Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
1972nail
Member
Member
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2016 8:55 pm

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by 1972nail » Sun Feb 11, 2018 12:10 am

The 'sensor' is really a switch on the side of the gearbox. Passenger side UK driver's side where people drive on the wrong side f the road.....LOL.. It's a large sealed switch connected to the gear selector with a cable and it detects the position of the lever P,D,N or R. If it can't determine which position it is in then the ECU shows a fault.

Ours has started again just as the weather has been warming up which could mean that the selector cable isn't adjusted perfectly and .while it was making correct contact in the cold a bit of expansion causes it to lose contact.....possibly... Could also be the large multi-pin connector is dirty again of course.

daimler3996
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:46 am

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by daimler3996 » Thu May 20, 2021 11:52 am

Apologies for resurrecting such an old thread...

We've got the same issue on our 2004 3.0i - warning light almost invariably illuminates on start-up if starting in park. Putting the car into neutral before starting usually avoids the problem.

Local garage (Jaguar/BMW/Mercedes etc. specialist) has plugged the car in and diagnosed a position sensor fault. Contacts have been cleaned and a new battery fitted, but to no avail.

Is it now time to bite the bullet and buy a new position sensor? The idea of paying c£300 for a switch raises my hackles a bit, but not sure what else could be done!

User avatar
Sticks
Member
Member
Posts: 673
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:56 pm
Location: Kent

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by Sticks » Thu May 20, 2021 4:24 pm

Have you used the car much lately? I forgot I'd had this issue until you posted (a long time ago) and it went away and didn't come back with more use.
3.0 SE Auto, Sapphire Black, Elipsoids, Xenons, Sat Nav, BT, Cruise, MFSW, 6CD, non-rfts.

daimler3996
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:46 am

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by daimler3996 » Thu May 20, 2021 4:49 pm

Sticks wrote: Thu May 20, 2021 4:24 pm Have you used the car much lately? I forgot I'd had this issue until you posted (a long time ago) and it went away and didn't come back with more use.
Interesting question - bought the car abut 6 weeks ago and have used it at least a couple of times a week since then, but it had had minimal use by its previous owner for a number of years - perhaps the issue will go away over time (I can hope...)?

User avatar
Sticks
Member
Member
Posts: 673
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:56 pm
Location: Kent

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by Sticks » Thu May 20, 2021 5:05 pm

daimler3996 wrote: Thu May 20, 2021 4:49 pm
Sticks wrote: Thu May 20, 2021 4:24 pm Have you used the car much lately? I forgot I'd had this issue until you posted (a long time ago) and it went away and didn't come back with more use.
Interesting question - bought the car abut 6 weeks ago and have used it at least a couple of times a week since then, but it had had minimal use by its previous owner for a number of years - perhaps the issue will go away over time (I can hope...)?
I hope so. I don't use my car much but when I do I make sure I use all the transmission functions whenever I can.
3.0 SE Auto, Sapphire Black, Elipsoids, Xenons, Sat Nav, BT, Cruise, MFSW, 6CD, non-rfts.

User avatar
Rockhopper
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1099
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:05 pm
Location: Mansfield

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by Rockhopper » Thu May 20, 2021 9:41 pm

The part is about £180 plus vat.

daimler3996
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:46 am

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by daimler3996 » Thu May 20, 2021 11:29 pm

Rockhopper wrote: Thu May 20, 2021 9:41 pm The part is about £180 plus vat.
Not quite as bad as I thought in that case. I'll probably bite the bullet when I get fed up having to start it in neutral...

User avatar
Rockhopper
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1099
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:05 pm
Location: Mansfield

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by Rockhopper » Thu May 20, 2021 11:31 pm

It won’t get better on its own, it’ll only get worse until it strands you in the middle of nowhere :D

User avatar
DMike
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2414
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:15 pm

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by DMike » Fri May 21, 2021 4:11 am

I second that. My 2005 3.0i had this issue, first sporadically and finally, after a couple of years, every second time the car was started. I had developed a routine to start in neutral but finally had the switch changed to get rid of the annoyance.
2005 Z4 3.0i Sterling grey

User avatar
Rockhopper
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1099
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:05 pm
Location: Mansfield

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by Rockhopper » Fri May 21, 2021 9:11 am

I had mine changed just last week - maybe its the placebo effect but the box feels much nicer now.

User avatar
bigwinn
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4559
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Lincoln UK
Contact:

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by bigwinn » Mon Nov 08, 2021 9:58 pm

Rockhopper wrote: Fri May 21, 2021 9:11 am I had mine changed just last week - maybe its the placebo effect but the box feels much nicer now.
Hi mate

I’m going to clean my switch soon to remedy a recurring light- how much was a replacement switch?

DIY replacement or Indy?
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way! :thumbsup:

Image


EWS Delete PM me
Coding- airbags etc PM me

SonnyA85
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1084
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2016 7:42 pm

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by SonnyA85 » Tue May 17, 2022 3:34 pm

bigwinn wrote: Mon Nov 08, 2021 9:58 pm
Rockhopper wrote: Fri May 21, 2021 9:11 am I had mine changed just last week - maybe its the placebo effect but the box feels much nicer now.
Hi mate

I’m going to clean my switch soon to remedy a recurring light- how much was a replacement switch?

DIY replacement or Indy?
My light has started coming on. Did you get a part number and price for this switch?

User avatar
bigwinn
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4559
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Lincoln UK
Contact:

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by bigwinn » Tue May 17, 2022 4:17 pm

No I just undid mine and cleaned it- not sure if it fixed the issue long term as the car was sold shortly after but it didnt recurr

Stuart
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way! :thumbsup:

Image


EWS Delete PM me
Coding- airbags etc PM me

SonnyA85
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1084
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2016 7:42 pm

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by SonnyA85 » Tue May 17, 2022 5:46 pm

bigwinn wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 4:17 pm No I just undid mine and cleaned it- not sure if it fixed the issue long term as the car was sold shortly after but it didnt recurr

Stuart
Mine used to happen all the time and a new battery sorted it. I've recently got a new battery so I know it's not that this time.

If the light is on and I shift it judders the whole car going from park into reverse same for going from neutral into drive.

However if there is no light it's fine. I'll get my mechanic to have a look at it when he's doing the transmission fluid kill two birds with 1 stone

User avatar
Rockhopper
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1099
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:05 pm
Location: Mansfield

Auto Trans warning light.....AGAIN!

Post by Rockhopper » Tue May 17, 2022 8:24 pm

Like I said, get it changed. It’ll only worsen and eventually leave you stranded.

Post Reply