'92 960 - WSE Christmas Tree?

Seems we have some kind of transmission problem. This morning I find
the Winter / Econo / Sport indicators flashing between themselves -
either W-E-W-E or S-E-S-E - and the dash arrow flashing too. I checked
the OBD-1 codes, and get five:

1-1-4
2-2-3
1-2-4
2-1-3
3-1-3

I change the selector a few times, just on the off-chance it's
susceptible to symparthetic magic, but no joy. I power off, come back
to check the codes, and everything seems fine again.

Anyone care to offer a most likely cause for this? I assume I need to
get it looked at ASAP, but I'd also like to be sure I can trust it
enought ot get to a mechanic and I'd prefer to be forearmed with some
understanding of the likely cause. And the likely [gulp] cost...

Thanks all,

Robert Smith

 

Possibility that you may need a software update which can only be done at the
dealers. The box is an AW3040 or AW 3043 and is electronically controlled.

Cheers, Peter.

: Seems we have some kind of transmission problem. This morning I find
: the Winter / Econo / Sport indicators flashing between themselves -
: either W-E-W-E or S-E-S-E - and the dash arrow flashing too. I checked
: the OBD-1 codes, and get five:
:
: 1-1-4
: 2-2-3
: 1-2-4
: 2-1-3
: 3-1-3
:
: I change the selector a few times, just on the off-chance it's
: susceptible to symparthetic magic, but no joy. I power off, come back
: to check the codes, and everything seems fine again.
:
: Anyone care to offer a most likely cause for this? I assume I need to
: get it looked at ASAP, but I'd also like to be sure I can trust it
: enought ot get to a mechanic and I'd prefer to be forearmed with some
: understanding of the likely cause. And the likely [gulp] cost...
:
: Thanks all,
:
: Robert Smith
:
:

 

A software update?? Bit late for a Y2K bug, I would have thought. But
it would still have to be a response to a change in some envirnmental
factor, wouldn't it? I don't know if it's safe to assume that the
software would be re-IPL'ed each time the key was turned off; but if
so, then I'd expect the condition not to repeat.

I found some info on www.brickboard.com that may implicate the PNP
switch (Plug 'n Play??) . And, given the history of the car, I'd be
inclined to suspect electrical connections again, as EVERYthing that's
been at fault in the last year has been electrical.

Thanks for the response, though. It opens yet another avenue of
possibilities.

Robert Smith

 

This is a classic problem with the gear selector position (aka neutral)
switch. The transmission computer gets a bad signal and gets confused
as to what position the gear lever is supposed to be in, so when the
transmission does something unexpected, all kinds of codes are set.
Turning the car off resets everything (except the trouble code memory)
and the transmission computer will be happy if the switch is now making
proper contact. Try clearing the codes, moving the shifter rapidly from
P to L 15-20 times and see what happens. This may be enough to clean
the switch, but if this happens again, you'll need to replace the
switch. It's mounted on the side of the transmission right above the
exhaust pipe.

 

Thanks muchly. I've reset the codes, and will wait to see if the
condition recurs. This is the second time we've had "random" OBD
events - last time, it was the O2 sensor. Reset the code, and it's
never happened again. This car came out of Toronto around a year ago;
got to wonder whether ten years of Toronto summers and winters might
not have something to do with its electrical bugs.

Robert Smith