transfailsafe after heavy rain
 

I drove from Cabo to the Canada/US border a week ago, with no issues whatsoever, UNTIL I encountered heavy rain - then my trans went into 'limp' mode. The next day, all back to normal - then hit rain again, and back to limp mode. This happened the following day again, but now it won't get out of this mode. I checked/cleaned the ECM, TCM, the main connector for the trans, the crankshaft pulse generator, battery is at 12.4V when off, 13.6V when at idle.

Only code DIS is giving me is EGS - 05 EGS: Pressure actuator EDS 5.

I am stuck in Phoenix currently trying to find a good shop that can diagnose/repair this, hoping for suggestions?

Are there other connectors I should be cleaning out, other things I can do myself? Or do I need to drop the trans pan, and check regulators/solenoids? I don't want to swap out the trans, I really just want to get my old X back to Mexico where I live now...

You need to narrow it down to either an external or an internal wiring problem or a solenoid issue. Are you able to measure the resistance across pins 12 & 15 at the connector? It should read around 6 ohm.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...psi1fewicw.jpg

Phil

Make absolutely sure the harness connector going into the transmission is clean. It took two shop visits to get the mud and grease completely out of the socket on mine before the failsafe mode would stop. Same situation - undercarriage spray at the carwash, and then driving through a heavy rain the next time.

2002 X5 3.0 300,600 miles
2014 428i 17,000 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

Good tips
 

I am about to jack up the X and clean the contacts again, and will measure the ohm readings - thank you guys. Will post back in a bit.

Phil - can you please send me a link to the full pin-out ohm check I should be doing? I found docs online, but they are way different values than what you posted..

Do you recall what your error code(s) were? I just jacked her up, cleaned both the connector in front of the tranny, and the one on top, same issue. I will test the Ohms tomorrow at the shop I'm going to, he has parts in case it is in fact a solenoid.

When I got it in to the dealer the first time, they thought it was the ABS module.:confused: They couldn't find anything wrong with that so they just sprayed the connector off.

The second time, everything that could go wrong in the transmission showed up at the same time!:wow: That time they actually polished the pins and did some serious flushing of the socket. It's been fine now for more than 100,000 miles.

2002 X5 3.0 300,600 miles
2014 428i 17,000 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

The resistance of the four black-cap EDS solenoids should measure between 5.9 and 6.9 ohms at 20°C and their respective pins at the 16-pin connector are :

EDS 2 = pins 3 & 12
EDS 3 = pins 7 & 12
EDS 4 = pins 11 & 16 (torque converter)
EDS 5 = pins 15 & 12

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...psakssielv.jpg
Vehicle connector

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps78hbwcba.jpg
Transmission connector


The green-cap main pressure solenoid (EDS 1) should measure between 5.4 & 6.4 ohms at 20°C between pins 2 & 16.

The three on-off solenoids should measure between 26 & 30 ohms resistance at 20°C :

MV1 = pins 8 & 16
MV2 = pins 9 & 16
MV3 = pins 4 & 16

Obviously these measurements only check the internal wiring and the solenoid winding integrity and not the performance of the solenoids.

Four of the remaining six pins are for the two speed sensors :

Turbine speed sensor = pins 5 & 6
Output speed sensor = pins 1 & 10

and their resistances should both measure between 285 & 365 ohms at 20°C

The remaining two pins (13 & 14) are for the fluid temperature sensor which should have the resistance characteristic shown below :

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...acteristic.jpg

Phil

Still no joy
 

My transmission guy told me he pulled the pan, checked the solenoids and actuators, and they all checked out. So it's got to be internal wiring or the TCM module itself. I'm really under the gun here, does anyone know a shop in Phoenix area that would be capable of diagnosing this issue?

I'm kinda desperate at this point, my cell is 6o2-three hundred, 1675 if anyone can assist!

John

So pulled the TCM again - I am missing a pin, (back of the TCM, far right block, upper row, 2nd pin from the left) PIN 2, I believe this happened at the dealer I first took it too after the initial problem, which makes sense as ONLY AFTER that visit did the check engine light come on and stay on. I need to find an electronics shop to see about repairing this ASAP. Can anyone confirm what this PIN does?