Mutiple faults occured simultaneously ?

[fredm]

Strange one this, hopefully it is something simple. Car is a 96' UK TT.

 

As I left the place that had just done an Air-con check / re-gas I noticed that the Dashboard was not illuminating the "D" position , the car is an auto.

So wondering to myself what could be wrong and looking at the dash intermittantly to see if the "D" had come back on I noticed that the O/D OFF indicator was now flashing. The car was driving normally so I pressed the O/D OFF switch and the box dropped down into 3rd as it should, the O/D OFF light now being illuminated on the dash. Pressed the button again the box changes up into top gear the O/D OFF light goes out but then starts flashing.

 

"Bloody hell, whats going on here?" I've only had the car two days!

 

So I continue to drive home as the car is driving fine. Driving along a bit of dual carriageway I use the Cruise Control. Bloody hell thats stopped working too!!!!

 

When I got home and was checking switches in the car I noticed that with the engine running the manual spoiler "down" function switch is not working. It works if the ignition is on but not with the engine running, is this normal?

 

So there you go, no "D" light, flashing O/D OFF, no cruise control and possibly incorrect operation of the active front spoiler.

 

I checked all the fuses no problems there, I was going to check for fault codes but I don't have the engine mil illuminated. I'll do that anyway this morning, if it turns out to be the infamous Code 42 which speed sensor should I be looking at, the one on the back of the gearbox?

 

One thing possibly connected is that twice during the weekend while I have been checking stuff under the bonnet the active spoiler has dropped and then gone back up all by itself, I guess the ignition must have been on at the time but no one was anywhere near the switch. Spooky. Poltergiest maybe?

[fredm]

O.k. just checked for codes and the "mil" and O/D OFF lights are flashing together giving code 42.

 

On the Saturday I did have the odometer unit out of the dash to see why the airbag warning light was not working (no bulb fitted!) maybe I have disturbed something in that area. The soldered joints where the multiplug socket attaches looked fine to me.

 

My symptoms seem to be different from the usual code 42 problems people have. I don't have the "mil" or the red triangle illuminated on the dash. Also I have never read anyone mention the lack of "D" illumination or their cruise control not working.

[Matt Harwood]

Code 42 as I'm sure you know, is an incorrect/lack of speed signal input to the ECU. This explains why your cruise doesn't work.

I would guess that you've upset either the pink or blue/red wire on the back of the odo. Obviously UK's don't have speed converters, so that's not going to be the problem.

As for the D not illuminating, I'd suggest it's just good ole fashioned coincidence that the bulb has gone at the same time as your other problems.