G/box: 2WD: - Auto box 'L' gear function

CPH · Apr 27th, 2014, 20:00

The handbook is quite vague on this so don't know whether to think my box has a problem or if it's the intended behaviour.

When in 'L' gear, should the box change freely up and down between 1st and 2nd gear?

Mine will change down to 1st from 2nd in 'L' but once it's changed to 1st it will never change back up to 2nd. It's caught me out a few times but don't know if it's designed to be this way or whether a fault has developed.

No light is lit on the dash and it's always been like this since I bought the car but it just seems odd behaviour.

Cheers!

OvlovS70 · Apr 27th, 2014, 21:38

Hello,
From the owners manual:
L Low Gear
The transmission does not change up in position L.
Select position L if you wish to drive in first and second gear and you do not wish to change up. For example if you are driving off in hilly terrain, since position L offers the best engine braking power. In this position the indicator lamp in the instrument panel lights up (the thick arrow pointing up).
The transmission will conspicuously shift down from second to first if road speed drops to below 25mph (40 km/h) when driving in E Mode and below 6mph (10km/h) in S Mode.

Cheers

When you switch on the ignition check if the transmission up arrow button is illuminating on the dash - it sounds blown.
As you speed up I would have thought it would return to second, but as you say the manual is vague, it only mentions the fact it shifts down.

OvlovS70 · Apr 29th, 2014, 00:06

Hello,
Think I've answered my own issue that I created in my previous post. Sorry.
The bit in bold is like that in the manual. So once it drops to first that's it. You would need to move your shifter to D then L to repeat the process. The gearbox will assume it has done its work and looks to be wanting to get out of L as soon as possible which is understandable.
So yes, your auto transmission is working fine - just the dash light to sort.
Cheers

CPH · Apr 30th, 2014, 22:54

Thanks for the heads up bud. Yeah, I find the wording of the handbook confusing as it states that the gearbox doesn't change up in L but then says to use L if you want to drive in 1st and 2nd gear and do not wish to change up.

To me this suggests that it obviously won't change up past 2nd but it says nothing explicitly about it not changing out of 1st either.

In any case I have no dash lights indicating a fault so I shall simply assume it is behaving in the intended manner.

I still think it's daft though!

Thanks again,

Chris

Apr 27th, 2014, 20:00	#1
CPH Senior Member Last Online: Dec 10th, 2020 09:39 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Caldicot	Auto box 'L' gear function The handbook is quite vague on this so don't know whether to think my box has a problem or if it's the intended behaviour. When in 'L' gear, should the box change freely up and down between 1st and 2nd gear? Mine will change down to 1st from 2nd in 'L' but once it's changed to 1st it will never change back up to 2nd. It's caught me out a few times but don't know if it's designed to be this way or whether a fault has developed. No light is lit on the dash and it's always been like this since I bought the car but it just seems odd behaviour. Cheers! __________________ Where are we going and why are we in this hand basket?

Apr 27th, 2014, 21:38	#2
OvlovS70 Still a learning member Last Online: Aug 17th, 2022 18:49 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ayrshire	Hello, From the owners manual: L Low Gear The transmission does not change up in position L. Select position L if you wish to drive in first and second gear and you do not wish to change up. For example if you are driving off in hilly terrain, since position L offers the best engine braking power. In this position the indicator lamp in the instrument panel lights up (the thick arrow pointing up). The transmission will conspicuously shift down from second to first if road speed drops to below 25mph (40 km/h) when driving in E Mode and below 6mph (10km/h) in S Mode. Cheers When you switch on the ignition check if the transmission up arrow button is illuminating on the dash - it sounds blown. As you speed up I would have thought it would return to second, but as you say the manual is vague, it only mentions the fact it shifts down. Last edited by OvlovS70; Apr 27th, 2014 at 23:23.

Apr 30th, 2014, 22:54	#4
CPH Senior Member Last Online: Dec 10th, 2020 09:39 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Caldicot	Thanks for the heads up bud. Yeah, I find the wording of the handbook confusing as it states that the gearbox doesn't change up in L but then says to use L if you want to drive in 1st and 2nd gear and do not wish to change up. To me this suggests that it obviously won't change up past 2nd but it says nothing explicitly about it not changing out of 1st either. In any case I have no dash lights indicating a fault so I shall simply assume it is behaving in the intended manner. I still think it's daft though! Thanks again, Chris __________________ Where are we going and why are we in this hand basket?

Apr 29th, 2014, 00:06	#3
OvlovS70 Still a learning member Last Online: Aug 17th, 2022 18:49 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ayrshire	Hello, Think I've answered my own issue that I created in my previous post. Sorry. The bit in bold is like that in the manual. So once it drops to first that's it. You would need to move your shifter to D then L to repeat the process. The gearbox will assume it has done its work and looks to be wanting to get out of L as soon as possible which is understandable. So yes, your auto transmission is working fine - just the dash light to sort. Cheers

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