Trans failsafe prog and other issues

[MindOne]

Hi guys few questions, anyone had experience with the trans failsafe prog error message, mine has came up and also disabled multifunction steering wheel however is not limiting gear changes drives as it should, I have tried resetting the dash using the obc but it is still there. Also did the voltage test on the obc and it is fine. Would doing a battery reset (disconnect for 10 mins) fix this?

Also I am thinking of changing the transmission oil how much should this cost?

Also need my tracking/camber done as rear tyres had excessive inner wear down to the wire, anyone know a place in Sheffield that has reasonable pricing?

Thanks in advance

[X5Sport]

Check your battery state at least 4 hours after last use with a meter, not the OBC.  Starting current can cause a drop far enough to upset the 'sensitive' computer systems on board.  Lots of reports of this error, and should always be checked with the car asleep.

If the changes are not locked out then it will be a false error with a high degree of certainty.

How many miles?  Has the oil ever been changed?  It is quite expensive as the oil can be expensive.  Critical to use the right stuff and the correct procedure too.  Use a trusted Indy as this will be far cheaper than letting BMW do it.  Your Indy needs to know these boxes though.

[MindOne]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Check your battery state at least 4 hours after last use with a meter, not the OBC.  Starting current can cause a drop far enough to upset the 'sensitive' computer systems on board.  Lots of reports of this error, and should always be checked with the car asleep.

If the changes are not locked out then it will be a false error with a high degree of certainty.

How many miles?  Has the oil ever been changed?  It is quite expensive as the oil can be expensive.  Critical to use the right stuff and the correct procedure too.  Use a trusted Indy as this will be far cheaper than letting BMW do it.  Your Indy needs to know these boxes though.
[/quote]

Thanks for the comprehensive answer I will do the multi-meter test and report back, if it is true the starting current is too low (below 11.9) would replacing the battery remove the  trans fail safe error and fix the MF steering wheel controls?

Thanks in advance

[strummer]

you need to invest in a fault code reader that properly displays the fault and has the ability to clear it,money well spent

[X5Sport]

The error should disappear from the display, but will stay in the on board history.

Changing the battery might be the answer, but if you have access to a Dealer/Garage with a current tester, it might be worth checking the starting current being drawn.

Another possible cause might be a faulty starter motor.  You need a current clamp to test it.  Normal 'draw' should be 180A.  It can be MUCH higher, and that causes a volt drop.

Have a search on here for starter motor issues.  It is a known issue on the M57 engine (3.0 IL6).  I've had it on both my E53 and E46!.  The giveaway is increasingly slow engine cranking.  At one point I was having to recharge the battery every 2-days.  It will cause the voltage to drop way down below 11V.

[MindOne]

[quote="strummer"]
you need to invest in a fault code reader that properly displays the fault and has the ability to clear it,money well spent
[/quote]

I have scanned using Torque Pro and an OBD2 adapter an there were no errors.

[quote="X5Sport"]
The error should disappear from the display, but will stay in the on board history.

Changing the battery might be the answer, but if you have access to a Dealer/Garage with a current tester, it might be worth checking the starting current being drawn.

Another possible cause might be a faulty starter motor.  You need a current clamp to test it.  Normal 'draw' should be 180A.  It can be MUCH higher, and that causes a volt drop.

Have a search on here for starter motor issues.  It is a known issue on the M57 engine (3.0 IL6).  I've had it on both my E53 and E46!.  The giveaway is increasingly slow engine cranking.  At one point I was having to recharge the battery every 2-days.  It will cause the voltage to drop way down below 11V.
[/quote]

Thanks for the help, I will start with the multimeter voyage test first, and see if I can hook a new battery before buying it to confirm, if not then will investigate further regarding starter motor issues.

In regards to earlier reply about gear box oil, my 3.0d sport  auto has just over 104k.

[X5Sport]

For the gearbox I think you are in that grey area of 'leave it alone as it isn't broke', 'change the oil and it will be fine',  or 'change it and the box will die on you'.

Probably worth trying to get a little oil out from the filler plug underneath and see what colour it is.

See this thread....

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... 315.0.html

[Steamyrotter]

[quote="X5Sport"]

See this thread....

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... 315.0.html
[/quote]

Hee hee.
I'm getting quoted for useful stuff (for a change....)

[X5Sport]

That's coz you are our Dr Gearbox.....

[henrym3]

I feel I have to comment on the trans failsafe warning even though I am no expert nor can I see any real logic to what I did. Electricians please feel free to comment. I had this warning 8 months ago with everything working as normal. I had read somewhere that you should remove the throttle body thoroughly clean, including plug connection and replace. Being a tight git and working on the principle that this option was cheap I gave it a go. Never had the problem since.???

[X5Sport]

Interesting, and no reason why it isn't another option to look at. 

Colder/damper weather can find all sorts of ways of triggering false warnings!

[Steamyrotter]

There are a lot of signals feeding into the gws module. From throttle position, steering sensor, abs sensors dash etc etc.

Could be anything upsetting it hence why need to get any codes out you can.

I sadly have a diagram of the sort of input it uses..
I'll post it when I get on my laptop.

[strummer]

if the car senses that it is running rich ie polluting the environment it will throw up engine failsafe dsc faults etc to let you know you are killing the planet,to the untrained eye it appears there are faults with these systems,not so.If you interrogate the car it will usually come up with "throttle body to mass air flow problem"
A bottle of fuel system cleaner and a tank of super unleaded usually sorts it.

[sitrom]

I had the same error message come on my E53 and after looking at and replacing alternator and battery, it turned out it was the throttle body. However, the only difference was that when the error message was displayed, the car would go in limp mode and needed a trans reset to get out of it.

[MindOne]

[quote="henrym3"]
I feel I have to comment on the trans failsafe warning even though I am no expert nor can I see any real logic to what I did. Electricians please feel free to comment. I had this warning 8 months ago with everything working as normal. I had read somewhere that you should remove the throttle body thoroughly clean, including plug connection and replace. Being a tight git and working on the principle that this option was cheap I gave it a go. Never had the problem since.???
[/quote]

Well I have tested the battery and it seems to be fine so I am going to assume it is something else. Is the throttle body clean a DIY job? Do you know if there is DIY online I can follow?

In other news, my brake lights have decided to stay on which I assume is a sticky switch on the brake pedal.