more problems with abs,dsc.

[amacman]

Hi every one, I was returning home from vacation with my family in my 2001 x5 4.4i sport auto,48k,cruising smoothly on highway when abs, dsc yellow lights illuminated then dsc inactive showed on info display. A few seconds later car shifted down gear and trans failsafe prog showed on info display. I continued 4 miles to service area, switched off ignition then restarted car and all was functioning as normal so i continued on highway for 10 miles until all same faults occured again, so i stopped car, switched off ignition then restarted car but this time yellow lights remained illuminated. I decided to continue driving until trans fail safe prog happened again. I stopped at services,switch off ,restart,try to drive but brakes apply themselves. I am seriously pi**ed with car and keep moving until brakes release after 100 yards,so i drive on highway with family seriously worried, Two more times we get trans failsafe but do stop start to get home. Can anyone please help with this problem before we all vent our anger on bmw? It does appear that these machines are not fit to be on public highways so what the F*CK can be done to sort these ridiculous problems?

[NOVAX5]

check your alternator and battery.

[rogerkiu]

For the sympton of applying brake itself, it is the ABS sensor or called pulse generator by BMW (someone may call it wheel speed sensor) malfunction. Just have someone that have DIS system or code reader to check for fault code to see which one is fault. Regarding the transmission problem, you also have to have someone have DIS or code reader to check the fault code. I don't think it is the alternator or battery.

[bimmer1000]

I have a 2000 X5, 4.4 and I seem to have proplems with ABS module. My Brake<DCS< lights (Yellow) are on. My speedometer doesn't work either.
I dont know for sure but you might want to check your ABS module!

[amacman]

Hi people,thank you for replies. I had similar issue 2k ago , diagnostic said front left speed sensor but bmw stealer done much testing and said car ok so would not replace sensor,stealer will have one more chance to fix problem.I shall keep you posted on progress.

[Moments]

Electrical, I would guess. I've had that problem on Auto Beemers in the past: there's probably some electrical noise (dodgy sensor, bad connections, something like a relay or motor getting silly, etc). What I suspect is happening is that the Auto-box electronics are getting a rogue signal and the program gets spiked - putting you into limp home mode.
When you re-start the car, the problem will return if the fault remains - which is good news (strangely) as it will be so much more traceable :-)
If there is a more or less fixed time for the return to limp home mode, the problem might relate to the car's electrics 'prodding' something on an electrical bus. BMWs tend to have non-critical check control signals that start after critical systems are running (i.e. after you've started and driven off).
In the old days on petrol Beemers, the limp home was induced by faulty ignition coils - and all six needed replacing. Fingers crossed you don't incur that sort of expense!

[amacman]

hi, bmw service technician arrived today,scanned with malfunctioning GT1 but managed to get fault code for left front wheel sensor,AGAIN, I am seriously angry at bmw for refusing to replace sensor last time, they have been warned what will happen to them if car causes accident,so now they are very humble, car is at new dealership run by top company,they will replace sensor tomorrow, hoping car will be ok as it is excellent driving machine for something akin to a van,handles corners better than most things on the road, had V10 toureg on my tail for 10 miles of A41-whitchurch other day -man they wallow and wander badly, and i was loaded to max,vw could not stay with me on corners and i was cruising comfortably,i shall post result of dealer visit.

[amacman]

I should have mentioned technician said something like sensor would cause power spike and result in trans failsafe prog.

[amacman]

Sensor replaced today,car washed and vaccumed by dealer thank you,i hope that will be end of problem with car. I asked bmw technician to enquire munich if possible to programme car so brakes do not apply themselves if similar malfunction occurs, he said may be possible.

[Ivan22]

I have a similar broblem. My DSC light remained on for months and would not go out even when you press the button. Last week, got the check engine light, trans fail safe warning, abs light, and brake light. My local mechanic felt it was a bad ABS module (1300) brand new, but I opted to send out my original unit to get remanufactured. The Remanf experts found no fault with ABS unit and are sending it back.

I read on a couple of threads that it could be a wheel speed sensor, alternator, battery, or mass air?

It's worth mentioning two weeks ago I had the alternator replaced with a Bosch aftermarket one...

Any ideas?