2001 3.0d gearbox issue help

[Adam1411]

Hi im wondering if anyone can help or has had the same issue.
i have a 2001 x5 3.0d the car kept going into trans fail safe mode and then would not drive just revved and went no where, so i put a new gearbox and torque convertor in and filled it up with zf-lifetime fluid 6 (7ltrs) started the car up and it drove fine for 50 yards then just started revving and going no where again, so i have tried putting a new ecu on the car but that has not sorted the problem can anyone shed any light on what the issue might be as i am running out of patience and ideas.
Thanks in advance

[X5Sport]

Welcome to the forum....

Transfer box?  It's about all I can think of.  there was an issue with the prop shaft splines failing at the transfer box end which would cause a loss of drive.

Richard

[Adam1411]

Thanks for your reply.
I have also be told it may need more oil i dont know what you opinion would be on that i just need a resolution on it, also when i plug it to get faults up it keeps coming up with abs problem will this affect it al all?
Cheers

[X5Sport]

I assumed you had put the right amount of fluid in and followed the procedure for topping up to get the levels right.  The procedure requires temperatures and a few other things to be done in a specific sequence, and only using the approved oil.

No idea on the ABS fault though - can't see why that would stop drive engaging and it pulling away.  Can you feel the box going into gear in forward or reverse?

Richard

[Adam1411]

Yes i have followed everything by the book fill with oil let the car warmup and topped up ect. The oil is approved oil so it cannot be that.
The car note of the engine changes as if it has selected a gear but it just will not move in either drive reverse or sport mode, you put it into drive and there is nothing at all it dose not feel like there is anything going on at all.
Adam

[Steamyrotter]

2001 will be a GM 5l40e gearbox.
You will need 9 litres of fluid MIN.
If new torque converter has been fitted then you will need more like 12litres as the convertor will take about 3 litres to fill

ZF fluid is incorrect for this box.
Standard fluid was a BMW concoction which equated to Dexron 3 with added friction additives.
Rebuilders  (and GM) now state use Dexron VI.

Usual issues with these are...
Torque convertor lock up clutch lining failure
Dodgy filter
Passing valve in the valve body
Passing torque convertor lock up solenoid
wear in the oil pump causing loss of pressure...

You will need to get a pressure gauge on the tapping point on the left hand side of the box just in front of the gear change cable connection (M10 fine thread) and see what the pressure is (if any)
It really sounds like you have a pressure problem which could be attributable to any of the above.

One way to check is to start the car, then unplug the multiplug off the right hand side of the gearbox to the rear.  This will cause the gearbox to go to failsafe mode - ie locks box in 4th / 5th and applies FULL oil pressure to the system..  Note this could get to 230psi if pump is OK.  anything below 25 is a BIG issue 

With all plugged in and ok and at tick over you should see 50 - 60psi.  raising to 80-90 in first and 200 odd in reverse...

Anything outside this will be pointing to pump or valve body problem.

What is the pedegree of the new box and convertor?? 
Where did you get it from and what is the history.

These are hard to remotely diagnose.  You will need to get pressures and any fault codes out of the system before you can get a reasonable stab at it....

Oh and engine note will change as selecting gear also affects the engine management as it prepares for the extra load it will be expecting to see..

Where are you situated??

[Adam1411]

Thanks for your reply.
well it seems like i have made a right has of the job, i was told by euro car parts that that was the correct oil for the box so just went with what they said so looks like i will have to drain all the fluid and start again.
I will have a crack at your advice and see where that takes me hopefully it will be something simple but knowing my luck it won't be!
As for the gearbox it has come from a good mate of mine who had recently broke the same car the gearbox was running fine in the car before he broke it and he had it all checked and serviced before i got it he also gave me 6 month warrantee with it.
I am situated in Bolton where abouts are you?
Adam

[Y13HYA]

[quote="Adam1411"]
Thanks for your reply.
well it seems like i have made a right has of the job, i was told by euro car parts that that was the correct oil for the box so just went with what they said so looks like i will have to drain all the fluid and start again.
I will have a crack at your advice and see where that takes me hopefully it will be something simple but knowing my luck it won't be!
As for the gearbox it has come from a good mate of mine who had recently broke the same car the gearbox was running fine in the car before he broke it and he had it all checked and serviced before i got it he also gave me 6 month warrantee with it.
I am situated in Bolton where abouts are you?
Adam
[/quote]

Adam, have you read for codes?

[Adam1411]

I have just called a guy out with a better machine for reading codes mine just kept coming up with code 104 so hopefully he can shed some more light on the issue

[Y13HYA]

[quote="Adam1411"]
I have just called a guy out with a better machine for reading codes mine just kept coming up with code 104 so hopefully he can shed some more light on the issue
[/quote]
I have BMW DIS and INPA. Let me know if needed. I am only in Blackburn.
No charge,

[Adam1411]

Thanks very much for that can you pm your number?
cheers

[Y13HYA]

[quote="Adam1411"]
Thanks very much for that can you pm your number?
cheers
[/quote]

PM'd

[Steamyrotter]

no prob

I have had more than my fair share with this gearbox...
I am in south west so no where near you....

It could be simple in that there is not enough fluid, or it could be drastic.....

A lot has been posted on many forums ref replacing fluid in gearboxes and then they go t1ts up afterwards..


try this link for more info.....:-


http://koti.mbnet.fi/pro-ht/Kuvat/automaattilaatikko/5L40E.pdf

regards

[Adam1411]

Thanks for all your help and advice.
I have had the car read with off a friend of mine who has a proper bmw reader and it turns out that the gearbox my "mate" has supplied is a right pig!
So now i'm back to square one! not happy at all but thats life.
does anyone have a gearbox for the car or can anyone recommend someone who rebuilds the gearboxes? i heard there was a decent guy in Liverpool but cannot for the life of me seem to remember his name.
Thanks again
Adam

[Horizon]

http://www.automaticgearboxes-lancashire.co.uk/

Try phoning these guys, there only a few miles from Bolton.
I had my box serviced in Rochdale. Auto Gearbox Specialists, I think they are called. He Had a few BMW boxes being rebuilt whilst I was in their place, he was showing me the valve blocks and Mechatronic units.

http://www.theautomaticgearboxcompany.c ... ntact.html