Maybe try the budget option and brake really hard a few times? (allthough budget is a bit of a trap in this case, you'll probably burn a gallon of fuel for this hehehe)

I talked to the mechanic yesterday, he was stumped about what could have happened. When I got the car he found several loose or missing screws in the radiator shroud and made sure it was all tight. He could see his repairs were still in place, just not much left of the shroud. Also, the clutch moves freely so not locked up at the moment. Fan blades missed the hoses and transmisson cooler so that's a plus!

Either way I'll have the clutch and fan replaced, don't really have time to figure out the electric fan route at the oment.

Why would I check the motor mounts?

10 step fluid level check - ZF 6HP26
 

So today's mission was to check the fluid level in my ZF 6HP26...

As far as I know, it still has the factory fluid in there. The transmission has been performing pretty well for the (nearly) five years I've had the car and although I've been wanting to do a full fluid replacement on it, the war-stories I read from people performing fluid changes on high-mileage transmissions have me holding off. Mine is now at 235,000km.

Anywho, lately the transmission has been feeling a bit off when cold. Ok on the flat but if you load it on a hill when cold, it feeels like it might be slipping a bit and it vibrates a little. Sounds like low fluid pressure or level. It's fine once it's warmed up , so I figured it was worth the time and cost to do a quick level check. I intend to complete the full fluid/filter/pan gasket/jump seals/bridge seal/mechatronic sleeve service soon but I don't have the time for this right now - or the funds! I just know that the seals will be old, hard and not sealing propery....

There's aren't any real fluid leaks but there is a thin film of fluid residue around the pan gasket and around the mechatronic sleeve - not enought to be a worry on a 15 year old vehicle - yet.

Once the car was up on ramps and level, my process was: -

1. Removed transmission shield (the 3.0d has a large plastic shield over the transmission) - 10x 8mm screws.

2. Cracked open fluid fill port on the pan - this is a BIG plug with a 17mm hex and it was TIGHT! I had to use a short breaker bar to get this sucker open. It let go with a loud crack!. Either it has NEVER been opened or the dealer over-tightened it when I asked them to check the fluid level four years ago. Which ever is the case, I'm not impressed.... :confused: I nipped it back up before any fluid escaped.

3. Hooked up INPA and started car. Used INPA to monitor trans fluid temp.

4. Waited until fluid temp was up to 25Deg.C. and removed fill port plug. No fluid came out (as expected).

5. Pumped about 500ml of fresh ZF Lifeguard 6 fluid into the port, and at about this point, fluid started to run from port.

https://i.ibb.co/WffchK9/20200215-093531.jpg

6. As the fluid temp came up, the fluid flow rate from the fill port was a fine steady stream. At a fluid temp of 35Deg.C the fluid stream slowed to a drip.

7. As the fluid temp increased beyond 35Deg.C the fluid drip from the port did not increase in rate, so at this point I closed it up and called it good. I was tempted to let it run up to 40Deg.C as per the ZF process but the drip rate was slowing so I figure the level was pretty good now.

8. Stopped the engine. Torqued the fill port to the correct 80Nm (~60ft.lbs) and put the trans shield back on.

9. Compared fluid volume added with fluid volume recovered during level check. 500ml - 300ml = 200ml added in total. Old fluid was quite dark and but it was not "gritty" or contained any visible particles when held up to the light (or dripped onto white paper).

10. Test drive. Went for a 35km drive and wasn't expecting any difference. Maybe it was a plecebo effect or maybe I'm dreaming but wow - was the tansmission now smoother when cold. It shifts beautifully...

How can 200ml make such a difference...? The obvious answer is.. it can't. No way. But whatever the reason, my ZF 6HP26 is currently pretty happy.

So am I... :thumbup:

(For comparrison, my wifes's Mazda trans fluid check is one-step - pull the dip stick and look! :rofl:).

I am also skeptical of servicing my transmission fluid too Wayne. Mine is at 178,000+ miles now and never been done but almost ready to give it a shot now after seeing my fluids in the diffs and TC being really decent. The transmission works perfectly so now would be the time to do it rather than once it starts complaining.

I have big month coming with a Pirelli tire test in Homestead next week followed by the first Trans-Am race of 2020 the following week in Sebring and I get a couple of weeks after at home before heading back to Sebring for the IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring.

Those 2 weeks are already scheduled for OFHG and CCV on both the X5 and E46 so maybe right after the 12 Hour I may plan on the transmission service. :thumbup:

Jeepers, OB - and I thouht MY dance card was full.... I've got about 3,000km of road trips in the next two weeks - hence not pulling the transmission apart this weekend! ;)

*edit* BTW, OB - meant to ask - what trans is in your 3.0i - a ZF or a GM? It's a facelift so I'm guesing its a ZF 6HP26 too?

All 3.0L got the GM A5S390R (GM 5L40-E) I believe. :dunno:

Forgive my posting about the issues yesterday (at -11°F) with my SO's F25, but I know that many of the long term members check in here.

After an uneventful start in the 30°F garage the SO drives to work down the highway at freeway speeds without issue. Stops for a coffee, shuts engine off. Comes back out with coffee and NO START, just cranking.

I get the call and start out with the Creator 310 in hand. Get there and I wanted to push it up into a parking space away from the active fuel pumps. She gets in and I try to help her get it into Neutral. The damn thing then starts up normally :wow: :wow:

Get her to work and I drive the F25 back home and all day without any recurring issue.

Here is a picture of the codes that were present

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9x...U=w675-h900-no

I have had no success in finding these specific codes (1F4B08 and 1F4A08) anywhere in my usually successful Google searching.

Does anyone have an idea or a link to these code descriptions?

Fuel Pump Relay????

A head scratcher........Please let me know if you have any details on these codes.

PS: I have also posted in the F25 Forum.

Thanks,

Mike

Completed my "brake" cleaning.

1. Green scrubby pads are awesome![emoji106]

2. Brake pad clean up with 400 & 600 grit removed all visible plastic traces, but it still has an occasional squeal[emoji2959]

3. I recommend CBC brand brake cleaner and as an added benefit even outdoors it's a cheap high[emoji1787]

4. Hot disks LOVE plastic bags....[emoji849]

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What did you do to / for your E53 today??
 

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...69c6bf017b.jpg

I would redo the pads with some of this. on two of the cars I maintain, I had to eliminate squeak and this stuff did the job.

Thanks Andrew. I'll see if it's available at the chemical store. Everything is in its own type of store here...

Don't know why for sure, but I have an idea why it's that way

[emoji2957][emoji2957][emoji95]

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Did a full front brake service last week with a full brake fluid flush and noticed the rears were low as well at just over 1/8" remaining. (Fronts were just under 1/8") Definitely could have got 6 more months out of them but it just bugged me all week that my brakes were not 100% so ordered everything from FCP and did the full rear brake service today with rotors, pads and sensor. Now my brake service is a complete 100%. :thumbup:

The 25mm spacers wanted to be a problem, they had set up a homestead on the rear hub/rotor :rofl: