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[andor]

Hi everybody!

I have introduced myself and my Omega last weekend, but let me quickly repeat it before getting to the main issue.

I, at the moment, live and work in Botswana, Africa. I have recently (two months ago) both an Omega 2.2 16V automatic – import from Singapore. When I bought it the mileage was (allegedly) around 71000km (it is now around 75000) and it was (allegedly) 2002 model. I am saying allegedly because these imports form Singapore and Japan are coming without any documents whatsoever (except car manual and radio code). It is public secret that usually dealers “twist” a bit the years and “turn back” the mileage to the preferred number . BTW I have heard that the VIN number can provide the year of manufacturing (one of the digits should be the last digit of the year in which the car was manufactured) but nobody new which digit it is. Is this true?

Anyway, let me go to the main problem and my only real worry. The gearbox.

From time to time the Automatic Transmission Fault warning light (yellow exclamation mark within the circle on information display) lights up. The manual says to “consult a dealer or authorised service operation”. Well, there is not really such a thing in my immediate surrounding   so that option is not available.

I have noticed some regularity in the lighting up of the warning light.

Firstly it newer appears when the engine is cold. Most usually it appears when the car was driven for longer period of time, stopped for a while and then re-started again.

It never appears during the driving, only when the car has been re-started.

It is in some mysterious way connected with the starting of the engine. It never lights up when the engine starts nicely (meaning I just turn the key and engine starts). However, if the engine has any difficulty to start it will almost inevitably appear, especially if I have to “help” the starting of the engine with the accelerator.

Usually, to get rid of the warning light I just drive little bit in reveres, then put it in 1 and drive a little bit forward, switch of the engine and start it again.

When the warning light is not on it drives just fine.


Now, the questions:

What is really wrong?
Can I fix it or I need some professional help?
Am I damaging something by driving the car until the problem is fixed?

Thank you all

andor

[miggy]

Had more or less the same problem with my 1995 auto select a few years ago, I would seek advice from a gearbox specialist.
Dont want to put yu on a downer, but I ended up buying a new box.
Pete

[Kevin Wood]

First stop would be to check the fluid level in the auto box. Maybe change the fluid actually as the history is unknown. I think there's a guide on here explaining what to do.

If that doesn't clear it I'd suggest checking the electrical connections to the gearbox and take it from there.

Kevin

[TheBoy]

Post your VIN (blank out last 5 digits for your own privacy) and we will tell you model year.

As for g/box, try a fluid change first.  Don't leave it too long.

[andor]

Post your VIN (blank out last 5 digits for your own privacy) and we will tell you model year.

WOLOVBF69110*****

btw what are the last 5 digits?

[andor]

First stop would be to check the fluid level in the auto box. Maybe change the fluid actually as the history is unknown. I think there's a guide on here explaining what to do.



OK, that is what I will do:

first - checking the fluid level
second - changing the fluid
if it doesn't work I will look into electronics (not that I have any idea what to look , but let us cross that bridge when (and if) we arive there)

andor

[TheBoy]

Post your VIN (blank out last 5 digits for your own privacy) and we will tell you model year.

WOLOVBF69110*****

btw what are the last 5 digits?

2001

Last 6 digits is serial number...

[Taxi_Driver]

If i didnt know any better......id shout CAM SENSOR.....what you reckon AA??

Clues are......sounds like gearbox going into limp mode when starting from hot
Difficult to start sometimes when hot
Restart it and the fault clears
Starts and drives fine when cold

Exactly the same as mine used to do.....

Can you get the ECU codes read on it??

If you get P0340 anywhere.....you might get P0700 and P1700 as well (possibly a red herring and can be ignored), change the cam sensor  

P0700 and P1700 are gearbox codes so hence why you might getting the gearbox warning light on.

If you carnt get the codes read....id change the cam sensor anyway.....they are about £50 UK and takes about 20 mins.....5 mins if your MarkDTM  

[Auto Addict]

If i didnt know any better......id shout CAM SENSOR.....what you reckon AA??

Clues are......sounds like gearbox going into limp mode when starting from hot
Difficult to start sometimes when hot
Restart it and the fault clears
Starts and drives fine when cold

Exactly the same as mine used to do.....

Can you get the ECU codes read on it??

If you get P0340 anywhere.....you might get P0700 and P1700 as well (possibly a red herring and can be ignored), change the cam sensor  

P0700 and P1700 are gearbox codes so hence why you might getting the gearbox warning light on.

If you carnt get the codes read....id change the cam sensor anyway.....they are about £50 UK and takes about 20 mins.....5 mins if your MarkDTM  

Got to agree TD.

[andor]

If i didnt know any better......id shout CAM SENSOR.....what you reckon AA??

Clues are......sounds like gearbox going into limp mode when starting from hot
Difficult to start sometimes when hot
Restart it and the fault clears
Starts and drives fine when cold

Exactly the same as mine used to do.....

Can you get the ECU codes read on it??

If you get P0340 anywhere.....you might get P0700 and P1700 as well (possibly a red herring and can be ignored), change the cam sensor  

P0700 and P1700 are gearbox codes so hence why you might getting the gearbox warning light on.

If you carnt get the codes read....id change the cam sensor anyway.....they are about £50 UK and takes about 20 mins.....5 mins if your MarkDTM  

As matter of fact I did ECU codes reading when I was buying the car, but for totaly different reason (problems with catalytic convertor, or as it turnd out it's complet absence ) and there was an error in connection with the gearbox - now as I checked exactly the P0700 "transmission control module memory error". Then I was told that that is a "false" error and I should not be worried.

So it is that cam sensor, then? What is the cam sensor, how it looks like and where is it? I looked quickly through Haynes and cannot find it.

Anyway, thanks on good advice, I will follow it up.

andor

[TheBoy]

You can see cable for cam sensor - it pops up through the black plastic spark plug cover, right at the front...

[Taxi_Driver]

If i didnt know any better......id shout CAM SENSOR.....what you reckon AA??

Clues are......sounds like gearbox going into limp mode when starting from hot
Difficult to start sometimes when hot
Restart it and the fault clears
Starts and drives fine when cold

Exactly the same as mine used to do.....

Can you get the ECU codes read on it??

If you get P0340 anywhere.....you might get P0700 and P1700 as well (possibly a red herring and can be ignored), change the cam sensor  

P0700 and P1700 are gearbox codes so hence why you might getting the gearbox warning light on.

If you carnt get the codes read....id change the cam sensor anyway.....they are about £50 UK and takes about 20 mins.....5 mins if your MarkDTM  

As matter of fact I did ECU codes reading when I was buying the car, but for totaly different reason (problems with catalytic convertor, or as it turnd out it's complet absence ) and there was an error in connection with the gearbox - now as I checked exactly the P0700 "transmission control module memory error". Then I was told that that is a "false" error and I should not be worried.

So it is that cam sensor, then? What is the cam sensor, how it looks like and where is it? I looked quickly through Haynes and cannot find it.

Anyway, thanks on good advice, I will follow it up.

andor

If you look at the front of the engine.....its attached to the wire that disapears beneath the plastic cover that has ECOTECH written on it......but you have to remove the cambelt cover screws and prise forward a bit to gain access to replace it.....it pulls up from the top....remove the ecotech plastic cover first......you need to loosen the cambelt cover as theres a bolt holding it in that you need to remove