I am trying to sort some problems on a 2005 mini with the CVT transmission.
My question is: What would cause it to NOT show The "D" or "R" on the speedometer display?

Longer version: Car wouldn't upshift, displayed EP, next day worked fine for about a week. Then went back to EP mode and stayed there.
Error code is: 705 DME : Gearbox position sensor Malfunction - Not present

I cleared the code. When I drive the car it feels a little stuttery, wont go over 10-15 miles and hour, engine RPM will not increase very much (stays under 2500-3000). The it goes into EP mode.

I notice after I have cleared the EP code, and shift from park to reverse the to Drive, the indicator in the speedometer only shows the P and the N. Hence the question.
I have removed and inspected the circuit board next to the selector and it looks fine, although I didn't remove the solder protector to inspect the traces.

I guess my next step is to replace the Start inhibit switch [pn -24357518731] and change the transmission fluid. I am just a little baffled by the lack of the indicator.

 

I cannot help too much with an auto. Have you tried a search here as well as a Google that will 9 out of 10 times send you back here.

How many miles on the car?

 

90k on the clock. I have searched quite a bit, but I am trying to find out what would cause that lack of a D or R indicator, and I can't find it.

My logic is that I am ether having a software/electrical problem or a mechanical one. And figuring what is responsible for the indicator would get me closer.

 

Where are you located?

 

Oregon. Stuck in the driveway. So I'm not going anywhere soon.

 

A far shot, but have you checked all the fuses?

 

I should go through the fuses. I haven't.

This single thread gives me hope.
http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...cator-cvt.html

I have already pulled the PRNDL switch, and mine physically looked fine. I am going to see if I can pull one from a junkyard.

When I inspected mine I was hoping to find something like this:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...sible-fix.html

 

EXC articles !!!

Thank you for sharing !!!

 

For those future readers.

I resolved the issue by replacing the Start inhibit switch, which is part 4 on this diagram. RealOEM.com

What finally clued me in that this was the correct part was, after I cleared the code, the gear position indicator on the speedometer would only show P and N, when the car was in Drive or Reverse the indicator was blank. Although that part is called a start inhibit, I believe it is really the Transmission Range indicator. According to something I read, which I can't find, the gear position is only relayed to the ECU by that part, thus if the display is blank then it can only be one of two places, the circuit board(switch) near the gear selector , as referenced here and the Start inhibit switch (which is also the Range sensor).

This link helped me as well: justanswer.com

Good luck out there.