[clivehuggins]

This problem started without any warning. The car shifts in standard auto and kicks down fine. The tip light is off but push over to tip mode and nothing. The car will just shift as if its in D. I have seen another thread about a plastic part in the centre console breaking, but it doesn't sound like this one. Any ideas? Hopefully cheap ones!

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[flash]

i vaguely remember something about a pin switch at the shifter that breaks and disallows the trans to go into tip mode

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[clivehuggins]

Thanks Flash, I'll take off the centre console at the weekend and investigate.

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[clivehuggins]

So I took apart the centre console assembly today. Have to say the hardest part was getting the shift knob off. For anyone doing something similar it can require a lot of force to pull off. On opening up to see the tiptronic mechanism I could see that a small microswitch was broken. It obviously tells the electronic brain that tip is engaged - mine wasn't. I didn't have time to make as professional repair as I would like but made up a new metal lever from filling down a screw until it was the right thickness. The microswitch relay also has a small hole in the side facing the gear shift so I fashioned the new piece to lock into this hole when tip is engaged. This stops it sliding backwards.
Given more time this is an easy repair and can certainly be improved upon but the main thing is not to worry if you experience the same problem.

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[xrad]

nice repair....


Now here is the real challenge(you heard it here first):

Remove the front and rear microswitches and mount on back of steering wheel with a paddle actuator. Shift over to activate tip and have some 'two hands on the wheel' fun!

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[flash]

eeeeeck - i hate paddles - lol

glad it was just the switch - i suspected that might be it

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[968Syncro]

The paddle shifter idea would be cool. I've gotten used to hitting the tip at the right time for what one might call power shifting. It took some months of experience with the tip to get to a semi-subconscious ability (was really awkward at first). Not that I do it often, or race or anything like that. But there are circumstances where I slap it to the right and then take control. Kind of like with all of us on a stick, it doesn't take much focus after our brain/body are turned to the car/stick/clutch.

Roland

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[wmuldowney]

for clarification, mostly mine, the tiptronic is still a mechanical action correct?
If one were to try to mount on steering column there would have to be linkage, correct? Paddles would be awesome but not if there was linkage involved

If my memory serves me correctly, both BMW and Mercedes had a "fly by wire" shift system in the early nineties but NTSB was in the way of bringing it to market sooner (they wanted a dual system in place for redundancy)

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[968Syncro]

Not sure if I am answering the question exactly, but...

With the shifter on the left, there is a cable from the shifter back to the trans that moves the trans through P, R, N, D, 3, 2, etc. When in D or the other forward settings, a computer then moves the trans through the gears.

With the shifter on the right, it is "fly by wire" since the switches on that side inform the computer which gear the driver wishes to select. The computer even has fail safe logic, for example if in this mode the trans is in 3rd gear (selected by the driver), and if the car comes to a stop it won't stall out, the computer will still downshift the trans.

Roland

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[wmuldowney]

[With the shifter on the right, it is "fly by wire" since the switches on that side inform the computer which gear the driver wishes to select. The computer even has fail safe logic, for example if in this mode the trans is in 3rd gear (selected by the driver), and if the car comes to a stop it won't stall out, the computer will still downshift the trans.

Roland
[/quote]

Ok, so if what you say is correct, then one could, in theory, leave the right side switch in place to engage the tiptronic and relocate the the remaining micro switches to the column......surely if it were that easy someone would have done this already right? You use an existing paddle shift steering wheel and modify to accept the switches.

Flash?, What are we (I) missing here, other than common sense, brains, rationality.

For the record I did do a search on this topic but it looks like it was only explored but not attempted?

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[clivehuggins]

<!--quoteo(post=72962:date=Jun 2 2009, 10:02 AM:name=xrad)-->QUOTE (xrad @ Jun 2 2009, 10:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->nice repair....


Now here is the real challenge(you heard it here first):

Remove the front and rear microswitches and mount on back of steering wheel with a paddle actuator. Shift over to activate tip and have some 'two hands on the wheel' fun!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Haven driven cars with paddle shifts I'm with Flash! On the face of it though it doesn't seem too hard to replicate. If we had 5 or 6 gears to play with perhaps it would be worth the effort for those who like paddle shifts.

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[wmuldowney]

I agree on that point, the Tiptronic needs at least one last gear added.

This would be bad for me in another way, I am a competition rifle/pistol shooter and tend to do the "double tap" thing out of habit. Ive actually done this couple times with the wifes Pacifica (hey its bad enough I'm driving the thing to begin with) and it isn't on the column or wheel!

That not good for tranny

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[xrad]

Flash: does your fear of paddles stem from some childhood incident??? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]


WM: Uh oh...I guess I should not have made that Texas comment...... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

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[wmuldowney]

Its ok about the Texas comment, I lived most of my life in California or Italy (as in Europe, not Italy, Texas). I hate it here!
I so miss CA! Lived about 10yrs in Norcal, Marysville/Yuba City and the rest in Huntington Beach.

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[xrad]

well, at least you still have a saltwater coastline.....

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[wmuldowney]

I was a bit confused about the saltwater coastline thing, was sure what you were refering to then I remembered the oil slicked water thing they call "the gulf of mexico"
LOL

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