Not your typical XDrive Problem (Car wont move unless abs module unplugged)

[busted]

First off, Happy thanksgiving everyone.

Bawareca, I am not near L.A, but i do appreciate the offer. I have been looking into ISTA, it seems like it is bmw's diagnostic tool setup. Is it really that effective? I have a snap on solus ultra and my friend has the Launch GDS. Also, my Rover mechanic friend has Autologic (these aren't your typical cheap scanners).

Bawareca, I have seen your name pop up on a lot of forums and you seem to know your stuff really well. Mind if i pick your brain a bit?

- Do you know if with the car on the lift, If i spin the front right wheel by hand, should the left front wheel also spin as does in every 4x4 car? This car does not spin its counter wheel on the front, but if i spin the rear left wheel, the rear right will spin.

- Getting no codes for front wheel speed sensors, however on live data, both fronts stay at 0mph, while both rears will report speed? anything other than the abs module that would be effecting this?

-Speedometer reading is drastically reporting slower than actual speed. Any sensor that would cause this?

- If a mechanical failure is present (transfer case/differential/etc), i would imagine that i would be getting weird noises. Have you ever seen a case where a diff or transfer case would go bad and not seem evident?

Thanks again to all who have helped.

[ninja_zx11]

Originally Posted by busted

First off, Happy thanksgiving everyone.
- Do you know if with the car on the lift, If i spin the front right wheel by hand, should the left front wheel also spin as does in every 4x4 car? This car does not spin its counter wheel on the front, but if i spin the rear left wheel, the rear right will spin.

Both front and rear differentials work in a exactly same way.The reason why your rear wheels are turning in a opposite direction because your rear drive shaft is locked while the transmission is in park position and it cannot turn.
Your fronts are not behaving like rears because in a park position,transfer case clutch is open and front drive shaft can rotate freely even your transmission is locked.So when you try to rotate one of your front wheel,your front drive shaft starts turning before turning your other front wheel.If you hold your front drive shaft,i bet your counter wheel would spin in opposite direction.

Originally Posted by busted

it seems like it is bmw's diagnostic tool setup. Is it really that effective?

Main difference between ISTA and snap on or similar tools besides the accuracy of reading codes is that ISTA guides you through test plans according your fault code.

[busted]

Originally Posted by ninja_zx11

Both front and rear differentials work in a exactly same way.The reason why your rear wheels are turning in a opposite direction because your rear drive shaft is locked while the transmission is in park position and it cannot turn.
Your fronts are not behaving like rears because in a park position,transfer case clutch is open and front drive shaft can rotate freely even your transmission is locked.So when you try to rotate one of your front wheel,your front drive shaft starts turning before turning your other front wheel.If you hold your front drive shaft,i bet your counter wheel would spin in opposite direction.


Main difference between ISTA and snap on or similar tools besides the accuracy of reading codes is that ISTA guides you through test plans according your fault code.

Thanks for clearing that up Ninja. Makes sense. I saw a few ista setups for sale on ebay; they are fairly cheap so i'll give that a go.

[ninja_zx11]

Also look for any signs of water intrusion in the trunk area where modules are and around front passenger side fuses panel area.

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by busted

First off, Happy thanksgiving everyone.


- Do you know if with the car on the lift, If i spin the front right wheel by hand, should the left front wheel also spin as does in every 4x4 car? This car does not spin its counter wheel on the front, but if i spin the rear left wheel, the rear right will spin.

- Getting no codes for front wheel speed sensors, however on live data, both fronts stay at 0mph, while both rears will report speed? anything other than the abs module that would be effecting this?

-Speedometer reading is drastically reporting slower than actual speed. Any sensor that would cause this?

- If a mechanical failure is present (transfer case/differential/etc), i would imagine that i would be getting weird noises. Have you ever seen a case where a diff or transfer case would go bad and not seem evident?

Thanks again to all who have helped.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone too!
As ninja_zx11 said there is a big difference between ISTA and any other tool(for BMW). The way the codes are described in detail(well, most of them) and test schedules it performs will give show you the real picture and are not available with any other tool. And just a piece of advice: look at the modern car as a sytem. Engine not cranking doesnt mean a starter problem and code for the TC doesnt mean it is the TC it self.
When you turn a front wheel he torque you applied will look for the path of the lowest resistance. Because the transfer case has the front axle un-coupled normally, it will be easier for the front driveshaft to spin than to turn the other side axle with the hub, brake rotor, wheel and some brake resistance. So I would say it is a normal behavior.
You dont have to buy ISTA from ebay. I can help you t install ISTA/D (diagnostic only) on any Win7/8 laptop and then you can decide to buy ICOM or K+Dcan cable for vehicle interface.

[busted]

Hi Bawareca,

I have a friend who has a bmw diagnostic setup but does not support my model (he was the first person I called). His model i believe is called DIS installed on an old thinkpad. Would his cable suffice for my model (it was able to read my old 08 750). I have a laptop with windows 8. Maybe i can get to work faster than i thought!

Also, is this link floating around the web,

Cheers.