Transmission failsafe prog

Hi all, new to this , I have a 04 l322 vogue and what I was hoped for is some advice on what to do with out spending lots of money . I’ve just replaced alternator at the same time cleaning injectors and replacing belts . Looking to change oil very soon in next few days . Problem looking for advice on is failsafe program , was drive at 40mph and all of a sudden there was a pop noise . First thought was turbo cos there was a winning noise at same time as the pop . Pulled over cos felt jerky . Automatic it is and when I pulled forward it would jerky like hesitating , put into reverse and it wouldn’t move so switch to drive and back to rev then it would move but after a knock . Like the same as a stuck brake when it’s been sitting for a year . But would jerk . Left car as needed to be somewhere but when pick it up it drove ok but reserved , wouldn’t let me change gear in Manuel mode but change as if still in auto. Then I notice the transmission failsafe message . Going to look to check fluid levels as I read on another post , this is why I’ve posted as read them all the time . Sorry for going on and will welcome any advice .
Thanks

You need to get the codes read. The TCM will have a code stored, so there's no point in further investigation, unless you know why the box is in failsafe mode.
I'm sure these boxes have a reputation of being fragile though.

Nodge68 said:

You need to get the codes read. The TCM will have a code stored, so there's no point in further investigation, unless you know why the box is in failsafe mode.
I'm sure these boxes have a reputation of being fragile though.

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Correct,TD6 with the G M box is made of cheese.

I'm guessing it's a TD6?. How many miles has it done? Is it the original gearbox and torque converter? I believe you generally get 80-100k miles before they start having issues.

Hi all . Had code cleared as was unwanted codes and then drove and it went back into fail safe mode and would use 4 or 5 gear . Only 1 code came up saying 36 gear monitor 4 fault which when looked up is the gear valve solenoid . So have ordered one . It did also say check for iron fillings as may affect it . But thought I’d get one and change . Does this sound like the course to take . Also have got a new diagnostic comp coming as mine was dated . All about saving money as had to pay £50 to get on a comp for codes but still need to clear before can drive after changing part . Any response to confirm my path I’m taking would be good or if there’s something I’m missing . Cheers

backinblack said:

I'm guessing it's a TD6?. How many miles has it done? Is it the original gearbox and torque converter? I believe you generally get 80-100k miles before they start having issues.

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Maybe I should have said 80-100k before they need a full refurb. Mine lasted 105k.

Drop the gearbox pan.
Any metal like this its toast.
I got no symptoms before hand except a one off shudder in 5th at 54ish mph.
Mine is on 157k and had had a box around 90k but its was only a gearbox by looks of the receipt no torque converter or anything else.

^^+1,
If you can do this yourself, firstly try opening the refill plug...
Then drain the oil and as said, drop the pan. If there is any metal dust at all in the oil, it's replacement time unfortunately torque convertor, gearbox and gearbox cooler and pipes will all be contaminated... Hopefully this isn't the case.

and dont forget to make sure the box has a Sonnex valve block if its new box time.

Hi . Dropped the pan and there was a minute bit of metal dust on magnet and the groove of pan but only little and fine . Changed solenoid 36 for 4 and 5th gear . Drove before getting code removed and it would say on dash it was going up to 5 th in Manual mode but only on dash as was still in fail safe mode which before wouldn’t go past 3rd . Anyways I took it to get code removed and for a bit as getting up speed it was ok but bloody went back into failsafe . Now after changing part it didn’t clonk into gear when going through parked up like before . Reverse was the worst as would lock and car wouldn’t move before clonking into it and moving . Well I’m at a loss as wasn’t going to pay for it to be put on diagnostics comp again . I’ve got one coming today or tomorrow to replace mine so will plug it in and update all then . Anything anyone might think of I could try I’ll happily have a look . Really hoping it’s not a replacement box job . As said drove fine and smooth before going into failsafe again .
One thing tho . It’s stays in one gear 3rd or sometimes would us more so it drives normal then limp then normal so thinking maybe a wire short or something . ??? Cheers all

You haven't said how many miles are on the current gearbox? How long have you had the car? it could be the previous owner has already done an oil change and cleaned out the oil pan hoping it would fix it.

Hi . Car has done 187394 and the gear box was renewed and replaced with a rebuild referb at 112658 so that’s about 75 ish miles ago . As said awaiting on computer diagnostic to turn up and hopefully we will see if same or another code comes up . I’m really hoping it’s not new box cos car won’t be getting done as lack of funds . If I’m lucky which never am it’s something else !! Cheers

Hopefully you'll get away without a refurb but I would start saving up if I were you. What diagnostics have you bought?

Icarsoft cr pro professional if that helps . The thing I’m thinking what could it be as I know there’s lots of parts and which part it is or I would need to change . Cheers

Just checking you bought a LR specific reader, it's amazing how many people buy a generic OBD not realising it won't work. As you say there are lots of parts and I'm no gearbox expert but IMO at 75k there maybe a few bits that are getting past their best.

when my auto box let go first time there was no warning and no codes

Hi all . I changed solenoid valve 36 but didn’t change anything . Still not go into 4 or 5 even tho on live scan the comp saying it’s going through the gears ok apart from it not doing it . So think it’s not a Ecu problem but something else and if the comp is saying it and thinks it’s doing it , must be something mechanical . Once the comp realised it’s over Erving but not speeding up it goes into tran safe mode .
Above the trans auto valve housing for here ball bearings that shut off holes . Could one get stuck . Only asking cos I have no winning or clunking or grinding of gears like trying to go into 4 or 5 . Is there doming I’m missing . I thought I’d solve it when I read about the inhibitor switch but this morning all set to remove and clean only to find out I not got one . Really ! Back to square one . Just don’t know where to go . Plus when I scan TA diagnostic which is another head ack . Paid for a icarsoft but got sent a Fox well which only says clear and no codes but is that cos it’s not finding it or it’s a crap scanner . Says it does the same as icarsoft so thought I’d try before sending back .
Pls any help would be very greatfall as can’t send it off to specialist as not got funds for that but I have no trouble doing any work myself if only I could find problem . Changed tran fluid and swopped solenoid from c to b see if problem moved but didn’t . I must be missing something.
Cheers all and sorry for going on

Hi all
Update to my trans failsafe problem .
Was told to get new gearbox which wasn’t a option . Plugged computer in and said solenoid 36 so changed it . Still wouldn’t go into 4 or 5th .
Anyways the computer said it was doing what it’s supposed to do but would go into limp mode once it realised it hadn’t changed up gear .
Things I checked .
Fluid level .... fine
Solenoid 36 changed and rest tested ... fine
Codes ... fine
Xyz switch ... fine
New trans filter and oil and gasket
Dropped auto trans housing and checked clutch cumulative pistons and presto the 4th ones spring was broken so which means there wouldn’t be enough fluid in the system to change gear 4 to 5 .
Well I’m hoping that’s so as it says it’s the 1 to 2 shift up .
I’ve got a new spring coming so I’m hoping it’s what I thought was a pop at the beginning when this all started . I know it’s not something everybody can do and I’m not someone that knows all about it but the web is a good place to learn . Much cheaper than buying a new gear box .
Will let you all know if I’m happy or not
Till then cheers

Hi all don’t know if anybody has followed my post but could really do with some help. I really thought when I found a broken spring in the 3rd to 4th clutch cumellator I really thought that would be the problem but I found out it wasn’t . Still not going into 4th or 5th and no noise from gearbox and all solenoids working . I thought it might be the shaft broken from the clutch cylinder but would that stop it from going into other gears or would I notice from the sound it would make moving about .
Computer says pass and no codes found on TA and live feed shows it going into 4th and 5th but the gearbox doesn’t and when it’s not gone over 30mph and revs high it goes into failsafe .
Any help would be very great full and no metel frags in fluid .
Cheers

can you see the fluid pressure changing ?