Solved! DSC ABS fault after sketchy tire check / alignment woes

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by basicm

Just lifting is ok, but engageing the car and trying to fix issues can make strange things happen.
As you know, different tyre wear can do big headache too.

Had they engaged the transmission with the X partially lifted, I think the OP would have bigger problems. It sounds like they just spun the lifted wheel by hand.

I'd put money on it being a wheel speed sensor, steering sensor, or tcase actuator. I quick scan should point us in the right direction

[David.X5]

Dont know, I don't have XDrive. Many people simply flip the gear. Maybe you can talk the dealer into trying that before the more expensive repairs. The official line is that they are not repairable. The replacement gears are aftermarket products.

[Micah247]

Just to clarify. The dealer will not be doing the work. My mechanic worked at the dealer for 17 years.

My plan is to replace the Transfer Case Module then have the dealer code it. My only fear is that the module blew because the gear got damaged first. I'm tempted to just replace the plastic gear at the same time regardless. A damaged gear seems to be the most common solution to the problem I'm experiencing.

Has anyone here had to replace their transfer case activator gear?

[bcredliner]

If the car was on the lift with the engine running and the transmission was put in gear OP would likely be talking about his X taking a drive off the rack. Even if that was the case, the 4 wheel drive system would have transferred power to the wheels on the ground with no harm done.

Your problem could be the transfer case actuator gear. One troubleshooting method is with ABS, DCS lit, shut off the engine. Sometimes you will hear a clicking noise coming from the transfer case. That is an indication the transfer case actuator gear is shot.

That said, I don't believe in coincidences similar to what has happened to you. First, there is absolutely no reason to remove the steering wheel for an alignment. I think the mark on the steering wheel is matched to the mark on the steering shaft. Your off center steering wheel is most likely an indication of an alignment done improperly. The steering wheel sensor is most likely the cause of your problem as it is integrated into the ABS system. When the alignment is corrected so the steering wheel is on center I think your problem will go away. FYI-a large percentage of alignment shops do not have the equipment to properly align an X5.

[B-M-W]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

If the car was on the lift with the engine running and the transmission was put in gear OP would likely be talking about his X taking a drive off the rack. Even if that was the case, the 4 wheel drive system would have transferred power to the wheels on the ground with no harm done.

Your problem could be the transfer case actuator gear. One troubleshooting method is with ABS, DCS lit, shut off the engine. Sometimes you will hear a clicking noise coming from the transfer case. That is an indication the transfer case actuator gear is shot.

That said, I don't believe in coincidences similar to what has happened to you. First, there is absolutely no reason to remove the steering wheel for an alignment. I think the mark on the steering wheel is matched to the mark on the steering shaft. Your off center steering wheel is most likely an indication of an alignment done improperly. The steering wheel sensor is most likely the cause of your problem as it is integrated into the ABS system. When the alignment is corrected so the steering wheel is on center I think your problem will go away. FYI-a large percentage of alignment shops do not have the equipment to properly align an X5.

BINGO!

If you have an alignment done on any bmw with DSC, you have to calibrate the steering sensor. Otherwise you could have a DSC fault. Sometimes this fault îs intermitted and sometimes not.

[Micah247]

Originally Posted by B-M-W

BINGO!

If you have an alignment done on any bmw with DSC, you have to calibrate the steering sensor. Otherwise you could have a DSC fault. Sometimes this fault îs intermitted and sometimes not.

Ok. I should re establish the time line here.

Bad alignment was done 6 months and 13,000 miles ago. No faults.

Improper lifting of the front end causing fault immediately after driving away. 2 weeks ago. (before I could stop him the guy had the passenger side front end way up and was spinning the wheel back-and-forth, with the vehicle still running)

Alignment fix 8 days ago.

Dealer pulling codes after alignment was corrected. 5 days ago. They said "it's the transfer case module"

I also don't believe in coincidences. This was a direct cause and effect from the improper lift. It makes more sense that the gear would get damaged, not the module. I plan to replace the gear first then the module. I know I need to have the module coded.

[upallnight]

If you hear clicking sounds after your turn off the engine near the bottom of the driver side door (assuming your X is LHD) the actuator gear in the transfer case is stripped. If you don't hear the clicking when you shut off the engine, it's something else. Most likely a wheel sensor. In addition to the wheel sensor, get a new connector case for the wiring harness because when you go to remove the wheel sensor connector from the car wiring harness the plastic connector will crumble.

[Micah247]

Originally Posted by upallnight

If you hear clicking sounds after your turn off the engine near the bottom of the driver side door (assuming your X is LHD) the actuator gear in the transfer case is stripped. If you don't hear the clicking when you shut off the engine, it's something else. Most likely a wheel sensor. In addition to the wheel sensor, get a new connector case for the wiring harness because when you go to remove the wheel sensor connector from the car wiring harness the plastic connector will crumble.

I'm smart enough to know you don't remove the steering wheel to fix a bad alignment. I had an alignment done, the wheel is nice and straight now. They used a hydraulic lift to lift only the front passenger wheel high off the ground while the car was still running. I've purchased the actuator gear and the transfer case module. The dealer said their codes indicate it's the transfer case module, but I never believe them because they're wrong most of the time. I will update the week after Labor Day once the work is been complete.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by upallnight

If you hear clicking sounds after your turn off the engine near the bottom of the driver side door (assuming your X is LHD) the actuator gear in the transfer case is stripped. If you don't hear the clicking when you shut off the engine, it's something else. Most likely a wheel sensor. In addition to the wheel sensor, get a new connector case for the wiring harness because when you go to remove the wheel sensor connector from the car wiring harness the plastic connector will crumble.

This has me worried... lol I have no indications of a failure or anything, but when I shut off the X I do get a clicking noise from somewhere under the middle of the vehicle. Do they make a carbon fiber gear for our cases like they do the X3's? We bought an Mtech X3 that had a carbon reinforced gear replaced in it (receipt provided by PO) and thought maybe they offered the same thing for the e53?

NM, did a quick google search, turns out they do offer the same thing for e53. Awesome. I guess if I start to get symptoms it will the first thing I look at.

[Micah247]

Nob question. Where is the transfer case module located on a 2006 E53 X5 4.4?