Fluid Loss error message

richmondguy · #1 01-02-2010, 08:46 PM

This is the 2nd time I received the following message in 2 weeks: "Possible hazard from fluid loss in steering or suspension hydrolic system. Do not continue driving." Both times the car had been parked for about 2 hrs outside in temepratures between 25-30 F. After driving a few minutes, I turned the car off, immediately restarted, and the error message was gone. Any thoughts on this?

Weasel · #2 01-02-2010, 10:28 PM

Top off your CHF 11S hydrolic system fluid, they always get low in the cold...

m5james · #3 01-03-2010, 12:57 AM

You'd think w/ all the testing BMW claims to do in the winter and summer that the sensor would have enough variation to know the difference between cold shrunken hydraulic fluid vs hot expanded fluid.

ABMW · #4 01-03-2010, 12:58 PM

the expansion/contraction of hot vs. cold hydraulic fluid should not be enough to set off any alarm bells unless it's already low.

Take it to the dealer. I don't believe the hydraulic fluid in the steering or suspension are consumables. They should remain relatively stable. Take it to the dealer when you have time.

It's most likely a faulty sensor, or seal, but steering components are kind of important pieces of an automobile.... :-)

Probably a minor fix. They'll just send away to Germany and 29 weeks later they'll have the part in-stock and ready to install (pun intended) :-).

Weasel · #5 01-03-2010, 01:17 PM

All I know is I don't really have to top off any hydrolic steering systems all summer, but in the winter I go through a few cans of CHF 11S topping off all the cars that have no leaks. (and yes, I know everywhere to look for leaks)

It is a common occurance and nothing to be worried about IMO. Just get some fluid and top her off.

ABMW · #6 01-03-2010, 01:24 PM

Strange. Doesn't seem like this should be the case, but who knows. That's a first for me. I'd want to know where that fluid was going. "Some" is always lost in operation, but we're talking minute amounts.

Seems like sometime outside the range of normal, but again: who knows.

m5james · #7 01-03-2010, 01:37 PM

Expansion/contraction were the words I was looking for, it was just slipping my mind @ the moment. The only reason why I thought of that was from changing the fluid in transmissions...it has be a certain temp and within like 10-20* or else it's going to be too low or too high when it finally gets to temp. It was just a guess that since its gotten to around -10 in the winter and will reach 110 in the summer, that I'd imagine there is a lot things happening to the fluid. Just trying to help