BMW Forum - BimmerFest BMW Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Help- abs, traction (4x4), and brake lights are all on (05 x3 3.0 auto)

Tags
4x4 abs brake clicking x3
Jump to Latest
170K views 54 replies 28 participants last post by  swampX3  
A
#1 ·
Hi everyone,

The abs, traction and brake lights have come on on my car. It drives perfectly normal like before, the lights came on then went away after a few days, then came back a few days later. Now when I turn the car off, I get clicking noises from under the front of the car. Does anyone have any idea what this could be? I'm a broke college student so hopefully I can fix this myself...Please help!
 
#2 ·
Without any other information or seeing the X3, it is hard to diagnose things like this. But first you should try a "battery reset" to see if the problem will clear. Bascially, the process is this:
  • Turn off the headlights to reduce battery drain. (Do not leave the switch in the "A" position; turn it fully off.)
  • Disconnect one of the battery cables. I use an insulated 10mm wrench on the positive terminal.
  • Count to 10 or so. You want to give everything a chance to discharge.
  • Reconnect the battery.
  • Restart the X3.
At this point many or all the warning lights will come on. If there is nothing major at fault, all the lights will slowly clear--one after the other--as you gently drive around the block. Then reset the clock, and you are all set.

If this works, you can start to worry about the underlying cause. In my case (a 2008), the condition recurred every couple of thousand miles. It was eventually traced to a faulty radio-CD player. The dealer installed a rebuilt unit, and the problem has never come back.

Good luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: elliottrobert445
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
S
#10 ·
There was a post recently with the same symptoms:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378321

Not sure if it means a whole DSC module needs replacing - hopefully just a relay or small servo motor has gone bad, and is not too expensive parts-wise or labor.

It may be only the dealer's GT1 computer that detects a code for this.
But if you don't feel that drivability is affected, maybe just running in RWD mode, you could take your time to check around on your options.
 
#11 ·
My '06 did the same thing a couple of months ago. Drove it to Mass in that condition. When we came out to leave and started it up everything was OK.
Not saying it was Divine Intervention but I'll accept it nonetheless. :angel:
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
R
#13 ·
It sounds like you have a wheel sensor that is going bad. It happens to mine once or twice every winter when I first start driving when there is snow or ice on the ground. Try this tip that I got from a local BMW mechainic. Start your engine then turn your steering wheel to the limits both right and left, turn off and then restart. This always clears my DSC, ABS and 4X4 lights when they come on. Hope this helps. Cheers.
 
B
#17 ·
hate to inform you but you are in for a BIG repair. The clicking noise is a stripped gear in the transfer case. I had these lights come on and then BINGO the clicking began when I turned the car off.

It's being repaired now, but the mechanic can't get the lights to go off and BMW says the three lights should go off when the case was replaced. Good thing that I took out that extended warranty because this would have been extremely costly without it. Oh and I've been without my vehicle for two weeks as they couldn't find the part (rare that these break according to BMW and the mechanic).

I am curious if the resetting the battery would work too. May call them and tell them to try it.
 
V
#43 ·
Actuator Motor Install

beamerbear said:
hate to inform you but you are in for a BIG repair. The clicking noise is a stripped gear in the transfer case. I had these lights come on and then BINGO the clicking began when I turned the car off.

It's being repaired now, but the mechanic can't get the lights to go off and BMW says the three lights should go off when the case was replaced. Good thing that I took out that extended warranty because this would have been extremely costly without it. Oh and I've been without my vehicle for two weeks as they couldn't find the part (rare that these break according to BMW and the mechanic).

I am curious if the resetting the battery would work too. May call them and tell them to try it.
Click to expand...
Actually the repair is very cheap if your a do it yourselfer. Either replace the plastic gear in the transfer case motor (cheapest), just replace the Actuator ( next most expensive), or replace the entire Transfer Case Motor (very expensive).

BUT THE IS ACTUALLY VERY SIMPLE TO DO. SEARCH YOUTUBE FOR THE STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE. IF YOU TAKE IT TO A BMW DEALER THEY WILL WACK YOU FOR AROUND $1,800, PARTS AND LABOR.

On my 08 x3 I got just the Actuator portion of the Transfer Case Motor for $172 and took about 1.5 hours to install.

GOOD LUCK!!!
 
R
#19 ·
Yep I had that noise under the hood as well. I'll start from the begining as to maybe help someone who has experienced the same thing I have. I had the " terrible triad" of lights, ABS, Brake and 4X4, on once or twice a year for the last 2 years. Always in winter and always on snow. Turn the car off and presto, lights off no worries. Anyways, this last month my car started hesitating going up a small incline, kinda felt like the engine was missing, then the terrible triad of lights would appear. Once the lights came on, I experienced no more hesitating from the engine. I would pull over, turn the car off and I started hearing that clicking sound. Restart the car, lights off, all good until I started to drive off. I would feel a little shimmy, very slight miss frim the back of my car, yep sure enough, terrible triad of lights would come back on. I did everything listed to try and fix the issue, battery reset, clean the wheel sensors, steering sensor ect. Finally, I had a neighbor come over with his scan tool and he discovered I was throwing the code: 5F3A - transfer case malfunction. Son of a...... I started doing a lot of research on this code and discovered that is was the transfer case actuator motor. An $800 dollar part and would require 4 hours labor, for a total of $1,200.00. Not bad considering I was bracing myself for a new transfer case or gear box. Got the car fixed, drives like a dream again. Hope that helps. I now have 110,000 miles on this beauty and this has been the only "fix" I have ever had to do. Love this car!!!
 
V
#23 ·
Well these 3 lights together can mean anything with the 4x4 system... Most likely its still running in the 60/40 split rear to front BUT it will not transfer r back and forth or use any of the stabilizing actions in bad conditions. Anyway, what I would so is have the dealer hook it to the computer let them tell you what's wrong and u can let a mechanic fix it instead.
 
D
#26 ·
I have the same vehicle, 2005 3.0 X3, and can confirm that the problem was the transfer case actuator. I just had it fixed last week and it cost me $1,388 in San Francisco. It now dives perfectly fine and the clicking noise is gone. I know that if you do not fix it when the lights come on the ABS will not work and power is only delivered to the rear wheels.

As explained to me by the mechanic, this actuator is a servo motor that determines how much torque to deliver to each of the wheels.
 
P
#30 ·
Looks like I'm not the only one with this problem. All three lights came on while I was driving Saturday. I let the car sit till today and drove it to the service center. They confirmed that it was the transfer case actuator. Looking at the prices you guys are posting I am very fortunate that it was covered by the extended warranty. Since someone else asked previously about spec, mine is a 05 X3 3.0 auto with 50k miles on it.
 
#31 ·
Could it be a low battery

Seems like I saw something here about just a small drop in voltage could cause strange warning lights. Does anyone recall this???
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
J
#42 ·
X3emist said:
Seems like I saw something here about just a small drop in voltage could cause strange warning lights. Does anyone recall this???
Click to expand...
Well I can offer this evidence. Recently installed daeos harness and wired to the red/white lead in the fuse box. I was all happy until the trio of indicators lit up a few days later. My indy said there were many electrical-related fault codes present, but found no problems with the transfer case. He suggested I find another way to power the daeos harness as that dme is very sensitive.

This weekend I was attempting to use a "add-a-fuse" tap device on the 10amp fuse to power the daeos, and as soon as the key turned the three lights came on again. Obviously the electrical system doesn't like my wiring changes and is detecting a problem.

It could be that one of my wire taps isn't clean. Just no idea but thought this might be useful info.
 
J
#34 ·
I have a 2006 X5. Last year i had the same problem over and over again. At one point my car would brake on it's own while I was driving. That was caused by a Bad Alternator. The dealer told me that if there is too much or not enough juice going into the system, the computer throws off all kinds of messages. I replaced the alternator and all light were gone. A year later I have the same problem again. However this time I have that clicking sound that everyone referred to when I turn off the car. I checked the alternator and it is working fine. I did the battery reset and that did not work. I checked the Steering Wheel Sensor and it did not work. I guess it is the Transfer Case Actuator Motor. I think I will take it to the dealer for a quick scan. Anybody know a place that sells actuators cheaper than STEALERS?

I feel like every major problem there is with this car happened to me.
 
V
#44 ·
julik said:
I have a 2006 X5. Last year i had the same problem over and over again. At one point my car would brake on it's own while I was driving. That was caused by a Bad Alternator. The dealer told me that if there is too much or not enough juice going into the system, the computer throws off all kinds of messages. I replaced the alternator and all light were gone. A year later I have the same problem again. However this time I have that clicking sound that everyone referred to when I turn off the car. I checked the alternator and it is working fine. I did the battery reset and that did not work. I checked the Steering Wheel Sensor and it did not work. I guess it is the Transfer Case Actuator Motor. I think I will take it to the dealer for a quick scan. Anybody know a place that sells actuators cheaper than STEALERS?

I feel like every major problem there is with this car happened to me.
Click to expand...
Just do a general Google search for just the plastic gear by itself, around $30 or buy the gear and the housing all in one for around $180-$200. I found my for $172. The entire motor you can get for $400-$800. But you do not have to replace the motor portion cause your problem has to do with the CHEAP ASS plastic gear that BMW designed. Unbelievable huh? BMW engineers a wonderful driving machine but they often go on the cheap for very important parts. GO FIGURE.
 
BMW Forum - BimmerFest BMW Forums
posts
12M
members
799K
Since
2001
A forum community dedicated to BMW owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about Bimmerfest events, BMW production numbers, programming, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Bringing the BMW community together.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
E90/E91/E92/E93 (2006 - 2012) E39 (1997 - 2003) E46 (1999 - 2006) E36 (1991 - 1999) E60 / E61 (2004 - 2010)