Tech Issues

[rodeknyt]

I have a couple of issues with our '02 Bird that I would like to hear some feedback on.
1) For the last 3-4 months, the transmission doesn't seem to know about D4. It shifts just fine, but remains in D5 when the shift lever is in the D4 position. I'm pretty sure it's shifting all the way up when in D5...it gives about 25 mph per 1000 rpm, and the gas mileage on the open road is still up around 25-26 mpg. I'm guessing that nowadays, the shift lever does nothing more than change various electrical contacts depending on what position it's in. If that is the case, then a contact has gone bad in there somewhere. Anyone else had this happen? If I am right about the contacts, are they accessible without completely disassembling the car ?
2) Just had the car serviced at the dealer, and at roughly 28,000 miles, I'm told that I need to replace the REAR brake pads. Fronts are fine. This sounds completely bassackwards to me. In my experience, it's the fronts that always wear out first, having to handle the bulk of the weight shift when you stop (unless you drive backwards all the time). Is it common for the rear brakes on these cars to wear out before the fronts (and at such little mileage)? I haven't had a chance yet to get a second opinion on the brakes. I've never had a bad experience with the dealer, but this just doesn't sound right.

[SugarDaddy]

Re: Tech Issues

Don,

We had to have the dealer replace the fronts brake pads and rotors at about 30,000 miles. IMHO, the front brake pads and rotors see most of the wear, not the rear brakes. But what do I know?

Get a second opinion.

Good Luck with your brakes.

[Borla Babe]

Re: Tech Issues

I have a couple of issues with our '02 Bird that I would like to hear some feedback on.
1) For the last 3-4 months, the transmission doesn't seem to know about D4. It shifts just fine, but remains in D5 when the shift lever is in the D4 position. I'm pretty sure it's shifting all the way up when in D5...it gives about 25 mph per 1000 rpm, and the gas mileage on the open road is still up around 25-26 mpg. I'm guessing that nowadays, the shift lever does nothing more than change various electrical contacts depending on what position it's in. If that is the case, then a contact has gone bad in there somewhere. Anyone else had this happen? If I am right about the contacts, are they accessible without completely disassembling the car ?
2) Just had the car serviced at the dealer, and at roughly 28,000 miles, I'm told that I need to replace the REAR brake pads. Fronts are fine. This sounds completely bassackwards to me. In my experience, it's the fronts that always wear out first, having to handle the bulk of the weight shift when you stop (unless you drive backwards all the time). Is it common for the rear brakes on these cars to wear out before the fronts (and at such little mileage)? I haven't had a chance yet to get a second opinion on the brakes. I've never had a bad experience with the dealer, but this just doesn't sound right.

Many of us went thru the same thing with the brakes. If you use the search menu and insert brakes, I suspect you will find lots of threads about this and many unhappy members who had to have their brakes replaced (some both front and back) at very low mileage. You will also find lots of information and different opinions on what brake pads to install. Good luck to you!

[5bird7]

Re: Tech Issues

I have a couple of issues with our '02 Bird that I would like to hear some feedback on.
1) For the last 3-4 months, the transmission doesn't seem to know about D4. It shifts just fine, but remains in D5 when the shift lever is in the D4 position. I'm pretty sure it's shifting all the way up when in D5...it gives about 25 mph per 1000 rpm, and the gas mileage on the open road is still up around 25-26 mpg. I'm guessing that nowadays, the shift lever does nothing more than change various electrical contacts depending on what position it's in. If that is the case, then a contact has gone bad in there somewhere. Anyone else had this happen? If I am right about the contacts, are they accessible without completely disassembling the car ?
2) Just had the car serviced at the dealer, and at roughly 28,000 miles, I'm told that I need to replace the REAR brake pads. Fronts are fine. This sounds completely bassackwards to me. In my experience, it's the fronts that always wear out first, having to handle the bulk of the weight shift when you stop (unless you drive backwards all the time). Is it common for the rear brakes on these cars to wear out before the fronts (and at such little mileage)? I haven't had a chance yet to get a second opinion on the brakes. I've never had a bad experience with the dealer, but this just doesn't sound right.

Don,
We're experiencing the same thing with our transmission selector on our 02. It refuses to find 4th - or appears to. Even when put in 4th gear, the dash says it's in 5th. Haven't watched the tack or notice how many shifts it makes when going into 5th. Sine we're out of warranty, and it seems to be running fine, George hasn't bothered to look into it more than read the book and note there are about 10 different things that could be causing it.
He hasn't tried this yet, but the first thing he's going to do is un hook the battery and see if it's just a computer glitch (you know, the ole reboot routine)

About the brakes, like others have said, it seems to be the rear that go first. Not sure why. One of those things I guess.

[deryl]

Re: Tech Issues

My 03 had rear brakes done at 28000 miles also did front anyway.

[Sweet T]

Re: Tech Issues

I thought I was the only one without a 4th gear. It will kick in under stress, i.e., mountain roads. I've been told it's a sensor.....haven't done anything about it yet.

Going to the mountains for a weekend, at 72,000 miles and no brake work, I bought front and rear pads thinking they had to be overdue and I didn't want them to fail up there. The mechanic and I were shocked.....the pads were only worn 50%.

[FUN X 3]

Re: Tech Issues

My transmission had the same problem a couple of years ago, it was fixed under warranty, it was a switch/sensor.

[00mustng]

Re: Tech Issues

.....My front and rear brakes were done at the same time...I was there to confirm the need....Remember the weight distribution over the wheels on our 'Birds is 50/50 (which makes them work well in winter conditions) I think this fact and driving style might cause the rears to be replaced first....I use my(non SST) transmission manually a lot, including downshifting before braking...maybe this practice evens out the brake wear?

[drj001]

Re: Tech Issues

Any resolve on the 4th gear situation? I'm experiencing the same problem. When I shift the lever into 4th, the transmission does not shift down and the 5th gear indicator on the dash stays on even though the lever is in 4th gear position. When in 5th and accelerating from a stop, the transmission goes into 4th gear briefly after 3rd, then shifts quickly into 5th. If I manually go through the gears from a stop, 4th again is only a brief shift, then into 5th. 4th gear does not show on the dash indicator in either situation and when manually shift from 3rd to 4th the indicator shows 5th, not 4th.
When I downshift from 5th to 4th, no engagement in 4th happens and the indicator light shows 5th gear even though the lever again is in the 4th gear position.
I did notice the 4th gear indicator light once in the past week but only briefly and cannot get it to show again.
Thx for information to assist in this.
Transmission shifts normally except for this 4th gear situation.

[5bird7]

Re: Tech Issues

John, I looked back on this thread and noted my entry was made in 2008 and now it's 2010 and we still haven't bothered to fix it or find the cause.

I can get it to stay in 4th IF and only if, I keep the lever in 4th and start up slowly. When it finally realizes the lever is in 4th position, it'll switch to showing it's in 4th on the dash and stay there. Once I move the lever to 5th gear, it wants to show 5th gear even when I move it back to the 4th position (and won't shift down either), but I can get 4th gear to show on dash if I come to a stop, shift it down to 4th and start up slowly. It'll stay there until I shift it into 5th. Most of my driving, I have no need to be in direct (4th gear) so not too worried about it.
Someday, George will drive it, and be in a spot where he wants/needs it in direct and he won't be successful. Then I think he look into getting it fixed. Most of our driving is pretty flat land or with long rolling hills so it's not often that we need to use direct.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Tech Issues

MY 02 WAS DOING THE MISSING D4 AT 93,000. COULD IT BE AN 02 PROBLEM ONLY?

[luvbirdz]

Re: Tech Issues

D4 problem comes from the 'Overdrive Cancel Switch" not working when you move the lever to that position. Either the switch is not working or the switch is out of alignment to be actuated properly.
Mine , when D4 is selected, will shift in and out when it feels like it, after hitting a bump or something.
Instructions for opening up the shift lever is here somewhere, I will get 'roundtoit' in the spring when the Bird has emerged from its winter nest.
The shop manual has the drawings, but it would be better to have a photo of what it looks like in there (if someone gets into it before I do).

[tbird6t4]

Re: Tech Issues

I am no expert here either, but I would imagine that the transmission has some rev limiters for saftey reasons that would cause it to automatically switch into 5th gear.

(Not like the old Birds that stayed put when you shifted up or down.)

Electronics, they work wonderfully! When they work.

Gord

[yelobird2002]

Re: Tech Issues

Ours does the same thing. Goes through all gears during upshifts, but will not downshift to 4th when lever is moved and readout still shows 5th.

[luvbirdz]

Re: Tech Issues

You are right, there is nothing wrong with the transmission, it is working properly.
On the 02, every time you move the shifter back and forth, it moves the mechanical shift linkage to the tranny, EXCEPT when moving across between D4 and D5, that is where the electronic switch is actuated to cancel the overdrive and hold in D4.
Select Shift is a little different but can also be effected by this switch problem.
Did not realize how many others had this problem.