flashing 4th and D Tiptronic
 

2002 tip, 986 S with 80K

Flashing 4th and D after warm up, however transmission works fine and the normal lights come back in a minute or so, go to 4th and D again, etc as I drive. Automatic and manual function fine, just dont get the feedback in the dash lights when its out.

I have heard this could be the transmission’s coolant vacuum valve. Does this circulate coolant through the transmission? That seems to be the simple fix and makes sense.

I had the transmission serviced, new fluid, filter etc about 6 months ago, but the problem didn't completely resolve. Now with the warmer weather, I'm thinking I should iron out this issue.
I have a durametric scanner, but it only shows alarm fault codes (historic, none present now) to be honest, I am not sure I'm using the durametric to its potential, it seems pretty lame when I do the short test on all modules, so I would welcome advice on this as well.

base question, assuming that coolant flows into tip, could a faulty transmission’s coolant vacuum valve contribute to heat issues on Tip?http://986forum.com/forums/images/st...er_offline.gif http://986forum.com/forums/images/buttons/quote.gif

Mine started the lights blinking from 4 th to drive, the shifting paddles on the steering quit working, and would not shift into 5 gear. I think mine was caused by a bad battery. I changed the battery, and had the codes cleared and it started working after that, I hope that fixed it. Have put about 300 mile on it since, and it is good.

Tiptronic flashing D - 4 red LED gear position indicator on dashboard.
 

I purchased a 2004 Boxster 2.7 with Tiptronic just coming up on 3 years ago. Presently, the speedo is showing around 150,000 km.

My car has had this problem for some time, albeit with no change to the functioning of the gearbox - no slippage, normal change up/down, manual changing, instantaneous kick-down in auto mode etc, and certainly no initiation of the reduced driving programme (the so-called limp mode).

I raised the D-4 flashing issue with a highly respected Porsche specialist workshop when they were (expensively) just activating the OBC hack, that I had done myself.
I had engaged this shop to do the PPI for me when I bought the vehicle. In addition, the maintenance handbook I inherited with the car showed that this shop had actually serviced the vehicle on a regular basis for the previous owner over a period of 5 years. So presumably they knew a bit about my car.
Their response re the D-4 experience was extremely under-whelming - a shrug of the shoulders, and I quote: "It's just a Porsche thing".

Very comforting, I don't think, in light of the dire warnings in the owner's manual.

So what does one do? Because it's a bloody annoying irritation every time you drive the car, not knowing if it's going to implode miles from home.

Whilst I am thankful for these forums, I believe one should only comment on issues if one has something to offer, not just guessing or repeating something one read on another forum. And when the initial poster of the problem arrives at a successful solution of their problem, it would be nice, and only courteous. to return to the forum and advise others of the fix and how it was achieved. Very rarely happens - lots of problems, not many validated solutions.

Accordingly, that's what I'm trying to do.
Our gearbox, a ZF type 5HP19FL, is nothing special; it's in oodles of Audis, BMWs and VWs through the same years as the 986 Boxster.
Submerged in the fluid inside is a wiring harness that connects to various bits.
There is a 2-wire thermistor that pokes its head out of this wiring harness; this is the ATF temperature sensor. It would appear that its plastic shrouding breaks down with heat and age, causing the device to malfunction and transmit spurious and/or no signals to the transmission control module.

In my case the removed harness also displayed evidence of similar brittleness with the plastic electrical connectors that connect to the various solenoid valves.

To sum up, if you have

• the D-4 flashing thingo happening on your dash AND
• the transmission does not go into 'limp' mode during those occurrences

then the ATF temperature sensor in your Tiptronic is playing up.

Replace the gearbox internal wiring harness and your problem will be solved. (You have to buy the whole thing as the thermistor is intergral and cannot be purchased separately)
Don't take notice of comments about the transmission fluid level or purity, it's a furphy - in any case you'll have to drop the bottom to access the harness, so you will need to replenish with new fluid.

Happy motoring!

Wiring Harness Part Nos
Porsche 986 325 611 00
ZF 1056 227 046 01

Rather than guessing and possibly throwing money at the problem, take in someplace and have it scanned. Porsche shop or an good Indie can do the job. Might be something as cheap and easy as low trans oil level, seems easy to make this mistake if you're changing the oil. Sounds like something electronic is setting a code.

You need a PST2, PIWIS or Durametric scan for the transmission codes.

I purchased a 2004 Boxster 2.7 with Tiptronic just on 3 years ago. Presently, the speedo is showing around 150,000 km.

My car has had this problem for some time, albeit with no change to the functioning of the gearbox - no slippage, normal change up/down, manual changing, instantaneous kick-down in auto mode etc, and certainly no initiation of the reduced driving programme (the so-called limp mode).

In June 2016, I raised the D-4 flashing issue with a highly respected Porsche specialist workshop when they were (expensively) just activating the OBC hack, that I had done myself.
I had engaged this shop to do the PPI for me when I bought the vehicle. In addition, the maintenance handbook I inherited with the car showed that this shop had actually serviced the vehicle on a regular basis for the previous owner over a period of 5 years. So presumably they knew a bit about my car.
Their response re the D-4 experience was extremely under-whelming - a shrug of the shoulders, and I quote: "It's just a Porsche thing".

Very comforting, I don't think, in light of the dire warnings in the owner's manual.
So what does one do? Because it's a bloody annoying irritation every time you drive the car, not knowing if it's going to implode miles from home.

Whilst I am thankful for these forums, I believe one should only comment on issues if one has something to offer, not just guessing or repeating something one read on another forum. And when the initial poster of the problem arrives at a successful solution of their problem, it would be nice, and only courteous. to return to the forum and advise others of the fix and how it was achieved. Very rarely happens - lots of problems, not many validated solutions.

Accordingly, that's what I'm trying to do.

So I did a lot of research.

Our gearbox, a ZF type 5HP19FL, is nothing special; it's in oodles of Audis, BMWs and VWs through the same years as the 986 Boxster.
Inside the box, sumerged in the fluid is a wiring harness with about half a dozen connectors.
There is a 2-wire thermistor that pokes its head out of this wiring harness; this is the ATF temperature sensor. It would appear that its plastic shrouding breaks down with heat and age, causing the device to malfunction and transmit spurious and/or no signals to the transmission control module.
In my case the removed harness also displayed evidence of similar brittleness with the plastic electrical connectors that connect to the various solenoid valves.

To sum up, if you have

• the D-4 flashing thingo happening on your dash AND
• the transmission does not go into 'limp' mode during those occurrences

then the ATF temperature sensor in your Tiptronic is playing up.

Replace the gearbox internal wiring harness and your problem will be solved. If you want to save money (the Porsche price is outrageous), see if you can obtain from ZF direct. In February last year, I ordered it over the phone from the Australian ZF agent who sourced it from ZF Germany and delivered to my door for AUD 150.

Don't take notice of comments about the transmission fluid level or purity, it's a furphy - in any case you'll have to drop the bottom to access the harness, so you will need to replenish with new fluid

It would be nice if the owner's handbook advised this. In control system design logic, if a sensor fails the user interface should say so, and not throw up an alarm that the equipment being monitored is in dire straits

Happy motoring!

Wiring Harness Part Nos
Porsche 986 325 611 00
ZF 1056 227 046 01

I would suggest that the OP read up on his durametric as it pertains to the tiptronic. Mikefocke, maybe you have some sources?

Mine did the flashing thing when I changed the engine. Did nothing to the trans when it was out, but after putting it all back together it did the D-4 flashdance. I changed the trans oil, rechecked all my electrical connectors, and the the connection to the box in the trunk. No joy! But eventually whatever it was seemed to resolve itself and the flashing went away and the Tip resumed shifting correctly.

The Tip was a ZF transmission and any good shop familiar with ZF trans should be able to help you.

I have the durametric, just not sure I'm using it right...i don't get any codes for the transmission...even though it is throwing the occasional 4th and D. I have tons of alarm codes...but they are old, nothing current. Ill stick my head back into the interface again and try a dedicated transmission scan for intel.

what do you mean "ZF" transmission?

Thanks

I purchased a 2004 Boxster 2.7 with Tiptronic just on 3 years ago. Presently, the speedo is showing around 150,000 km.

My car has had this problem for some time, albeit with no change to the functioning of the gearbox - no slippage, normal change up/down, manual changing, instantaneous kick-down in auto mode etc, and certainly no initiation of the reduced driving programme (the so-called limp mode).

In June 2016, I raised the D-4 flashing issue with a highly respected Porsche specialist workshop when they were (expensively) just activating the OBC hack, that I had done myself.
I had engaged this shop to do the PPI for me when I bought the vehicle. In addition, the maintenance handbook I inherited with the car showed that this shop had actually serviced the vehicle on a regular basis for the previous owner over a period of 5 years. So presumably they knew a bit about my car.
Their response re the D-4 experience was extremely under-whelming - a shrug of the shoulders, and I quote: "It's just a Porsche thing".

Very comforting, I don't think, in light of the dire warnings in the owner's manual.
So what does one do? Because it's a bloody annoying irritation every time you drive the car, not knowing if it's going to implode miles from home.

Whilst I am thankful for these forums, I believe one should only comment on issues if one has something to offer, not just guessing or repeating something one read on another forum. And when the initial poster of the problem arrives at a successful solution of their problem, it would be nice, and only courteous. to return to the forum and advise others of the fix and how it was achieved. Very rarely happens - lots of problems, not many validated solutions.

Accordingly, that's what I'm trying to do.

So I did a lot of research.

Our gearbox, a ZF type 5HP19FL, is nothing special; it's in oodles of Audis, BMWs and VWs through the same years as the 986 Boxster.
Inside the box, sumerged in the fluid is a wiring harness with about half a dozen connectors.
There is a 2-wire thermistor that pokes its head out of this wiring harness; this is the ATF temperature sensor. It would appear that its plastic shrouding breaks down with heat and age, causing the device to malfunction and transmit spurious and/or no signals to the transmission control module.
In my case the removed harness also displayed evidence of similar brittleness with the plastic electrical connectors that connect to the various solenoid valves.

To sum up, if you have

• the D-4 flashing thingo happening on your dash AND
• the transmission does not go into 'limp' mode during those occurrences

then the ATF temperature sensor in your Tiptronic is playing up.

Replace the gearbox internal wiring harness and your D-4 flashing problem will be solved. If you want to save money (the Porsche price is outrageous), see if you can obtain from ZF direct. In February last year, I ordered it over the phone from the Australian ZF agent who sourced it from ZF Germany and delivered to my door for AU$150 vs AU$866 from Porsche plus freight.

Don't take notice of comments about the transmission fluid level or purity, it's a furphy - in any case you'll have to drop the bottom to access the harness, so you will need to replenish with new fluid

It would be nice if the owner's handbook advised this. In control system design logic, if a sensor fails the user interface should say so, and not throw up an alarm to the user that the equipment being monitored by that sensor is about to meet with imminent catastrophe.

Happy motoring!

Wiring Harness Part Nos
Porsche 986 325 611 00
ZF 1056 227 046 01

P0710 Transmission temperature sensor
P1823 Pressure Regulator3
P1818 Pressure Regulator2

transmission works normal, recent transmission service (tranny was already exhibiting the flashing lights) and fluid didnt look burnt or anything.

I heard from the previous owner that when he got the car, the tranny was very low on ATF and he had it topped off. (it was not flashing the error lights) Again, I serviced the tranny after a couple of months and noticed the lights, this didnt stop the flashing.
I am considering running a cleaner/flush in the tranny before doing a series of drain/fill operations with the hope that I can clean up the regulators of varnish before I give up and swap this out with an extra tranny I have.
Anybody have a product in mind for this?

So you're the expert, he can ignore what anyone else has to say? I have just one question for you, why is it necessary to repost the same stuff 3 times over the period of a week? You kinda come off as being a bit arrogant.

I would not suggest putting some sort of cleaner in the transmission. At 80,000, your trans oil isn't old and probably hasn't put much in the way of deposits on various components. A cleaner may contaminate the trans and make your problems worse.

Not sure where this is coming from Brian, I like it when everyone is nice and assume you would as well. :+) Also, this is the first time I saw Sammie's post and I have been monitoring the thread all week.
Sammie, I really appreciate your input, feedback and experience. I've been into the tranny already and dropping the pan is easy. Ill look for the thermistor and have a spare harness. It was also recommended that I can splice things in. I will update here as I learn more; that is an important part of participation here on the forum.

The additional concern I have is the #2 and #3 pressure regulators, leading me to consider that I do have some varnish/deposits from previous owner letting the level get low. There was a little sludge at the bottom when I did the ATF change, but very slight, I didn't consider that there should be NONE.

P0710 Transmission temperature sensor
P1823 Pressure Regulator3
P1818 Pressure Regulator2

I am also considering that the pressure Regulator codes could be cleared and never show up again now that the fluid is right. Previous owner took it in because it wasn't shifting.

Thanks chim_chim. Obviously the weather in Tuscon is a bit dark.
This morning (Oz hours) is the first time I saw my post also.

Rennlist is the first forum I have ever joined, this is the first post I have ever made. I joined for the sole purpose of helping you out with the exact problem I had experienced and successfully resolved. It was driving me nuts.
I wondered why my submission was not appearing. When I first responded to you, your query and 'hbrewer' reply were the only postings. Yet each time I visited the site there would be further postings, but no sammie. Being a novice, I thought I must be doing something wrong so I would re-submit. It can now be seen that my original attempt does appear in chronological order after 'hbrewer'.

I thought I should repay for some of the helpful advice I have encountered in various 986 forums. I won't be doing this again however, after the aforementioned rudeness.

chim_chim, I do hope you resolve your problem. I might note that the codes you have are emanating from harness monitors.
By the way, I'm a bit old now for doing the actual gearbox pull-down like you. I have a young local mechanic who specialises in Merc's, but works on anything. If I have a problem, I do the detailed research, we discuss, arrive at an answer, I source the parts and he fits them. He has a generic,albeit good, diagnostic code tool.

For the record, not long after installation of the new wiring harness, I got the D-4 flash BUT this time with the Tiptronic going into 'limp' mode. I was 50km from home, just hoping that keeping to 70km/h would not cause any damage. The fault code was 00035 'multifunction switch inactive'. This is a bit bolted to the side of the gearbox which initiates the signal for what gear has been selected. Contacts wear and you get a problem, again nothing wrong with the transmission, just a failure of an expensive (and needless in my view) monitoring device. I sourced a new one from France; if you're handy and keen you can pull it apart and clean up contacts, but it's all riveted together.

So I'm hoping no more Tiptronic events!