transmission limp mode dealership BS

evertonfc · #1 12-12-2016, 02:11 PM

I have been having battery / electrical problems for years.
several times the battery was completely flat over night and threw up codes.
I reset the codes and no problems.
The last time it happened, 4 months ago I changed the battery and have had no problems since.

However the EML light came on and despite clearing all the codes it wont go out. I used a Snapon Solus pro and it was in an autoelec shop for 3 weeks being tested they found no codes either.

I took it to the dealership who are trying very hard to sell me a new car by telling me that the car has gone into "limp mode" and they are trying to figure out why.
They are trying to sell me a new car, that much is obvious.
I drove over 800 miles last week before taking it to the dealership to have the light reset so I know there aren't any problems.

I just want somebody to conirm that the dealershp can easily reset the transmission. and they are just playing games.
Thanks

StephenVA · #2 12-12-2016, 04:51 PM

Time to go to a TRUSTED indy with knowledge and skills on E39/E53 engine/body/trans electrical systems. The failure of a main BUS module and other electrical issues will cause all types of issues that the dealer who has not seen a "old vehicle" like this in years can not diagnose with their BMW dealer software.

Battery drains, bad or poor charging systems will create a cause and effect issues you will chase for ever. Test DO NOT guess.

The standard Dealer solution is to replace trans when faults come up. They do not do part/bench repairs on any systems. They recommend just complete part replacement or in your case, vehicle replacement.

evertonfc · #3 12-12-2016, 05:45 PM

i asked them to do an oil change, which costs twice what i pay elsewhere but I thought well its overdue so i might as well kill 2 birds with one stone.

Now they say there is an oil leak that has contaminated the engine module and is causing a short that is causing the engine light to come on. But they can't find the leak. Ive never seen any oil whatsoever on the floor under the car in the 4 years ive had it. I bet they spilt some during the oil change.

I only put in the dealers because its due an emissions test and the EML light being on is a fail even if there are no codes.

evertonfc · #4 12-16-2016, 05:32 PM

So: the dealer said oil has dripped onto the DME, but they weren't too interested in replacing it.

So despite no emission codes being present the test centre failed it because of the engine light being on.

I took it to a govt test centre who can give it a conditional emissions cert ($200). They said it was too much work to check it out (the original test centre said to report them as they are not allowed to do that. I just want the car tested and licensed by christmas.

So, can the DME be replaced by a home mechanic?
Otherwise I'll have to buy a friggin Hyundai/Kia very soon because I can't afford a new X5. Please help.

upallnight · #5 12-17-2016, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evertonfc

So: the dealer said oil has dripped onto the DME, but they weren't too interested in replacing it.

So despite no emission codes being present the test centre failed it because of the engine light being on.

I took it to a govt test centre who can give it a conditional emissions cert ($200). They said it was too much work to check it out (the original test centre said to report them as they are not allowed to do that. I just want the car tested and licensed by christmas.

So, can the DME be replaced by a home mechanic?
Otherwise I'll have to buy a friggin Hyundai/Kia very soon because I can't afford a new X5. Please help.

Did you flip the X upside down? I thought the DME was located in the electrical box next to the firewall and above the engine.

Unless you have the software and know how to code a new or used DME to work with all the other modules in the car, no replacing a DME by a shade tree home mechanic is not possible.

wpoll · #6 12-17-2016, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evertonfc

So: the dealer said oil has dripped onto the DME, but they weren't too interested in replacing it.

As has been suggested, this isn't possible. Not even via "wicking". The DME is very distant from any oil source. And oil on the loom won't really affect it.

Sensor modules that connect to the DME are another story - but without a better diagnosis, anything said here is pure guess-work.

evertonfc · #7 12-17-2016, 02:06 AM

apparently the oil can wick up hill. that is possible, whether it can travel that far uphill, when there's no, pun intended "concrete evidence" of a leak for the last 5 years I'm not so sure, but that is there story.

maybe oil can penetrate further down the loom and cause the same problem?

evertonfc · #8 12-17-2016, 07:50 PM

The repair bill says:
"No faults currently stored in DME.
EGS Communication Fault.
Faults would not clear
DME plug connector contaminated with oil.
leak location not detected.
cleaned connections on wire harness and transmission limp mode has now been deleted.
Engine lamp still holds a fault and will require further diagnosis".

Any thoughts

wpoll · #9 12-17-2016, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evertonfc

The repair bill says:
"No faults currently stored in DME.
EGS Communication Fault.
Faults would not clear
DME plug connector contaminated with oil.
leak location not detected.
cleaned connections on wire harness and transmission limp mode has now been deleted.
Engine lamp still holds a fault and will require further diagnosis".

Any thoughts

Maybe they mean the mechatronic plug (on the gearbox) - especially since cleaning the connections on this plug cleared the trans limp mode. This is a known issue with these cars.

The source of the leak is often the sealing sleeve on the connector to transmission interface.

Doesn't explain the EML light though (assuming EML = Engine Management Light). This is usually only on if there is a fault code that can be read from the system...

evertonfc · #10 12-17-2016, 09:01 PM

The EML came on originally because the battery drained.
One of the symptoms was the transmission threw up some codes.
I had a friend clear the codes.
EML went off.
a month or so later, the battery completely drained again. This time while driving.
The dash lit up like a christmas tree, the transmission clunked and limped along then died in the left turn lane at a busy intersection.
Same set of codes.
Again they were cleared but the EML stayed on.
The code reader, a SnapOn Solus Pro, said there were no codes in the engine and none in the transmission or elsewhere.
The EML stayed on.

I took it to an autoelec guy. he kept it for 4 weeks. He changed the battery for a Delco 94R. No elec problems since.
But i needed an emissions test.

then I took it to the dealership......