A pre-existed gearbox problem bugging me

[begins]

Hi all,

I live in a tropical country, average temperature is 30c but can gets up to 39c or higher. I recalled that I bought my pre-owned C5 during the hottest month of the year. The car drives okay until towards the cooler part of the year. The symptom is this:

1. During a cold start or when it rains heavily, the car will get "gearbox faulty" error at the initial 60km/h speed. To overcome this, simply stop aside, restart the engine and the error message will go away afterward. The car drives normally after that and the rest of the day. In a cold day, 24c or 28c, I may have to repeat a few times to get rid of the error.

2. Alternatively, I just start the engine and let it warm up for about 10mins. 99% of the time, I don't get the error by doing this.

3. I thought it is the ATF issue initially. So I change out the original ATF, flush and replace but problem still there. So I switch to LT compatible and then later to DIII also the same issue. So I doubt it is the ATF problem.

I've drove the car for 2 over years now. I not quite sure is this a mechanical problem. Could this be some electronic problem? Some sensors that I need to replace to eradicate the problem.

Kindly advise me and Thank you very much.

Regards,

[Mandrake]

Do you have access to a Lexia ? Checking the gearbox for fault codes is probably the only way to get any idea what the cause may be as the dashboard will display "gearbox fault" regardless of the cause.

It would need to be done soon after the fault occurred too (within a few days/weeks) as temporary fault codes are automatically erased automatically if they don't reoccur for a while. (After 40 engine starts is typical)

[Clogzz]

The high humidity and torrential rains of Malaysia may affect the transmission ECU.
It sits low on the side of the box housing where it’s at risk of water entry if the sealing is not perfect.

[begins]

Do you have access to a Lexia ? Checking the gearbox for fault codes is probably the only way to get any idea what the cause may be as the dashboard will display "gearbox fault" regardless of the cause.

It would need to be done soon after the fault occurred too (within a few days/weeks) as temporary fault codes are automatically erased automatically if they don't reoccur for a while. (After 40 engine starts is typical)

Frankly, until now I'm still not quite sure what Lexia to get and how to buy one? Can you recommend me a link to ebay or other web store to get one?

Thank you very much.

Regards,

[begins]

The high humidity and torrential rains of Malaysia may affect the transmission ECU.
It sits low on the side of the box housing where it’s at risk of water entry if the sealing is not perfect.

May I know whether you are referring to BSI box or the pressure regulating sensors?

Thank you.

Regards,

[Clogzz]

The BSI box and its connectors.
Don't know if it's called BSI, it certainly is the control box for the transmission.

[Mandrake]

It won't be the BSI - that's the central controller for the car that does central locking, immobiliser, alarm, suspension and a few other things. The gearbox will have its own separate ECU.

[begins]

Hi all,

So far from what I've read about the old posts and in other forums, it seems to suggest that I need to change the 2 electrovalves in the gearbox.

These electrovalves are prone to failure, should I say a wear and tear item in the gearbox?

Do you have experience changing these valves?

Kindly advise me.

Thank you very much.

Regards,

[Clogzz]

These valves only needed replacing in early Mk I types.
The Mk II has the new valves with the black connectors.

[begins]

These valves only needed replacing in early Mk I types.
The Mk II has the new valves with the black connectors.

Hi there,

Do you happen to know the part number of these electrovalves?
Also, you mentioned about MKI and MKII, is my year 2007 model belongs to MKII?

Kindly advise me.

Thank you very much.

Regards,

[Clogzz]

The part number is 2574 16.
Your car is a late Mk II.

Best wishes.

[begins]

The part number is 2574 16.
Your car is a late Mk II.

Best wishes.

Thank you very much for the information.

I sure hope the replacement is not going to cost me a bomb...LOL

Regards,

[begins]

Hi all,

Finally, "GearBox Faulty" error message disappeared!

Amusing that 2 electrovalves would solve the problem. I thought I might have to spend a lot to change to a new gearbox. The gear change is so much smoother now.

I did this job at the local Citroen Service Centre. They made noise about me using DIII ATF. In the end I have to get them to flush out the DIII ATF and replace with the Cat Pee else they will not proceed with the electrovalves replacement.

I was told it will be good to replace electrovalves once every 3 years. It is a simple procedure and probably the cheapest repair job that I've done at Citroen Service Centre.

Thank you very much to all for the advice.

Regards,

[myglaren]

Good that it is fixed and even better that the service agents insisted on removing the Dexron and replacing it with cat pee. Your autobox should live a lot longer now.

[begins]

Good that it is fixed and even better that the service agents insisted on removing the Dexron and replacing it with cat pee. Your autobox should live a lot longer now.

Hahaha...I do hope so.

I was also advised that after 3 change (over a span of 9~10 years) of electrovalves, the gearbox has to go for overhaul if not a replacement for a new gearbox.

Just curious, do you all, change electrovalves every 3 years or go for gearbox overhaul?

Regards,