Quote:
Originally Posted by cuban_bmwx5
well i just called BMW and i asked them about that switch and they said it has already been taken care of . so do you still think that can still be my issue rockit?
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Idle the car for about 10 mins in park. If the Trans Fail comes on it's 99% a bad neutral safety switch. Then shut the truck off and start it again and if the message is gone definitely that. That is the symptom the TSB was about.
If the switch was replaced back in 01 or 02 it's very possible its bad again.
The fail prong is coming on from electrical continuity.
I found a few links below that tell you about the condition and repair, see if yours is doing the same. I would at least clean the pin connector and spray the entire switch with WD-40 or equivalent. Also before I changed mine the plastic protective wire cover going to the neutral switch was melted just from the heat where it was routed by the trans so check that. Because this is an intermittent electrical problem the codes will be wrong. The switch would have to fail and stay failed while being tested.
Before you do anything try to eliminate this known issue first.
BMW E53 Neutral Safety Switch Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)
You don't have to take the trans out...this simply bolts on.
http://www.xoutpost.com/844101-post2.html
2001 BMW X5 Recall
Item Affected: POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: PARK / NEUTRAL START SWITCH
Date Announced: 07/02/2001
Description of Recall:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4.4I SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, ABRASION PARTICLES COULD DEPOSIT ON THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITHIN THE SWITCH, CAUSING A DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH THE CONTACTS. IF THE DISRUPTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE NEUTRAL OR PARK POSITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SWITCH AUTOMATICALLY INTO THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM, WHICH IS DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER VIA A WARNING LAMP AND A MESSAGE, "TRANS. FAIL-SAFE PROG." IN THIS CASE, THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN IN LOWER GEARS ONLY WITH LIMITED ENGINE OUTPUT.
Action Need To Fix It:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION INDICATOR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
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