Trans FailSafe Prog MSG :(

[Rockit]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Is that when the truck talks back to you? Giving you lip service?

I cant see shit anymore.....plus I cant spell

Where did the hot chick on the bike go in your handle....do you ride?

[cuban_bmwx5]

rockit no he didn''''t i changed all that valley pan gaskets timing chain all that stuff rad everything that is why i am sad when the shop told me the transmission is done sell it and get a new car i was told lol

[cuban_bmwx5]

well i just called BMW and i asked them about that switch and they said it has already been taken care of . so do you still think that can still be my issue rockit?

[David.X5]

I had Trans Failsafe when I first got my X5 due to low trans fluid. Drained it, dropped the pan, changed the filter, refilled it and haven't had a problem since. Scared me of course...

[cuban_bmwx5]

but would having low fluid cause the codes i received when i did the scan on the computer

[Rockit]

Originally Posted by cuban_bmwx5

well i just called BMW and i asked them about that switch and they said it has already been taken care of . so do you still think that can still be my issue rockit?

Idle the car for about 10 mins in park. If the Trans Fail comes on it's 99% a bad neutral safety switch. Then shut the truck off and start it again and if the message is gone definitely that. That is the symptom the TSB was about.

If the switch was replaced back in 01 or 02 it's very possible its bad again.

The fail prong is coming on from electrical continuity.

I found a few links below that tell you about the condition and repair, see if yours is doing the same. I would at least clean the pin connector and spray the entire switch with WD-40 or equivalent. Also before I changed mine the plastic protective wire cover going to the neutral switch was melted just from the heat where it was routed by the trans so check that. Because this is an intermittent electrical problem the codes will be wrong. The switch would have to fail and stay failed while being tested.

Before you do anything try to eliminate this known issue first.

BMW E53 Neutral Safety Switch Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)

You don't have to take the trans out...this simply bolts on.
http://www.xoutpost.com/844101-post2.html

2001 BMW X5 Recall

Item Affected: POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: PARK / NEUTRAL START SWITCH
Date Announced: 07/02/2001
Description of Recall:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4.4I SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, ABRASION PARTICLES COULD DEPOSIT ON THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITHIN THE SWITCH, CAUSING A DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH THE CONTACTS. IF THE DISRUPTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE NEUTRAL OR PARK POSITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SWITCH AUTOMATICALLY INTO THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM, WHICH IS DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER VIA A WARNING LAMP AND A MESSAGE, "TRANS. FAIL-SAFE PROG." IN THIS CASE, THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN IN LOWER GEARS ONLY WITH LIMITED ENGINE OUTPUT.
Action Need To Fix It:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION INDICATOR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
FIND YOUR LOCAL BMW Service Center

[cuban_bmwx5]

well i went to the shop today in the morning and unplugged the wire to the Neutral safety switch and sprayed with WD-40 it didn't help still does the same ..but while the car was up i did notice that they was transmission oil leaking from the pan .. but the guy at the shop said if it was just the oil leak it wouldnt give me the codes on the computer.. is that true?

[cuban_bmwx5]

my X5 starts no problem.. the only time it has a problem is on take off

[Rockit]

Originally Posted by cuban_bmwx5

well i went to the shop today in the morning and unplugged the wire to the Neutral safety switch and sprayed with WD-40 it didn't help still does the same ..but while the car was up i did notice that they was transmission oil leaking from the pan .. but the guy at the shop said if it was just the oil leak it wouldnt give me the codes on the computer.. is that true?

Yes, low oil will not make the (tans Fail Prong) message.

[cuban_bmwx5]

but would codes come on the scanner because of the low oil it was 4 different codes
049 symptom, gear monitoring
053 gear monitoring 3
059 stall speed
050 gear monitoring 1