Citroen C5 x7 al4 auto gearbox no manual mode

[thundermaster]

Hello to everyone and happy new year,

Recently changed to an x7 after the x4. The problem is that gearbox manual mode doesn't do anything. In manual mode it reacts like it is on drive mode. No M indicator lights up on instrument panel. Sport mode is Ok, no fault on a diagnostics tool, not lexia, this morning. Current gear number appears normally on dash next to the D letter. Any ideas? I am wondering if the previous owner disabled the M function. Is it possible? Thank you all!

[GiveMeABreak]

I suspect you may need to get it on Lexia or Diagbox for a proper diagnosis in that case if the sequential manual feature isn't working. You may have a faulty gear control unit, but a proper diagnostic is needed to be honest.

[thundermaster]

Thank you very much, I will try to find a lexia and see...

[thundermaster]

I went to an automatic transmission specialist here in Greece and they said me that the diagnostics tool told "gear lever"?!?!?!, that it is not a gearbox problem but a peripherals problem and to find an electrician.... Any ideas?

[GiveMeABreak]

I think he might mean the actual gear control module. Sometimes these do go faulty and it is this I think he is referring to. By this I mean the physical gear selector module.

[thundermaster]

Thanks for the reply, by this do you mean the whole gear selector, or is there an electronic circuit board and if is this is it easy and cheap to replace? Thanks!

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, the whole gear selector control unit is replaceable and they are about £350 new from Citroen inc. UK VAT, but before doing anything, you need to get it on Lexia or Diagbox and run some tests to make sure there are no other faults.

[thundermaster]

Thanks again... Is there anything I can do myself? Some contact cleaner or a fuse maybe? When it is set on manual, is there an indication in the instrument panel? It looks very strange, it looks like it doesn't take the command to turn into manual when I push left the gear lever. Nothing happens when I push back or front the lever and the car continues to drive in auto mode...

[GiveMeABreak]

I think these just wear out as they are operated over time like any switch module. Obviously if you use manual switching frequently as opposed to leaving it in auto mode then it's going to wear a lot quicker I suspect.

[thundermaster]

I saw a video in youtube with someone had a problem with Parking Brake faulty, he changed a "gear selector" in the engine compartment, under the gearbox connectors box. I wonder if the problem is in these connectors in the engine compartment, but if that were the case, wouldn't I have some indication of a malfunction in the dash? I talked with the previous owner, he bought a used gearbox from Spain five years ago, completely rebuilt it and fitted it to the car. In fact, there is also a video on YouTube with the procedure on this particular car.



He had never driven sequentially, so he had never detected the problem. Could it be that a connector went wrong in the engine compartment? But then again wouldn't that have some indication on the dashboard? Thanks for the help anyway.

[GiveMeABreak]

This is why you need a diagnostic to determine if it is the actual selector or the gearbox ECU or hydraulic block solenoids.

[thundermaster]

Many thanks Marc, I will find a Lexia. I hope to be something simple. If where the valve solenoids, wouldn't the car have a problem in automatic driving as well? The car upshifts and downshifts normally on sudden accelerations or decelerations. In any case, I'll have to find a Lexia, although those who told me "lever" should have had a valid diagnostic tool because they're considered top of the range in transmissions.

[thundermaster]

Finally the car went to an authorized service, absolutely not any fault on Lexia. The mystery continues.... I asked to change the oil of the automatic transmission, they changed with ATF 00009730AE. Is there a possibility of don't reading the lever? I asked if they can read it and they said me they are afraid to do it.

[thundermaster]

Finally, if Lexia isn't showing any technical issues, any idea what the next step should be?