Auto trans light - limp home

[Cabdude]

Can anyone give me some advice about this, what I should check, etc?

The automatic transmission light (small gear with ! in the middle of the instrument panel) came on almost immediately after changing the engine air filter ? WTF?

Now it's in limp home mode and only wants to select 2 gears, often stalls when coming to a stop. Engine idles and revs fine.

I'm in Sydney Australia, and if anyone can recommend a good auto trans mechanic nearby I'd appreciate it.

[Cabdude]

New symptom - now the engine intermittantly refuses to idle. I suspect that changing the air filter dislodged some gunk onto either the MAF sensor or the idle control valve. How that effects the transmission is beyond me.

[brettski]

You might get some better idea if its the MAF by simply disconnecting the lead from it and see if the symptoms change. My MAF was causing a variety of performance issues until I disconnected it. All of sudden the performance improved. I cleaned the MAF element with some brake cleaner spray and some cotton buds, and it did improve things, but I suspect that I'll need to repace it sooner or later.
Good luck.

[FCPGroton]

If the tranny is in limp mode, there has to be a code stored in the computer. Find out what the code is and then let us know.

[Cabdude]

Originally Posted by FCPGroton

If the tranny is in limp mode, there has to be a code stored in the computer. Find out what the code is and then let us know.

Don't I need a fault code reader to do that?

[marti5]

Im afraid you do......

[johnnyBgood]

Originally Posted by Cabdude

Don't I need a fault code reader to do that?

You can bring it to a Advanced Auto Parts store or Pep Boys etc. & they will read it for free!

jb

Edited: you are in Australia.......do you have these type of stores there?

[MADDOUG]

An engine misfire or anything sort of related will throw up transprogram.

My 94 tds had a bad injector or several,but the injector cleaner sorted them ok but !! the car ran rough and using it hard in sport mode when I lost my temper with it or using kick down would flag up transprogram and limp mode until I re started the car.

Any scenario that the ecu deems to be detrimental to the running of the car will see the trans go in to limp,so you are already on the case with the maf or idle valve etc

[Cabdude]

Originally Posted by johnnybayonne

You can bring it to a Advanced Auto Parts store or Pep Boys etc. & they will read it for free!

jb

Edited: you are in Australia.......do you have these type of stores there?

Negative - sounds like an opportunity

Originally Posted by MADDOUG

Any scenario that the ecu deems to be detrimental to the running of the car will see the trans go in to limp

Thanks MADDOUG, that would explain it.