Help drive lost cog lights on and gear numbers flashing

**Fasteddie** · 12-01-2013, 04:19 PM

Hi, just got the car back from a long and delayed new boot lid. Whilst there I had the front painted too. On the test drive and the way home the gear number display has flashed, constantly. We weren't sure if this is just because its been powered down for so long and the gear box is 'learning' again. On the way home, on a slip road between the A13 and lakeside, just before a police check which was just great, it lost drive. As I came to a stop and the car selected 1st it wouldn't then engage at all. Turning off, selecting neutral, or any other gear didn't help however opening and shutting the bonnet did solve this. It happened to me again on the slip to my town, I jumped out opened and shut the bonnet and I was on my way. During this drive home at different points the cog warning light lit up but at no point did the gear number stay solid,always flashing.
Can anybody shed any light on this?

Bounce · 12-01-2013, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fasteddie

Hi, just got the car back from a long and delayed new boot lid. Whilst there I had the front painted too. On the test drive and the way home the gear number display has flashed, constantly. We weren't sure if this is just because its been powered down for so long and the gear box is 'learning' again. On the way home, on a slip road between the A13 and lakeside, just before a police check which was just great, it lost drive. As I came to a stop and the car selected 1st it wouldn't then engage at all. Turning off, selecting neutral, or any other gear didn't help however opening and shutting the bonnet did solve this. It happened to me again on the slip to my town, I jumped out opened and shut the bonnet and I was on my way. During this drive home at different points the cog warning light lit up but at no point did the gear number stay solid,always flashing.
Can anybody shed any light on this?

Maybe it's the SMG sensor in the bonnet catches.They are known to be a common fault

**Fasteddie** · 12-01-2013, 04:29 PM

I'm suspecting the bonnet catch switches but would they fail in this manner? They work to start with and at some point during a long drive they fail? Could this be related to the work done or is it just pure chance that they have chosen now to go. What about the flashing gear display?

chrisburns · 12-01-2013, 04:31 PM

Yep sounds to me like a bonnet switch. The display flashes normally when a door is open or indeed the bonnet not shut properly.

**Fasteddie** · 12-01-2013, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisburns

Yep sounds to me like a bonnet switch. The display flashes normally when a door is open or indeed the bonnet not shut properly.

But surely if the bonnet was registering as open the car wouldn't drive at all?

3wheels3 · 12-01-2013, 05:21 PM

iirc 2 sensors for bonnet. If one sensor is saying shut will drive but flash gear display. Drop bonnet from 18" and I usually push with hand on top where pins are located. Otherwise faulty sensor.

**shimmy** · 12-01-2013, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3wheels3

iirc 2 sensors for bonnet. If one sensor is saying shut will drive but flash gear display. Drop bonnet from 18" and I usually push with hand on top where pins are located. Otherwise faulty sensor.

mine starts flashing about 135mph down kemmel straight but still changes gear (air lifting bonnet up) but gareth has fixed it by adjusting sensors

**Fasteddie** · 12-01-2013, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3wheels3

iirc 2 sensors for bonnet. If one sensor is saying shut will drive but flash gear display. Drop bonnet from 18" and I usually push with hand on top where pins are located. Otherwise faulty sensor.

Thanks that sounds like it fits. Will check this tomorrow. I take it with two people I can manually push the trip switches down? If I can do this I'll try one then the other then both, that should flush out the problem.

**Fasteddie** · 12-01-2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimmy

mine starts flashing about 135mph down kemmel straight but still changes gear (air lifting bonnet up) but gareth has fixed it by adjusting sensors

Looking at the switches I can see how he'd do that, will try some options when it's light

Bounce · 12-01-2013, 06:16 PM

It may also be the Salmon coloured relay playing up.

12-01-2013, 04:19 PM	#1
Fasteddie S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ashford, Kent Posts: 202 Casino cash: $1434	Help drive lost cog lights on and gear numbers flashing Hi, just got the car back from a long and delayed new boot lid. Whilst there I had the front painted too. On the test drive and the way home the gear number display has flashed, constantly. We weren't sure if this is just because its been powered down for so long and the gear box is 'learning' again. On the way home, on a slip road between the A13 and lakeside, just before a police check which was just great, it lost drive. As I came to a stop and the car selected 1st it wouldn't then engage at all. Turning off, selecting neutral, or any other gear didn't help however opening and shutting the bonnet did solve this. It happened to me again on the slip to my town, I jumped out opened and shut the bonnet and I was on my way. During this drive home at different points the cog warning light lit up but at no point did the gear number stay solid,always flashing. Can anybody shed any light on this?

12-01-2013, 04:29 PM	#3
Fasteddie S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ashford, Kent Posts: 202 Casino cash: $1434	I'm suspecting the bonnet catch switches but would they fail in this manner? They work to start with and at some point during a long drive they fail? Could this be related to the work done or is it just pure chance that they have chosen now to go. What about the flashing gear display?

12-01-2013, 04:31 PM	#4
chrisburns S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: N.Ireland Posts: 653 Casino cash: $12778	Yep sounds to me like a bonnet switch. The display flashes normally when a door is open or indeed the bonnet not shut properly.

12-01-2013, 05:21 PM	#6
3wheels3 S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 773 Casino cash: $21189	iirc 2 sensors for bonnet. If one sensor is saying shut will drive but flash gear display. Drop bonnet from 18" and I usually push with hand on top where pins are located. Otherwise faulty sensor.

12-01-2013, 06:16 PM	#10
Bounce CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 7,057 Casino cash: $35793	It may also be the Salmon coloured relay playing up.