Gear Shift Actuator Temperature Too High

Possible causes

• CommonProlonged stop-start traffic or repeated hill starts
• CommonHolding the vehicle on a slope using the transmission rather than the brakes
• CommonWorn clutch making the actuator work harder than it should
• PossibleSticking or dry actuator mechanism
• PossibleLow hydraulic pressure making the actuator work continuously
• PossibleFailed cooling for the actuator on designs that have it

What you might notice

• Transmission warning message
• Reduced power or refusal to move
• Fault appearing in heavy traffic or on a hill
• Judder when moving off
• Recovering after the car has stood for a while

What to check, in order

1. Stop and let it cool. These faults clear themselves once the temperature falls, and forcing the issue is what turns overheating into a failed actuator.
2. Hold the car on the footbrake or handbrake on a slope rather than on the transmission. This is the single most effective habit change on an automated manual, and it costs nothing.
3. Assess clutch wear. A worn clutch makes the actuator work far harder for every engagement.
4. Read all codes - hydraulic pressure codes alongside these explain an actuator working continuously.
5. Check whether the clutch adaptation procedure has been run since the last repair.