SOLVED - Trifecta with no Air Conditioning?

ChevDog1 · #1 09-09-2013, 01:44 PM

I have some really strange stuff going on in my car. It started a few weks ago, with the A/C acting strangely. It wouldn't allow me to direct air from the dash vents, and sometimes I think the compressor was shutting off, as the air would suddenly get warm. Most of the time it would corect itself with a key cycle. A few days ago, when driving past some windows, I noticed that my hazard light were flashing. When I looked at the dash, the indicators were not on, and the hazard button on the console was off. A key cycle corrected this and it hasn't returned.

Yesterday, about 100 miles from home, I noticed it getting hot in the car again, and the engine sounded like it was revving a bit high. When I looked at the dash, I was astounded to find that my speedo and tach read zero, and I had the trifecta of DSC/ABS/Brake lights. I tried to put the trans in Sport mode, and also to manually shift it, with no response. Then the IC beeped and showed "trans failsafe prog". I pulled over and cycled the key - no change. I then disconnected the battery - no change. We got back in the car and it took off in what i think was 4th gear. After some time, the A/C came back on (as did the tach and speedo). This repeated a number of tuimes on the trip home, but the trans would not shift. It only has park, N, R, and 4th gear. The cruise control light will illuminate on the dash, but it does not function.

Knowing that the battery or alternator can cause stuff like this, I had the battery teasted, and it is good, and I checked the voltage at idle - 14.2V ( alternator was new 1 year ago).

Sorry for the long post, but I am at a loss as to what could cause all of these issues at the same time - have any of you experienced this? Any ideas of where to look, or what to test for?

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ChevDog1 · #2 09-09-2013, 11:10 PM

Well, I spent a bunch of time looking online, and when I got home tonight, decided to try the easiest thing first. Turned the wheel left, then right, then center, and all of the warnings went away, and everything works again!

ChevDog1 · #3 09-10-2013, 10:42 AM

Epic Fail....

That "fix" only worked for abpout 15-20 miles this morning. Just driving down the freeway with the cruise set, and all of the sudden, it starts doing the same things all over. I pulled off to the side of the road to try to reset the steering angle sensor again, but that didn't work today.

When I got to my office, I pulled the codes with a generic OBDII reader, and came up with P1747, and P0600.

I need help - I don't currentlty have a back up to this car.

Qsilver7 · #4 09-10-2013, 11:15 AM

An OBD II reader is not going to give you any information other than a code set by the electronic engine emissions system. It is limited in scope and solely based on the federal OBD II mandate for not polluting the air...thus emissions is what its based on.

To speak/communicate with the BMW proprietary control modules etc...you need BMW DIS/GT-1/MoDic...or after market software/hardware like INPA/CarSoft/PaSoft/etc.

You brought up "trifecta" so that means you're somewhat familiar with the search terms. Bluebee has some extensive threads on the trifecta/bifecta warning lights. You can easily find these threads by googling "BMW trifecta Bluebee".

Also, the rear speed sensor is what sends the distance/speed data to the ABS/ASC/DSC control module, which then sends that data to the IKE & DME...so if your speedometer/tachometer isn't registering...you should consider checking that area, too.

Good luck.

Qsilver7 · #5 09-10-2013, 11:15 AM

An OBD II reader is not going to give you any information other than a code set by the electronic engine emissions system. It is limited in scope and solely based on the federal OBD II mandate for not polluting the air...thus emissions is what its based on.

To speak/communicate with the BMW proprietary control modules etc...you need BMW DIS/GT-1/MoDic...or after market software/hardware like INPA/CarSoft/PaSoft/etc.

You brought up "trifecta" so that means you're somewhat familiar with the search terms. Bluebee has some extensive threads on the trifecta/bifecta warning lights. You can easily find these threads by googling "BMW trifecta Bluebee".

Also, the rear speed sensor is what sends the distance/speed data to the ABS/ASC/DSC control module, which then sends that data to the IKE & DME...so if your speedometer/tachometer isn't registering...you should consider checking that area, too.

Good luck.

ChevDog1 · #6 09-10-2013, 11:25 AM

I do have a Peake code reader, left over from my E39 M5, but it is only set up to work with the "pac man" type plug under the hood, which my car doesn't have. I will be ordering the OBDII type cable for it today. Will the Peake be of any use in my current situation?

I will have to pull all of the wheels off of it tonight. A couple of weeks ago, I had a caliper slide pin back comnpletely out on the left rear wheel, which required replacing the pads (did both sides). Maybe that somehow damaged the sensor?

Also - I just remembered that last Monday when I left the house, I could hear a chirping/scraping sound. I think it was coming from the right front wheel. I took the car back to the house and parked it (used my wife's car), got busy with other stuff, and didn't drive it for a couple of days. When I used it the next time, there was no more noise. I guess some poking around under the car is in order...

Qsilver7 · #7 09-10-2013, 11:48 AM

BTW, if you haven't seen it already, there's another thread a few down from yours titled "ABS Module ?" (started by heidhurtin) which has a link to one of Bluebee's exhaustive threads about how to test the sensors and ABS module.

Again, check it out if you haven't already...it may help you in diagnostics of your speed sensors and ABS module.

ChevDog1 · #8 09-10-2013, 11:51 AM

Thanks Qsilver - I found bluebees post. I will print it out and use it when I get home tonight. I am in the process of ordering the AB03 cable for my Peake Reader. Will it pull any of the BMW specific codes relative to my situation?

e30cabrio · #9 09-10-2013, 12:13 PM

I got this on eBay for much much less.

P.A.Soft BMW Scanner v1.4.0 - used parts reprogramming, fault codes reader, key chaining

ChevDog1 · #10 09-10-2013, 02:59 PM

I had one of my guys clean the LR speed sensor before lunch, and I cleared the codes from the computer. Car worked great for about 15 minutes (which seems to be typical now), then went into trans failsafe again with all of the lights and codes. I'm starting to think that this is the ABS module, as it seems to be heat related.

Still curious as to why it would kill my A/C, though?

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