stef_london
Member
I have an intermittent fault that now happens every time I start from cold.
When starting my 2003/53 petrol I get the dreaded Trans.Failsafe.Prog error on the dash. When I turn the key sometimes it starts immediately, sometimes I need to keep the key turned to "start"....nothing happens while the electronics have a chat with themselves and then it starts - but always in Trans.Failsafe.Prog mode. It used to be once every few weeks, now it's every time I start.
I have had this back to my local trusted garage and we have come to the conclusion it's an underlying electronics issue:
- lots of parts swapped over (many of them not charged for as they're as mystified as me, and disappointed they can't fix)
- if the engine runs for a minute or two, then turned off and on again, the fault disappears
- if the car has been used "same day" e.g. I use the car at 8am I can usually get a full day out of it before the error comes up again
- Did also have an intermittent RHS headlamp issue not coming on when lights on...that seems to behave now...might be unrelated though
- nothing sensible in OBD (that hasn't since been fixed)
The "if the engine runs for a minute or two, then turned off and on again, the fault disappears" is what we can't fathom. Battery problem unlikely as the battery would have lost some charge restarting within a few seconds.
Some sort of pressure sensor issue is also unlikely - they have all been swapped or tested. Also unlikely because if the car is left idle for hours (any residual oil pressures dissipated I assume) and then started again the fault does not reoccur.
It's like the car really wakes up while turning over for a few minutes and then remembers there is no fault.
Importantly I do need to shut down and restart - the fault is persistent (by design I suppose) and doesn't just disappear by itself (for example, low coolant will reset once you refill coolant with engine still running).
Any ideas? Problem is I can see this is going to get to the point where the car just won't start even in "failsafe" and I will be stranded.
Thanks for thinking!
When starting my 2003/53 petrol I get the dreaded Trans.Failsafe.Prog error on the dash. When I turn the key sometimes it starts immediately, sometimes I need to keep the key turned to "start"....nothing happens while the electronics have a chat with themselves and then it starts - but always in Trans.Failsafe.Prog mode. It used to be once every few weeks, now it's every time I start.
I have had this back to my local trusted garage and we have come to the conclusion it's an underlying electronics issue:
- lots of parts swapped over (many of them not charged for as they're as mystified as me, and disappointed they can't fix)
- if the engine runs for a minute or two, then turned off and on again, the fault disappears
- if the car has been used "same day" e.g. I use the car at 8am I can usually get a full day out of it before the error comes up again
- Did also have an intermittent RHS headlamp issue not coming on when lights on...that seems to behave now...might be unrelated though
- nothing sensible in OBD (that hasn't since been fixed)
The "if the engine runs for a minute or two, then turned off and on again, the fault disappears" is what we can't fathom. Battery problem unlikely as the battery would have lost some charge restarting within a few seconds.
Some sort of pressure sensor issue is also unlikely - they have all been swapped or tested. Also unlikely because if the car is left idle for hours (any residual oil pressures dissipated I assume) and then started again the fault does not reoccur.
It's like the car really wakes up while turning over for a few minutes and then remembers there is no fault.
Importantly I do need to shut down and restart - the fault is persistent (by design I suppose) and doesn't just disappear by itself (for example, low coolant will reset once you refill coolant with engine still running).
Any ideas? Problem is I can see this is going to get to the point where the car just won't start even in "failsafe" and I will be stranded.
Thanks for thinking!
