Trans Fail safe mode

[PhazeX5]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Have you tried Autowerkes in Fallston?

No Havent, Are they reliable?

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by PhazeX5

No Havent, Are they reliable?

I've never used them, but many BMWCCA members recommend Autowerkes and I've never heard anything bad about them.

[PhazeX5]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I've never used them, but many BMWCCA members recommend Autowerkes and I've never heard anything bad about them.

Thx, I'll give them a call and explain my problem, let see what they say.

[jammer310]

I am having a similar issue PhazeX5...did you ever get this resolved and if so what did it turn out to be? Thanks in advance!

[wpl11972]

I'm having the same problem. If the car is cold. Took it out twice today. The X drives fine. About 20 min. later its slipping in 1st or 2nd gear. The dealer wanted to replace it @ a cost of $6700.00. We leased a 2008 335i today. I keeped the x. Did not trade it in. I couldnt just get rid of it. I feel its not the tranny. And if it is. It can be rebuilt.

What was your outcome on your Xs. I can try adding some fluid. But will that fix the problem.

[king_julien]

I am also having a very similar problem as well. When the car is cold my X starts first time and about an hour or so drive, it starts to slow down all of a sudden. Even if I rev the car upto 3000rpm, it still drives @ less than 20mph. Turn the car off and give it about 2 minutes or so, start it back up again and the car drives fine for another 10 before it misbehave again.

I'm wondering have you, PhazeX5 or anybody else in that matter rectify the problem yet.

[wpl11972]

I dropped the car at a tranny shop yesterday. Well see whats the problem. I was doing some reading this weekend. Some are saying it could be the alternator. When the car was cold I was getting 14.07v after a 30 min drive it went down to 13.28 to 13.89 up and down. up and down. I might have a bad Alt. going. Read it should be between 13.7 to 14.5. Was reading its not hard to replace the Alt.

BTW where is a good place to order one local or web.

Thanks Bill.

[jammer310]

I have read the same thing about the alternator...but somewhere in this thread it also mentions the possiblity of a bad Park-Nuetral Switch...it was a recall item on the 2001 4.4...I did a little research and THAT is what mine sounds like...

Symptoms are...When I stop the SAV and throw it in Park the Transmission Failsafe Mode often comes on...it also comes on frequently upon start up but IF I turn the SAV off and restart 9 chances out of ten it does not return and the car drives FLAWLESSLY...I am hopeful this is MY problem and have to get five minutes to call the dealer to see if the recall has been preformed on this particular SAV since I bought it used just a few months ago...

Here is the link...

http://www.automotive.com/2001/49/bm...lls/63338.html


You may need to copy and paste as I don't think I inserted it right! If it does not work ...just do a search for "BMW X5 Recalls Park Nuetral"

I don't know if this will help anyone but...I am going to check it out!!!

[PhazeX5]

Originally Posted by jammer310

I am having a similar issue PhazeX5...did you ever get this resolved and if so what did it turn out to be? Thanks in advance!

Hey jammer...I never resolved the issue. The X is in the garage right now. How did you make out?

[king_julien]

Hi guys,

I can honestly say that I HAVE SOLVED my Trans Fail Safe Mode problem. It turned out to be the 'Torque Convertor'. Torque convertor fins broke up as a result the debris were flowing into the valve body causing intermittent. Because the valve solenoid kept jamming. The problem I had was after driving the X for 1 hour to 1 hour and a half, the car would go into Limp Mode i.e. the rev would go up and only drives 1st and 2nd gear @ 4000 rpm or more.

I went to different garages including the Stealer Dealer, but they couldn't find any fault at all on their machine. Some says it's the Throttle Housing (EDK), some says its electronic issue which I initially thought as well, some says faulty gearbox switch, some says its the valve body. Finally I ruled out the above suggestions and went straight for the transmission. So I went to a GearBox Specialist, they diagnosed the problem but nothing came up on the machine. But the guy there assured me that it's mechanical issue inside the gearbox. So they took the gearbox down and took the components out for close inspection and found out that the "Torque Convertor" was shot and some other parts were worn. So they advised me to go for a re-conditioned box which works out as same as overhauling the existing gearbox. If I wanted my gearbox re-conditioned instead of an exchange, it would have taken longer time b'coz they have to order the parts in.

So luckily I got my X back within 3 days and finally in a very long time, I can rest my mind, and my back, and my head and get to enjoy the X, until it happens again... hahaha... (knock on woods).

Well that's it, guys... hope this help. Honestly, I really didn't think it was the gearbox since it was running fine when it was cold. But now I'm glad I took it those people. Anyone looking for a good Gearbox Specialist, try these guy at Hartfield Road in Croydon, London. I got it done for £2,500 plus 1 year warranty or 12,000 miles which ever comes first. And after 500 miles, they're going to change the fluid for FREE. Good Luck PhazeX5 and hope you'll resolve the issue soon.