selespeed faults HELP

hello all

just bought a cheap 147 selespeed blind, for my sister and as you can imagine there is a fault with the box, i can only get 2nd gear.
there is also a vdc and abs fault showing.

when in neutral and try to engage 1st or reverse you can hear the actuator trying to do something.

if anyone can help it will be very appreciated

When you try to select 1st, does it eventually give up and select 2nd automatically?

With the engine not running, can you select all the gears then?

hi Dave and thanks, no when i select 1st it just goes back to neutral unless i double the stick, then it will go in to 2nd.
just shows 1st and 2nd with engine not running

I dont mean to be pessimistic or jump the gun, but in case you need one I just noticed this on ebay, and thought of you as I read your post earlier (Isnt that sweet?... )

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alfa-Romeo-Selespeed-Hydraulic-Actuator-156-147_W0QQitemZ8077317743QQcategoryZ10370QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

thanks mate, but i believe they changed the actuator late 01 02 to a new design that was supposed to get rid of the faults. but please do tell me if i am wrong

i had a corsa esytronic that had a the same fault, caused by a faulty wheel sensor, just wondered if the fact i have an abs and vdc fault showing that it could be the problem

Something isn't right because with the engine not running you should be able to select all gears
With the engine running you should only get 1st, 2nd & Reverse.

It could simply be a sensor problem, but it really needs to be connected to the Examiner diag system to see if it shows any faults.

does anyone know anyone local to me (Goole East Yorkshire) as the local dealer doesn't know the difference between a bonnet and a boot

I don't know how far you want to travel, but you are 53miles from BLS Automotive in Lincoln.
Or 55miles from Peak Alfa in Hope.

does anyone have any technical information on the selespeed system, not been able to do anything with it yet but iam going to play with it at the weekend, as theres no one around the corner with examiner diagnostics, thanks.

it sounds to me that in the gearbox a piece of the body has broken, the actuator rod is stopped by a 'finger' that is part of the alu casing. If it breaks the rod will no longer be able to select gears.
It happened on earlier model 156 boxes, later there was a modification i.e. a stronger finger.



p.s. I know because my car suffered from it in 2001 and the box was completely rebuilt.

It could be the broken casing "issue", but if it is I'm surprised it can still get 2nd gear.

i if change the actuator will i need it calibrating before it will work???
and are any special tools or things to watch out for when i remove it

Re swapping the actuator.
It may work without calibrating, but it needs calibrating to work properly.

You need to be very careful, the system runs at 50bar (725psi) pressure. That pressure needs to be safely released before you attempt to remove the actuator.

Your email mentions a Selespeed error message when you hold the lever forward or backward, that is normal (it is to warn you that you are holding the lever forward or backward!) you will get the same warning if you drive along with your foot just lightly touching the brake pedal.

Your email also mentions swapping an actuator from a 156, what version of 156?

Even if it is a normal 156 Selespeed the actuator may not fit, there are a couple of different versions of the actuator shaft - gearbox connections and they are not mix and match. (ie the correct actuator needs to go with the correct gearbox).

my 156 selespeed is a 2.0jts on a 2002, but have now just bought one from a 147 so should be ok, have you any more thoughts to what could be wrong

Sorry To Keep Posting Myself To Keep This On Page 1 But I Am No Further On, And My Nearest Dealer Is Useless. Hoping Someone Will Get Back To Me And Know Exactly Whats Wrong Without Having To Get The Car Recovered To Somewhere That Has An Examiner Diagnostic System.