Gearbox fault

[old dirt bikes]

Hi Folks, I put my P38 in to have the windows tinted and when I went to pick it up as I drove off it seemed to be in second gear. So I pulled over and turned it off and then restarted it and it seemed to work fine. when I got home and turned it off 'gearbox fault' came up in the message panel. I need to refit all the door trims etc. I pulled off to get the windows tinted. So I have not been driving it at the moment. I don't think the window tint people could have done anything to cause a gearbox fault. So has anyone got any suggestions on where to start looking.
Thanks, Alan

[shack]

What year is the vehicle?

Do you have any Diag gear?

If it's a 99+ which it should be I think if it's an "A", then there are a lot of similarities with the auto stuff in doing.

If it's earlier it's a bit harder..

[old dirt bikes]

Hi Shack, my P38 is a early one, 1995 GEMS model. When I get the rear brake light back in I can take it to my mates workshop and plug in his diagnostic scan tool. It has been raining here so I did not want to slide under it at the moment, and I have been helping my daughter and family move house so I have been very busy. But I will get it to the workshop on Monday and check for fault codes.
Thanks, Alan

[shack]

When I get the rear brake light back in I can take it to my mates workshop

Was the rear brake light fitted when the fault happened?

[old dirt bikes]

Hi Shack, No I had removed the rear brake light and the other trims around the rear window for the window tint guys. Are you thinking the brake light being missing could cause the fault. I should have it back together tomorrow, so I will give it a try and see if that cures the problem. I thought only Toyota did things like that. If a brake light bulb on a 200 series blows the motor won't start. Thanks, Alan

[shack]

Hi Shack, No I had removed the rear brake light and the other trims around the rear window for the window tint guys. Are you thinking the brake light being missing could cause the fault. I should have it back together tomorrow, so I will give it a try and see if that cures the problem. I thought only Toyota did things like that. If a brake light bulb on a 200 series blows the motor won't start. Thanks, AlanIt's certainly worth checking

[PeterH]

Hi Alan, how is your battery?
A low battery can cause messages like gearbox fault to appear.
I would also check the battery terminals and give them a clean.
P38's need a good strong battery or things start going haywire.
That's this first thing I would check.
Cheers, Pete.

[old dirt bikes]

Hi Folks, sorry for the late reply, I have been sick with the flu. I got the trims back on the P38 with the center brake light working. I started driving to my mates workshop and the gearbox fault was still there. Bugger. I stopped at the lights down the road and turned the motor off and restarted it again and the fault was gone. I checked for faults when I got to my mates workshop and there was no faults. So it must have been the center brake light. I did check the battery terminals and they are all good and the battery is not 12 months old.
So I am all happy again. Sick as a dog with the flu, but happy. Thanks for your help again.

[PeterH]

Glad that fault has gone, interesting that a brake light could cause that.
Flu is not fun at all, I hope you are feeling better soon.
Pete.

[Scouse]

It won't be the lack of a brake light at fault. Neither of my P38s have the centre brake light fitted at the moment.

[shack]

It won't be the lack of a brake light at fault. Neither of my P38s have the centre brake light fitted at the moment.I think you are right, it was just a suggestion..I did some research on the gs2.38 and I don't think it would have the ability to throw a fault from the brake light missing.

[old dirt bikes]

Hi Scrouge,
yes I would not think it would cause a fault. And I did not notice the fault when I drove the P38 to the window tint people, only when I went to drive it home, and after I connected the center brake light the fault was still there until I got to the corner then I turned the car off and restarted it and the fault was gone. Then I drove it to my mates workshop and checked for codes and there was none there. So all we could put it down to is P38 gremlins, and leave it at that. If it reoccurs I will look into it further.
Thanks for your help, Alan

[PeterH]

As there are no fault codes present, is it possible they left the radio or hedlights or something else on that may have drained the battery?
So when you got it back it had a low battery, which triggered the fault to appear.
With a bit of driving the battery has had time to recharge and the fault went away.

From what I've read, more often then not, it's a low voltage issue, can be caused by corrosion in the battery cables or an earth point that needs cleaning.
If it's gone away, you might be in luck with no actual problem, but if it comes back I would start investigating electrical causes.
There's a great troubleshooting write up here that takes about 5 mins to do.

**INFO** Electrical Troubleshooting | Range Rovers Forum (https://www.rangerovers.net/threads/info-electrical-troubleshooting.28663/)

[old dirt bikes]

Hi Peter, thanks for that information, it is a interesting read. I will do some testing but I don't think I have any problems with the alternator or batteries. But when I left my vehicle with the window tint guys I forgot to turn off the interior lights so they would all stayed on for most of the day which would have drained the battery's. So that could be the answer to why the fault appeared on the way home, and fixed itself after a short drive. Thank you for your help. Regards, Alan