Ka gearbox grinding noises

Hey, I'm having a bit of a headache with my 2010 Ford Ka diesel. It's got about 152k km on the clock. Basically, the gearbox is acting up. I'm getting grinding noises, the shifts are slipping, and the paddle shifters are almost unresponsive. Sometimes it goes into emergency mode, and the error code points to a defective transmission control unit. Anyone else had similar issues?

4 comment(s)

Sounds familiar. I had a similar problem with my old BMW 3 Series a while back. Symptoms were pretty much identical – jerky shifting, error codes related to the transmission, and eventually, it went into limp mode. Have you checked the wiring harness and connectors to the TCU? Sometimes a loose or corroded connection can cause these kinds of issues.

Thanks for the quick reply! I haven't checked the wiring harness myself, to be honest. Is it easy to get to on the Ka? I'm reasonably handy, but I don't want to mess anything up further.

On the BMW, it was a pain to get to. Considering your symptoms and the error code, it's most likely the TCU itself. The wiring is worth a quick look, but honestly, you're probably looking at replacing the control unit. I'd suggest taking it to a reputable workshop to get it properly diagnosed. They can confirm the fault and give you a quote for replacement. Mine ended up needing a new TCU, cost a pretty penny.

Appreciate the advice. I took it to a workshop as you suggested. Turns out the TCU was indeed faulty. They quoted me 1000€ for the repair. Bit steep, but at least it's getting sorted. Thanks again!

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