tranny in fail safe mode!

[96atgsx]

Hi, I have 96 at gsx and just recently had it towed from my buddies shop(closed down) to another shop done by the tow truck driver of the new shop. I had some work done as the car would not start, and now the dealer is telling me the tranny is in fail safe mode and stuck in 3rd! My buddy seems to think that they may have not towed in on a flat bed truck. Would this cause the problem? The tranny worked completely fine when it was running before. Any insight is greatly appreciated as I am picking the car up tonight!

Thanks!

 

[Bud92gsx]

They better have towed it on a flatebed..Or its time to kick some A**!!!

Fail safe mode is the default auto tranny closed loop...The car will move it's just stuck in third...You should still have manual 1st and second...

Find another TCU(tranny control unit)..It's located behind your cd player what nottige..You can acess from passender side, it sits up and down, bolted down...If you see another box that site horizontal, that's your ecu...Replace tcu, and you should be back on the road...If problms persist..The guys at the shop messed with something, and probly didn't put it back the way there supposed to.

 

[96atgsx]

Ok, so will it be ok to drive home in fail safe mode? I don't really live far from the dealer and don't have to take any highways. They said they can diagnose the problem for 2 hours labor, but I am done giving them money!

 

[Bud92gsx]

That seems to be the problem is just the tcu...You can replace in maybe 20 min or so...

Driving home you will be fine...Your car will be the biggest pooch cause you are starting and staying in 3rd.. You can start in second if your not going anymore than 25-30 if you live that close.....If someone gets on your butt, just put on your flashers and they will go around...

 

[TimF]

thats whats wrong with my car, my moms bf been driving it for 3 years like that before he gave it to me but i get around with it fine even in third all the time

 

[sheral]

I bought my car like that and after pulling the TCU and installing a Manual Shift Box until I could find another Turbo TCU, this is what I found to be the problem and why I was in limp mode.....NOT PRETTY. Turns out, the Idle speed control is what cause this originally. At least that is what an Auto Tranny Guru told me.