Hello guys, i just picked up my 2nd magna, a series 2 TW with 149k on her. My first one was a 2000 TH LS, an excellent car in its own right. My question relates to the tiptronic auto in the TW. It just seems pointless, unless its not working correctly. If i flip it to the left while cruising at any speed up to 100k nothing happens except the indicator in the dash moves from d to 4. Ok, so i slow down to 70k and tip it to try and get a shift into 3rd for an overtake and still nothing except the dash light bounces between D and 4. Ok, so slow down to a complete stop and the tranny will shift itself down through the gears to first with the dashlights following. It then holds in first when i take off until i manually tip it through the gears. The tranny itself seems fine, smooth as, no flaring or banging, kickdowns fine when the boot is put in when in non sports mode. So i cant get any downshifting at all when im in sports mode, which i thought was the whole point of a tiptronic. Any ideas? Btw im basing this on my experience with a BF falcon which would up or downshift on demand. Thanks in advance :-)

Hello guys, i just picked up my 2nd magna, a series 2 TW with 149k on her. My first one was a 2000 TH LS, an excellent car in its own right. My question relates to the tiptronic auto in the TW. It just seems pointless, unless its not working correctly. If i flip it to the left while cruising at any speed up to 100k nothing happens except the indicator in the dash moves from d to 4. Ok, so i slow down to 70k and tip it to try and get a shift into 3rd for an overtake and still nothing except the dash light bounces between D and 4. Ok, so slow down to a complete stop and the tranny will shift itself down through the gears to first with the dashlights following. It then holds in first when i take off until i manually tip it through the gears. The tranny itself seems fine, smooth as, no flaring or banging, kickdowns fine when the boot is put in when in non sports mode. So i cant get any downshifting at all when im in sports mode, which i thought was the whole point of a tiptronic. Any ideas? Btw im basing this on my experience with a BF falcon which would up or downshift on demand. Thanks in advance :-)

The selector is defective. It's a complete unit, most likely faulty micro switches or the mech is not not making proper contact with them to actuate the feature correctly. I had the same issue under wty, replacement unit also was defective as any sideways pressure on the selector caused the switches to not operate correctly.
3rd time lucky but then ended uup with a faulty interlock button. I was starting to wonder if they were fitting factory seconds or possibly previous return units deemed serviceable but were not. Mine is still working, replaced about 6 years ago.

new genuine is a pretty expensive, over $300 I suspect . the jap market shows complete breakdown of parts including the switches. may be worth having a look to see if there is any way they can be adjusted or if the switch is no longer functioning.

I rarely use the feature except if I want to hold a gear or get a bit of engine breaking down a hilly range

Just adding a bit to what TW says:
I think you are saying that when you slow to a stop the transmission changes to first and then when you start to move again, you are able to manually move through the gears by pushing the gear lever to '+'. If so it is doing what it should do. However I think you are saying also, that when you try to manually downshift, nothing happens. If so, then TW has the answer. Sounds like something simple.
When using the down shift, the transmission wont change from second in to first until the road speed is less than about 25 Km per hour.
Contrary to TW, I use the feature very often to slow the car without using the brakes.

MR931437 IS THE # ON MY PAPERWORK and I get no hits on a google. July 2008, so 7 years ago

Aha. I knew something wasn't right lol. Yes Rumpfy, I can get upshifts from a standing start but no downshifts, at any speed. I knew it wasn't the trans, its super smooth, you can barely feel the changes. TW005, where is this unit located on the vehicle do you know? I'm reasonably handy electrically, it could be fixable I hope..... I'm like Rumpfy, I'll use it if its there to use. And thanks guys for the info, gold stuff. I'll keep you updated :-)
Edit: Im a drongo TW, its the whole thing isn't it, from the gearshift down?

Definitely sounds like the downshift switch is defective.

Otherwise its operating as expected.

Personally, I'd change the downshift and upshift to opposite locations while I was at it.

If it's easy to gain access to the switch, you could try one from a wreckers.

Definitely sounds like the downshift switch is defective.

Otherwise its operating as expected.

Personally, I'd change the downshift and upshift to opposite locations while I was at it.

If it's easy to gain access to the switch, you could try one from a wreckers.
Where are they located? Can you get to them from under the car?

No, I mean the micro switches within the shifter assembly inside the car. I don't know if they are replaceable on their own or you need to do the whole shifter assembly. I'd assume you might be able to pull the console apart and get to them, I remember reading someone had switched the wiring on the switches so pulling back changed 1-2-3-4 and pushing it forwards towards the dash made it go 4-3-2-1 ... But that may have been on a 380.

Maybe PM MadMagna. He'd be able to tell you if the tiptronic micro switches in the centre console shifter assembly can be replaced or not. He can probably source some for you too.

Have a look here...

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37686&page=2

Last post on this page shows the assembly. One of those micro switches is most likely defective, but once you pull it apart, check them with a multimeter before you replace them... I'd hate you to replace one and then tell me it still isn't fixed because that wasn't the problem.

I did the switch around, from memory, the switches are on the passenger side under the shifter, you will have to move the seat right back and remove the trim. They are simple button type switch.

I did the switch around, from memory, the switches are on the passenger side under the shifter, you will have to move the seat right back and remove the trim. They are simple button type switch.

Beautiful. That info, along with the pics on the thread supplied by Flyboy, gives me all the info I need. The centre micro looks like the sideways shift into sports mode and the other 2 are obviously the up & downshift switches. Grelise, does the whole shifter assy have to come out to access the switches?

No, It's a little fiddly, but can be done in situ, which was how I did it.

I even changed the +/- around to suit.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm329/grelise1/DSCF0880.jpg (http://s316.photobucket.com/user/grelise1/media/DSCF0880.jpg.html)

No, It's a little fiddly, but can be done in situ, which was how I did it.

I even changed the +/- around to suit.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm329/grelise1/DSCF0880.jpg (http://s316.photobucket.com/user/grelise1/media/DSCF0880.jpg.html)

Great, thanks for the info. Now to find the micro switches. Mits-Fix only sell the complete shifter unit for $81, which is pretty reasonable but I don't need the whole thing.

Have a look here...

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37686&page=2

Last post on this page shows the assembly. One of those micro switches is most likely defective, but once you pull it apart, check them with a multimeter before you replace them... I'd hate you to replace one and then tell me it still isn't fixed because that wasn't the problem.
Good call re the multimeter check.

Ok checked the switches, appeared ok, reset the ecu, still no difference. Im all out of ideas. Annoying seeing as how the tranny operates fine in normal mode. Grrrr

I hardly use tippy mode on my TL. It's great if you want to avoid the big first gear rev in first with a cold engine, just select tippy, nudge it up to second, take off with sedate revs.
I find that tippy downshifts nicely as you slow down, but you have to do the upshifts yourself. I tend to forget the upshifts, so don't use it much.

Did you actually test the switches by connecting the multimeter to the contacts and moving the lever to see if you get continuity?
That particular type of switch needs a bit of pressure to connect, one of them may not be getting enough movement from the shift lever to close.

Yeah i did, def working ok, you can actually hear them click as contact is made and the multimeter confirmed it. The shifter mechanism operates fine.

Yeah i did, def working ok, you can actually hear them click as contact is made and the multimeter confirmed it. The shifter mechanism operates fine.

yeah, well , that's interesting because I know exactly what you're on about and replacing the shifter assembly fixed my fault. So you've confirmed the switches are ok. I would try this. permanently make the centre switch connections as that is what will be the mode change, then try again. I suspect as the selector nudges the other switch it's losing contact in the centre switch.

EDIT: just noticed looking at the pics there's 3 wire on the centre which implies one cct goes open and another is closed, best to get the meter in there and check operation or if that switch pops out easy enough find a way to keep that lever latched (tape) in the down position, leave it out , move the selector to tippy and see if anything changes.

it's all I can think of.

yeah, well , that's interesting because I know exactly what you're on about and replacing the shifter assembly fixed my fault. So you've confirmed the switches are ok. I would try this. permanently make the centre switch connections as that is what will be the mode change, then try again. I suspect as the selector nudges the other switch it's losing contact in the centre switch.

it's all I can think of.

Now that makes sense because the dash light flips back to drive when i try and down shift. Are you saying bridge out all the terminals on the center switch?

Now that makes sense because the dash light flips back to drive when i try and down shift. Are you saying bridge out all the terminals on the center switch?

no , don't bridge all, does it look like the pics in the referred post, got pics of your own? get a meter and see which 2 contacts are closed in normal and which 2 are closed in tippy , but if the switch is as shown in the referred pic with a lever action then just pop that out , tape that lever down and go tippy and see if the up / down works.

TW YOU WERE RIGHT!!!!!!! I wasn't listening for the right thing! Sure enough there was 2 noises if i listened closely. 1 when the center sw. lost contact and another when the top sw. made contact. Stuck a temp cardboard shim in there and now i have down AND upshifts. Woohoo

Now to figure out something more permanent. :-):-):-)

Now to figure out something more permanent. :-):-):-)

switches are simple logic so it makes sense at the setup what each is doing. Like I mentioned straight up, with the first "new" unit they put in the smallest amount of sideways pressure caused it to malfunction which seem to indicate that it must have been not depressing the switch just enough to go open.

If it's a metal lever then maybe just bending it outwards towards the actuator might be enough, a layer of heatshrink tubing slid over that lever may close the gap enough? I'm sure you'll figure something out.

switches are simple logic so it makes sense at the setup what each is doing. Like I mentioned straight up, with the first "new" unit they put in the smallest amount of sideways pressure caused it to malfunction which seem to indicate that it must have been not depressing the switch just enough to go open.

If it's a metal lever then maybe just bending it outwards towards the actuator might be enough, a layer of heatshrink tubing slid over that lever may close the gap enough? I'm sure you'll figure something out.

Its microscopic the difference between it working and not working. Ill probably just leave the cardboard there, it cant fall out as its a simple up down motion when you slide the shifter across. Im just rapt that it all works again so a big thank you to all who helped :-):-)

Its microscopic the difference between it working and not working. Ill probably just leave the cardboard there, it cant fall out as its a simple up down motion when you slide the shifter across. Im just rapt that it all works again so a big thank you to all who helped :-):-)

yeah ok, can't see what you've done but cardboard with humidity etc may be very tempoary solution. Is the cardboard tucked in behind the body of the microswitch? Pics/ even if they're offsite I'd be interested to see, this is a learning opportunity as these cars age and they stop supporting them with parts.

I dont know how to put pics up but if you go here: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37686&page=2
And look at the first pic, well ive inserted my cardboard between the yellow actuator for the shifter and the metal actuator on the switch. There's just enough pressure to hold it in place, and it moves a matter of a couple of mm when you use the shifter.

I dont know how to put pics up but if you go here: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37686&page=2
And look at the first pic, well ive inserted my cardboard between the yellow actuator for the shifter and the metal actuator on the switch. There's just enough pressure to hold it in place, and it moves a matter of a couple of mm when you use the shifter.

yeah, ok. I have the same trouble. never worked out an easy way for photos. in the end I use google to sore them and now just copy the URL from that insert and post. Every forum is different but it's just this type not sure if it's just the brand, I find a challenge.

Hi five! Glad you got it sorted.

Going by that first photo on the topic you linked too, I'd just supaglue a piece of plastic onto the top of the metal tab which activates the switch. So as soon as the yellow bit moves at all the switch is activated and won't break contact as you move up and down through the gears.

Well done :dancin:

Yes that would work as would TW`s idea of heatshrink, but this arve i just wanted to get the thing put back together and go tippy driving!! Ill do it properly at some stage with a photo sequence and post it in DIY