gear box

[ibukunoyin]

I have a vauxhall corsa auto 1.2 and I wonder if anyone could tell me what can cause "s" to be flashing without stopping on the dash board.I do notice that the car is a bit slogish sometimes and I have to select 2 or 3 for the car to repond. The gears seems to me not to be changing as it should automatically. I have checked the oil level and it seems fine.will I need a new gear box ? Please help....

[logic]

this is a malfunction in auto select, very often righting itself, but if you have had it a while get it scanned,

Here is a snippet from a Google page.

This has happened to me too - dont worry - believe it or not its the position of your auto-selector that causes the problem. Normally this fault indication means as the handbook puts it "an incident in the auto transmission". As you say, it re-set when you turned the car off - if there was a fault it would go into limp home mode and contiue to warn you. The first time it happened to me I was scared (expense!!!), the "fault", is actually you being a little too gentle with the lever!

Although in "Drive" the position switch isnt quite engaged and the electronics dont know whats going on so they panic - meanwhile the car drives perfectly normally (except the warning turns you grey). Yours went into limp home mode. It can actually be "made" to show this fault by slowly and very carefully moving from Park into Drive untill the lights alternately flash!

[dougielogan]

Check to see if there is a "S" button on or around the gearshift, some have a button on top of the gearchange and you might have selected "Sports Mode"

[mjwman]

S=Snow. There is a button as described near the gear selector. If the slight is lit it is not a fault it is telling you you are in snow mode which does just as you describe.
I borrowed a colleagues Vectra auto once and pressed this by mistake and what you describe was the effect.

[Panic Button]

I think the snow button has a picture of a snowflake on it

[Nkakamasembe]

I suppose if you gave the color of this light it might help in identifing what is all about as well eg RED - AMBER OR RED? allow me to pass on a wild guess as in LIMITED SLIP/ TRACTION SWITCH ON?

[ibukunoyin]

Thank you all for your suggestions.I having to drive the car manually because the gear still does'st change when it should expecially at cold start.The minute I get to 30mph with the engine warm and select drive, it drives as normal even with the continues S flashing until I want to climb a hill, then there is problem. The car will just not climb a Hill on D. I always have to Select gear 1 or 2 to get up any Hill. Its driving me nuts

[mjwman]

You have not yet answered the questions about thje "snow and ice" mode button.

[ibukunoyin]

I have checked the Snow and Ice button and its okay.The problem is the S button on the gear stick itself. It should light up when pressed nd go out when pressed again. It just flashing constantly with the engine running.I think I need to have it scaned.