yesterday when I picked the car up and the jumping gear problem hadn't shown up on their test drives ( they also told me it was one of the best drives 147 selespeeds they have come across! )

 

 

 

1. Calibration - 42 - 59, along with 28. 9

measured cold 330

measured hot 300

pump running

 

( i don't pretended to understand these figures)

 

2 The adjustment locking nut was checked along with other nuts and were tight.

 

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Pete

[Smaky 73]

I think this is the gearbox itself, I suspect from hat it is doing now that the upper loop which supports the input selector shaft has snapped off, not common on 147s as they almost all have the reinforced center case fitted, but whilst invedtigating that I would replace the clutch as the box is off.

 

£800 to replace the cambelt and repair a leaking steering pipe is more than on the steep side.

[ilikealfas 0]

Smaky, Thank you for your reply. But oh dear replacing 'input selector shaft has snapped off' and the clutch sounds very expensive!

Just one question if the input selector has snapped should the changing gear problem be there all the time? The problem is Intermittent. I was wondering does the Intermittent nature point to somthing electrical?

P

[Smaky 73]

It's all speculation as I obviously dont have your car to hand, but the heat relation to the fault does also show up with some mechanical issues.

 

And it's not the selector that's faulty, it would be the center section of the casing, in all it would take me about 8 hours tops to remove, strip and examine the box, rebuild it with a new clutch and get it all running sweetly again, plus unfortunately I know theat no-one north/south/east or west of Oxford know what they are doing with a selespeed which has been proven time and again by the shear amount of calls I receive.

[Romek 0]

Replaced gearbox and carried out end of line calibration Appears OK . Will have to get MOT and then do a long test drive to confirm it is cured.

[millervet 1]

Just curious as to how things turned out, plus did the clutch get replaced at the same time? Who did the work for you?

[Romek 0]

Just got the MOT with the one advisory (leaking Exhaust Gas) the MOT garage tries to give value for their £40 !!!!

Will be taxing on 1st October then long road test to see if any problems still there.

Smaky did the work for me and when he gets a bit of spare time he will do an autopsy on the internals of the gearbox.

I know this thread is long with little conclusion but it is a spare motor so I haven't been in a rush

[Smaky 73]

I've done an autopsy on another gearbox with exactly the same issue, I found the sleeve which the 2 centering springs act upon on the selection input shaft had slid approximately 4mm downwards, this was preventing me from physically selecting 5th or reverse manually on the bench, replacement of this shaft has rendered the gearbox fully servicable and the owner is happily stuck in traffic on the M25 again.