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MG MGF Technical - Steptronic problem

Hi all, Can anyone help with this one. Steptronic gearbox warning light comes on intermittently. This can happen anytime when driving or starting, but not all the time and sometimes drives ok. When the light illuminates the car loses power slows down and kicks down scarily to around 5000rpm in low gear. It then clears for a few minutes then repeats the process. Rang an autobox "specialist" who just wanted to write the gearbox off. I am convinced its electrical as its intermittent.
Thanks Kevin.
Kevin Sales

Might be worth changine the oil in the gearbox? If you do then you need the correct oil (I think its Esso EZL799), most motor factors will try to sell you either automatic transmission fluid or CVT gearbox oil but neither are correct. When I changed mine I went to BMW and got some from their service department (took my own 5litre can) as the steptronic gearbox is almost the same as in the BMW minis (certainly the ones up to the recent facelift anyway).

I do have one of these gearboxes in bits in the shed, the belt went on it so if you need any bits let me know.

My e-mail is:-

andy.smith.home (at) blueyonder.co.uk.

Good luck with it.

Regards

Andrew Smith
A D Smith

I had similar problem to the one you describe when my car was about a year old (about six years ago). I had a new ECU put in under warranty and that cured it. You might not need a new ECU, but it certainly sounds as if you have an electrical fault. These boxes have a safe "get you home" mode and that's what is happening when it seems to drop to a lower gear and won't let you go above a certain speed.
David Clelland

Thanks for the replies chaps. I've booked in to a local mg garage on Thurs. Will post the outcome.
Kevin Sales

Anything to do with an ECU it can be worth disconnecting any connectors and spraying them with 'electrical contact cleaner'(not WD40 types). As a first resort it is cheap, readily available, easily done and has been credited with many long term miracle cures. The price of a new ECU will make your eyes water.
C.R.B. Simeon

No problems for 2 days. But feel sure it will happen again. Not happened when the wife drives it! Incidentally am I right in saying all the faults are logged in the ecu and recorded, so to speak? This then assists pinpointing the problem.
Kevin Sales

This thread was discussed between 04/04/2008 and 06/04/2008

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