Sad day today..

MaverichX5E70 · #1 10-30-2022, 03:12 PM

Sad day today as today is the first day that "White Lightening" (my white '13 X5 35d) had left me stranded and needed to be towed to my indie shop since owning it about 3 years.

About 2 weeks ago I had a used transmission installed after the previous one has shifting issues.

The used tranny had a 160,000kms and my mechanic did a full service prior to installing it.

On my ride home today about an hour from home I got an ABS/4X4 warning and then it started to ride strangely.

I was in a spot that would have been difficult to pull over, so I continued on probably about 2kms.

I finally got pulled over on the shoulder safely and by this time could smell what smelled like burnt clutch.

What has me a bit baffled is while waiting on the side of the road my battery went completely dead, and I could hear what sounded like a relay in the back clicking.

My battery was so dead after 15-20 mins my hazard lights wouldn't work any longer. (Battery is only maybe 2 years old)

Can anyone tell me the correlation between the transmission and how/why my battery would have went dead if there is a transmission issue?

If the tranny had a major malfunction, is there a component within the trans that would quickly drain the battery?

Thankfully the used transmission has a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty through a reputable used parts distributor, but I'm still going to be on the hook for service on the next used trans they provided. Their warranty does cover re/re thank goodness. I'm also going to push to see if they will cover the service costs as I've had the current trans about 2 weeks.

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richardb · #2 10-30-2022, 09:24 PM

If you're lucky, it could just be the voltage regulator on the alternator. In my E90, the voltage regulator brushes wore down to the point of failure while driving highway speeds. It's typical for the drop in voltage to send a wild amount of warning errors lighting up the gauge cluster when this happens.

If the VR did fail, part of the alternator, that would explain the battery running out of power as well. The car will run off the battery until it's exhausted.

I could be totally wrong and maybe the used trans has a major issue. But I wanted to throw this out there.

MaverichX5E70 · #3 10-30-2022, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardb

If you're lucky, it could just be the voltage regulator on the alternator. In my E90, the voltage regulator brushes wore down to the point of failure while driving highway speeds. It's typical for the drop in voltage to send a wild amount of warning errors lighting up the gauge cluster when this happens.

If the VR did fail, part of the alternator, that would explain the battery running out of power as well. The car will run off the battery until it's exhausted.

I could be totally wrong and maybe the used trans has a major issue. But I wanted to throw this out there.

Thanks for your reply.

I *think* it's something related to the used trans put in 2 weeks ago because of the warning message however I'm really at a loss how the electrical issue could be related to the trans, so you may be on to something.

I did notice what I thought smelled like a burnt clutch smell, but that could also have been an *electrical* smell. I sure hope whatever went wasn't anything too complex ($). I guess I'll find out tomorrow when my indie tech has a look.

Thanks again

ard · #4 11-01-2022, 12:28 AM

Here is a TOTAL shot in the dark...

Harmonic balancer fails....alt stops running, low voltage trips errors...the rubber in the harmonic balancer (as the center keeps spinning when the outside stops or slows) causes the burned rubber smell. Of course the battery is dead as alt hasnt been powering the car.

Just a WAG....

Nanniepoo · #5 11-01-2022, 11:33 AM

When our alternator was on it's way out (but I didn't know it yet), we were on the highway, trans kicked down into what I assume was a limp home gear, lots of warning lights. We pulled over, restarted, and it was fine.

It wasn't until another week or so of my wife driving it to/from work and calling me that she was getting weird warning lights, and then one time it wouldn't start when she was leaving work, that I finally connected the dots of it being the alternator.

Connection between electrical and trans is if voltage drops low enough that the solenoids can't handle it anymore, the trans supplier basically has two options, kick it into neutral and you're immobilized, or pick a limp home gear to lock it into.

MaverichX5E70 · #6 11-01-2022, 04:47 PM

Ground strap corroded through! Not sure how long the battery wasn't charging for, but it died completely on the highway while I was traveling around 80mph, thankfully got over to the shoulder.

I immediately thought it was related to the trans because ABS/4X4 light was the first to illuminate before all the rest.

Ground strap was replaced and I needed a new battery as cells were damaged in my less than 3 year old battery from complete discharge.

Thankfully everything is good now! DPF delete and bump up to JR2.8 scheduled for March break

A/C · #7 11-01-2022, 05:23 PM

Sorry for the odd question, but anybody have a clue as to where this little connector in the picture might go? I did a full e70 n55 engine rebuilt after two crankshaft bearings seized, but after I put the engine together and mounted, there's this one pesky connector still unplugged that is preventing me from a full vehicle scan.
To give some context, the connector is on the same wire as is the a/c compressor.

Any guidance is much appreciated!!!!

richardb · #8 11-01-2022, 08:46 PM

I think nanniepoo and I nailed it. Nice internet diagnosis work team.

ard · #9 11-01-2022, 10:23 PM

Any idea what was causing the burning smell?

MaverichX5E70 · #10 11-02-2022, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ard

Any idea what was causing the burning smell?

Hi Ard, so the way the ground strap was broken, not completely through, had the tech thinking perhaps it was arcing a bit possibly and that's what I smelled.

I'm not sure I believe that, but it's possible.. It did seems like the smell originated from outside the vehicle and with the trans completely enclosed he told me it wouldn't have been from the clutches.

So far every electrical item I've tried in the cab has worked and I haven't come across any burnt fuses.. so who knows...?

So far so good..

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