"P" flashing on dashboard

alanfp · May 26, 2010

Hi
Got a CVT auto. I recently noticed that when I'm driving, the P in the indicator display flashes. Has it always been like that and I just didn't notice when I first got the car(ie does yours do it?)or does it signify a problem?

Thanks

MetalMicky08 · May 27, 2010

Are you sure the gearlever is fully in auto?
P usually means the selecter is in park.
MM

alanfp · May 29, 2010

Hi Met

Yes, the lever has gone through R and N to get to Drive, so It's definitely not in Park. D is highlighted, but P is flashing.

MetalMicky08 · May 29, 2010

Have you got an epb ?
If the lever is not fully down that could be it???
MM

alanfp · Jun 6, 2010

Thanks, but I think the EPB is OK. All I can do is press it down and it releases (hopefully fully) automatically - I have no control over how far down the lever goes.

Come on guys, there must be at least ONE member with a CVT auto on the forum????

Goose · Jun 6, 2010

<a href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRAYMON%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">


</a>

<a href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRAYMON%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hi, I have a C-Max 1.6 TDCi Auto Ghia June/04 Reg.

"P" on my car dose not flash - it only appears when in Park - what does the user manual say on the matter.
</a>

<a href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRAYMON%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Note this is my second Auto box which replaced the original at 32K ( metal bits
was drained when Fords service inspected it -why they inspected it I don't
know, never got a straight answer - as it was replaced under three year warranty
it did not matter why). My C-Max has now done 58K and I am wondering how long
the present Auto box will last before it goes wrong. I am not happy about
Ford's silence on the suspect reliability of their Auto box. The TIS states a
life of about 175K. There are many reports concerning the Auto box reliability
and the fact that it is a none serviceable item and no spare parts available.
The only option open for those who have CVT Auto box problems is a replacement
box at about cost inclusive of labour £4000, which is totally unacceptable on a
vehicle now valued at £5000.

</a>

<a href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRAYMON%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fords have since discontinued offering the CVT option on new build C-Maxs. I
think this is an admission of a failed Auto box product.</a>

Edited by: Goose

Richard G · Jun 6, 2010

I think that given the potential expensive total failure of the CVT boxes that are becoming more evident and the lack of support for repair that a lot of those who did have are trying to change unless absolutely necessary to have an Auto

alanfp · Jun 9, 2010

Many thanks, Goose.

The manual is (as they say in legal circles) silent on the matter.

If it does indicate a fault with the box, I've never come across such an obscurenotification before. And it seems to be working OK as far as I can tell. And so odd that the P only flashes once I've moved the selector into Drive.

Guess I'll have to visit my local Fraud dealer and ask them.

Goose · Jun 9, 2010

I foregot to mention that I had trouble getting out of the P on the auto selector - it turned out to be broken wire on the solinoid assembly, I rewired the assembly now ok.
This got me thinking that your auto selector assembly may have become loose or the switch which relates to the P selection is malfuntioning or out of position which is causing P to flash only once. It may be worth removing the housing around the selector assembly to investigate if all is corectly in place. Hope this helps.

Richard G · Jun 10, 2010

alanfp said:
Hi Met

Yes, the lever has gone through R and N to get to Drive, so It's definitely not in Park. D is highlighted, but P is flashing.

Does it do anything similar when going the other way and
does it do something similar if you go P to D to P to D in sucession

I don't know how the letters are selected to be illuminated but I wonder if there is a sticking detent pin somewhere in the selector linkage and the flashing is as a result of just slight movement that momentarily breaks the illumination circuit and then remakes again causing it to appear to flash

alanfp · Jun 10, 2010

Many thanks for your help (esp Richard and Goose)

As can happen sometimesI see thatmy post was open to slight mis-interpretation (completely my fault)

I should have said that the P flashes all the time that I'm in Drive, not just once, and continues until I return the selector to P.It's a regular flashing - maybe once per second.
Without going out to my car now (maybe tonight) I can't recall if it does it when I select N. I'm 99% sure it also does it when I'm in reverse.

franeko · Jul 13, 2011

I got exactly the same problem on C-Max CVT 2004. It took 6 weeks to diganose the problem!

Many sensors have been tested and the whole transmission has been replaced.

Finally, they found out that one wire at the connector to the transmission selector lever (this one controlled by a driver) was broken. Now, it is fixed!

alanfp · Jul 16, 2011

Thanks, franeko.

Did you get the trans replaced JUST because the 'P' was flashing, or was it exhibiting other faults?

alanfp · Jul 24, 2011

franeko said:
Finally, they found out that one wire at the connector to the transmission selector lever (this one controlled by a driver) was broken. Now, it is fixed!

Hi again

As far as you know, did they work from inside the car to get at the lever?

Alan

franeko · Aug 5, 2011

It seems that the transmission replacement has not been caused by the blinking P problem. Actually, they said that blinking P did not harm anything at all, but I have some doubts about it. The transmission has been replaced because the engine stalled two times (in a distance of 6 weeks)at traffic lights. Each time it was possible to start the engine at P and it was running at N but was stalling at R or D. Each time, the problem was not solved by cooling down the engine, but the best cure for it was a short voyage (ca. 5 miles) on a car transporter

. In the workshop it was working fine, but after the second time I asked them to open the transmission and check the oil and filter status (following the advice at Ford forums). The inspection shown to much metal particles (some are acceptable) so the final conclusion was the transmission replacement).

The blinking P was cured from the car bottom by soldering the broken wire even if the total replacement of the lever was recommended (but much to expensive for 6+ year old car). As far as I know, the broken wire on the lever connection can introduce the signal miss-interpretation on a Canbus where all main propulsion components are connected, so I am not sure if it was not a cause of the engine stalling problem.

TraceyK · Mar 21, 2021

alanfp said:
Many thanks for your help (esp Richard and Goose)

As can happen sometimesI see thatmy post was open to slight mis-interpretation (completely my fault)

I should have said that the P flashes all the time that I'm in Drive, not just once, and continues until I return the selector to P.It's a regular flashing - maybe once per second.
Without going out to my car now (maybe tonight) I can't recall if it does it when I select N. I'm 99% sure it also does it when I'm in reverse.

Our 2013 Ford Ranger has same issue. P flashing all the time on dashboard.
Nothing in Manual about it. So frustrating.

jackansell140700 · 2023-02-06T14:45:13-0500

TraceyK said:
Our 2013 Ford Ranger has same issue. P flashing all the time on dashboard. Nothing in Manual about it. So frustrating.

Did you ever get this fixed

"P" flashing on dashboard

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