Flashing Gear Indicator Lights
Flashing Gear Indicator Lights
Hey Guys,
Recently have had a new problem with my 2008 TL-S 5AT. When driving usually at a higher rpm, say in 2nd or 3rd gear, it will flash then shift to the next gear, or just flash and do nothing. My D light doesnt flash, only in tiptronic mode. The number flashes and either does nothing or shifts. Not a very frequent problem, but its come to my concern thats all.
Any help would be great, appreciated!
Recently have had a new problem with my 2008 TL-S 5AT. When driving usually at a higher rpm, say in 2nd or 3rd gear, it will flash then shift to the next gear, or just flash and do nothing. My D light doesnt flash, only in tiptronic mode. The number flashes and either does nothing or shifts. Not a very frequent problem, but its come to my concern thats all.
Any help would be great, appreciated!
there were possible codes thrown. Get the codes and report back. I do not think the OBD2 scanners will turn up these codes. What is the actual problem? any drivability issues? typically if the gear number flashes your trying to shift into a gear that the ECU will not allow because of an overev situation or way below when you should be switching and your gonna bog the crap out of the motor.
this happened to my 08 TL base 5AT... I decided to gun it on an open stretch of highway and got the flashing... could be cylinder misfires? almost like I hit a speed limiter but only at around 100mph...
anyways, my solution? I got rid of the car lol and got a TypeS 6MT.
anyways, my solution? I got rid of the car lol and got a TypeS 6MT.
maybe you got issues? hook a code reader up (one that can access the trans codes) The newer sport mode should not auto shift after tapping the redline twice like the older cars do. it should bounce off of the rev limiter
Last edited by YeuEmMaiMai; Aug 16, 2013 at 05:43 PM.
Yea, I'll try hooking a code reader into it. Hasn't happened much anymore. But when it happens I haven't even red lined it, I was casually just revibg at a higher rpm, like 5500 or 6000 and it flashed and shifted.. Haven't noticed it lately but I'll keep an eye on it. Car runs fantastic. No other problems. No weird sounds or nothin.. And I've had an OBD check misfires and there is nothing Aswell..
Thanks a ton though, I'll try to report back if it continues.
Thanks a ton though, I'll try to report back if it continues.
I had this issue occure twice today. It happened while I was at WOT around 4-6k rpms. The gear number will just blink. It makes zero sense.
The first time it happened I was nearing the 2nd gear redline and hit my up UPshift, "2" just blinked and either didn't shift or cancelled the shift because I hit my up shift but bounced on the rev limiter.
You can't see it but you can hear it in the video.

YouTube can link a player here but other sites can't?
The first time it happened I was nearing the 2nd gear redline and hit my up UPshift, "2" just blinked and either didn't shift or cancelled the shift because I hit my up shift but bounced on the rev limiter.
You can't see it but you can hear it in the video.
YouTube can link a player here but other sites can't?
Last edited by 1black_seven; Aug 3, 2014 at 12:51 AM.
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Oh great.. so now you'll just have bigger problems... haha
I contemplate a Z06, but I cant get out of my head the problems I had with my Camaro. I figure there would be bigger problems with a "bigger" car... haha
Cars man.. when they get close to 100k.. it's time to bail! Actually, 75k seems to be a number where many people like to stay under because someone else is willing to give you some money for a 75k car.. but not as much for 85 or 90k. So its nice to sell early so you can recover some cash. But it is a hard sell over 100k. Its like Tires.. If I just sell slightly before the wear indicators, someone will buy them from me for $50 for 4. But if I wait just a tad longer, they are trash and I get nothing. Whats nice is when you take that $50 and add it to the normal deal that is buy 4 and get 1 free or 1 half off. Its like only paying for 2 tires or 2.5tires and getting 4.
I contemplate a Z06, but I cant get out of my head the problems I had with my Camaro. I figure there would be bigger problems with a "bigger" car... haha
Cars man.. when they get close to 100k.. it's time to bail! Actually, 75k seems to be a number where many people like to stay under because someone else is willing to give you some money for a 75k car.. but not as much for 85 or 90k. So its nice to sell early so you can recover some cash. But it is a hard sell over 100k. Its like Tires.. If I just sell slightly before the wear indicators, someone will buy them from me for $50 for 4. But if I wait just a tad longer, they are trash and I get nothing. Whats nice is when you take that $50 and add it to the normal deal that is buy 4 and get 1 free or 1 half off. Its like only paying for 2 tires or 2.5tires and getting 4.
Oh great.. so now you'll just have bigger problems... haha
I contemplate a Z06, but I cant get out of my head the problems I had with my Camaro. I figure there would be bigger problems with a "bigger" car... haha
Cars man.. when they get close to 100k.. it's time to bail! Actually, 75k seems to be a number where many people like to stay under because someone else is willing to give you some money for a 75k car.. but not as much for 85 or 90k. So its nice to sell early so you can recover some cash. But it is a hard sell over 100k. Its like Tires.. If I just sell slightly before the wear indicators, someone will buy them from me for $50 for 4. But if I wait just a tad longer, they are trash and I get nothing. Whats nice is when you take that $50 and add it to the normal deal that is buy 4 and get 1 free or 1 half off. Its like only paying for 2 tires or 2.5tires and getting 4.
I contemplate a Z06, but I cant get out of my head the problems I had with my Camaro. I figure there would be bigger problems with a "bigger" car... haha
Cars man.. when they get close to 100k.. it's time to bail! Actually, 75k seems to be a number where many people like to stay under because someone else is willing to give you some money for a 75k car.. but not as much for 85 or 90k. So its nice to sell early so you can recover some cash. But it is a hard sell over 100k. Its like Tires.. If I just sell slightly before the wear indicators, someone will buy them from me for $50 for 4. But if I wait just a tad longer, they are trash and I get nothing. Whats nice is when you take that $50 and add it to the normal deal that is buy 4 and get 1 free or 1 half off. Its like only paying for 2 tires or 2.5tires and getting 4.
The manual is obviously more trouble free than the auto. When maintenence like the clutch for the manual and fluid/switches/filters for the auto are factored in, who knows which one is cheaper to own.
To the OP, there have been several threads on this problem over the years. I believe it's sensor related but I can't remember for sure. These cars also had an issue where if traction was broken in 2nd gear badly, the car would be stuck in 2nd gear. Mine did this on a rainy night back when it only had 1,000 miles on it and it's never done it since then so I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.
The gear number indicator flashing has traditionally been from trying to upshift into too high of a gear or downshift into too low of a gear. One prevents overheating of the trans and one prevents bent valves. Regardless, it's the ECU acknowledging the request but not accepting it. It could be so many different things I don't know where to start.
It sounds like it doesn't happen often but I would start by driving with the VSA disabled if you're comfortable with that and see if it still does it.
It shifts normally in "D", right? Ever spill a drink down in the center console/shifter? Back in the old days there was a thread with a DIY on disassembling the shifter area and cleaning out the switches and their contacts once a soda was spilled in there and restoring proper operation. I can't remember the symptoms though. It might be worth looking for to see if he had the same symptoms as you.
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