konstantinstar1

Seat Alhambra gearbox issues

I'm at my wit's end with my 2001 Seat Alhambra, gasoline engine! The gearbox is giving me serious grief. Paddle shifters are dead, the gearbox slips and shifts horribly, plus there's this awful grinding noise sometimes. The paddle shifters barely respond, and now it's stuck in emergency mode. The error memory says something about the transmission control unit being defective. Could this really be the transmission control? I'm dreading a huge bill, any help greatly appreciated!

4 comment(s)

Hmm, sounds rough. Slipping gears and grinding noises are never good. Have you checked the basics like transmission fluid level and condition? Any warning lights on the dash besides the error in the memory?

Thanks for the reply! Fluid level seems okay, but it's kind of dark. And yeah, the engine check light is on. Could the dark fluid cause all these transmission problems? I've heard of valve body issues too, could it be that instead of the whole transmission control unit?

Dark fluid is a bad sign, it usually means it's old or contaminated. While it could be the valve body, the error code pointing to the transmission control unit is pretty telling. Sounds like the ECU itself is fried, which unfortunately happens. With those symptoms and the stored code, it's very likely you need a new or refurbished transmission control unit. It's probably best to get it checked by a workshop.

Just wanted to say thanks for confirming my fears. I took it to a local garage, they ran a proper transmission diagnosis, and you were spot on. It's the transmission control unit, needs replacing. Ouch, 1000€! But at least I know what's wrong now.

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