[endless551]

Hi guys, reposting this at the right section...


Hi guys,

My 2005 GTA Selespeed is causing me much headache and even the Alfa dealer here in Melbourne, Australia is not able to diagnose the problem.

The Selespeed would operate normally each time I start the car from cold and pump operates when I open the door. However, after about 30 minutes of driving after the car has warmed up, the Selespeed will stuck in whatever gear that I am in and will not let me shift up, down or neutral. The car will just stay in the last gear it is in before it fails. But every time after I switched off the car for a prolonged period, it seems to fix itself and all goes back to normal again until it warms up again.

Alfa dealer has tried diagnosed the problem and told me that the Selespeed ecu has returned a fault code to and recommended I replace the Selespeed ecu. I waited more than one month for the part to arrive from Milan which cost me an arm and leg but the problem still can't be fixed. I will be sending the car back to the dealer in Monday but have no confident that they will fix the problem. I don't have another month to spare an am really considering selling the car at a loss as is.. But yet it is too beautiful and special a car to let go..

 

[Joss]

Hi endless. I must admit i have never heard of a selespeed giving issues in a gta. I know they are problematic in the ts and jts but have always been lead to believe that the gta had a different system that was far better and more reliable. Problems i have heard of from ts and jts cars getting stuck in gear due to poor pump pressure. Also the pump requires a good currrent to run so if your battery is getting a bit tired this could be the problem. The looms can also be problematic. This may be of no use at all as i don't know the gta system but these are problems the normal sele's suffer from sk may give you a starting point.

 

[srsgrandmaster]

sounds like a failing selespeed pump have seen it on a number of times.Also ask the dealer to check the amp draw of the pump and the condition of the battery

 

[aziraphale]

definitely check the pump, and also accumulator.

if pressure is being built up when you start the car, allowing you to drive normally, pressure could be being lost slowly through a leaky accumulator (not impossible) or it's just not being maintained by the pump.

what was the fault code that was found?

 

[OperationAlfa]

agree with the above, doesnt sound like the actuator.

 

[aziraphale]

or even the ECU....

 

[mossawi]

I have to say that generally speaking, out of the 11 imported GTA Selespeed in the UAE, I only know of one that had some issues which I attribute to the driver more than anything else (Hi Stephen).

I have recently interacted with the godfather of selespeed, Belli from Germany (Selespeed Anleitung und Dokumentation) and he can locate parts from Germany if needed for my GTA.

He also had a generic minimise the likelihood of Selespeed failures.

The proper care of the Selespeed system is important. Then they have never problems with it.

- change Selespeed ATF every 20000km
- change gearbox oil every 60000km
- check periodic the 20pin connector from selespeed system and use contact spray
- calibrate the system minimum every 6 months (End of line - Service at diagnostic unit) --> FiatECUScan.net
- Bleeding the clutch in connection with oil change on the vent valve on the clutch cylinder.
- if the clutch jerks when hot, remove and clean the EV0 clutch valve

use only \"Tutela CS Speed\" ATF or \"Liqui Moly\" Zentralhydraulik oil

 

[endless551]

Finally had some feedback from the dealer.. They have obviously jumped the gun and made an assumption of it being the ECU problem and now trying to make it seem like a needed procedure to diagnose the problem. I will be returning it and recovering my cost no doubt..

With the gearbox problem, they are suspecting it being more likely cause of the actuator fault of not able to select gear or potentially an internal mechanical fault within the gearbox which I found quite hard to believe.

Feedback is when the fault occurs they are able to hear the actuator trying to select or deselect gear but something has jammed up the system. The dealer is suggesting that the entire actuator assembly needs to be replaced if they can narrow down to the actuator being the problem which will cost around AUD$2000!! I have read somewhere that the GTA actuator can be separated into differenct section and an entire assembly replacement is never necessary. Is this true? The dealer is stuffing me around now that they have replaced the ECU and I have already made payment.. also, the worse thing is the car is not drivable and I have no option but to rectify it..

 

[endless551]

mossawi: When you mentioned driver attribute, what would you be referring to? Is there a specific way that I should and should not be driving the selespeed? The only thing that could have done a little different is I back off my throttle during gear changes at really high rev just to avoid the harsh ECU cut in and out that I found uncomfortable and sounds damaging to the car..

 

[t1fosi]

Any ideas what the fault codes are? Might pay to get a cable and software so you can find out yourself.

I had a similar sort of fault after changing the clutch and diff recently, the car would go to neutral with no gears available have to wait 15 min or so for it to cool down. The stored fault was "clutch range sensor" which ended up being a harness fault. New harness from the UK was around 100 GBP.

With regard to the gear selector actuator there are 2 potentiometers which are replaceable ( ~ 45 GBP ea ) which gives gear engage and gear select feedback to the ECU.

To be honest you really need to see what the codes are when the fault happens, to try and stem the bleeding from the dealers.

 

[mossawi]

mossawi: When you mentioned driver attribute, what would you be referring to? Is there a specific way that I should and should not be driving the selespeed? The only thing that could have done a little different is I back off my throttle during gear changes at really high rev just to avoid the harsh ECU cut in and out that I found uncomfortable and sounds damaging to the car..

Hi Endless,
Exactly my point

My mate Stephen always drives on the redline of the revs which I personally believe will not help the reliability.

With my car, I only use it occasionally on weekends etc... and although I do enjoy a spirited drive, I dont keep the rev counter bouncing on the limiter all the time.

Cheers

 

[NICUS]

Hi endless.
I don't own a selespeed.
Here on the forum there was a similar case on the 156 GTA SW Selespeed in hong kong.
Also Suffered from heat and clutch failure they made a heat separator between accumulator and engine.

Here's the link.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gta/227504-dangerouly-tempremental-gta-sele.html
Hope it helps

 

[ITAL2]

I had a similar problem on a ts, you could get it working again by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery,which would lead you into thinking it was a software problem, but in actual fact it was the pump wearing out. however you need someone that really know these systems. they get unfairly criticised because of this, and after we got used to there quirkiness we really enjoyed the car.

 

[ITAL2]

will say though that they can be scary when they do pack up, one time ours stopped a cars length from a train crossing, stuck in 2nd gear. when that happens you literately can,t move it at all!

 

[Dangerm]

My GTA has started doing the same thing. If i put it into city mode is runs properly though.

Yesterday it got stuck in second and there was quite a bad smell. Waiting for dealer to be able to fit me in. Given it works in city mode seems unusual - maybe something is up with the selector?

 

[mossawi]

My GTA has started doing the same thing. If i put it into city mode is runs properly though.

Yesterday it got stuck in second and there was quite a bad smell. Waiting for dealer to be able to fit me in. Given it works in city mode seems unusual - maybe something is up with the selector?

Does this happen regardless of which shifting option you use (steering flappies or stick)?

 

[Dangerm]

I'll need to check that, my wife was driving it and only uses the stick.

 

[mossawi]

I'll need to check that, my wife was driving it and only uses the stick.

I ask because it could just be the selector contacts and nothing to do with the selespeed. the fact that it works ok in City mode suggests that.

Good luck

 

[Dangerm]

I'm hoping its that! Ill find out later this week...

 

[Guest]

I've just had a similar problem on my 156 gta selespeed - except in my case after 20 mins driving the car went into neutral and would not engage any gear (using any means) - and lots of flashing warning lights (selespeed warning, motor control system failure...). After I coasted to a halt (on a motorway hard shoulder...) one could hear a sort of clicking noise (at one second intervals) in the engine bay, although the engine was off because it had stalled and would not restart. It's on its way to Autolusso, so I'll let you known the diagnosis when I get it.
Neil.