I have a 1999 BMW 528i... has 118,500 miles on it. The other day, the check engine light came on, the ABS light came on, the Automatic Stability Control plus Traction Stability control DSC light came on, and lastly the Electronic Transmission control module (TRANS FAILSAFE PROG) came on. The check engine light seems to go off after driving sometimes. When taking off from a standstill, you have to give the car ALOT of gas to get it going. If I put in park, shut it off and restart, that light goes out until I put it in gear.... then the TRANS FAILSAFE PROG LIGHT comes right back on again and the car is VERY sluggish to start off... The check engine light does stay off, but all the other three stay illiminated.
an extremely easy way to test the battery and alternator without ANY tools is discribed on youtube. search for e46 dashboard diagnostics. do this before any other tests.
i had my car show the ASC , transmission and engine lights. the speedo didn't work either. All happened after an evening spent driving in heavy snow and slush in montreal. slush up to a foot deep and just before the car got buried in snow by the plow. it was a very humid night as well. So i did the test described in the video. both battery and alternator where ok. Then i just left it in the parking and came back in 3 hours. Had an impression that whatever compromized the pickup of the wheel speed sensors went away cause all the system lights that where on previously, went off ( asc/trans/engine ). Speedo was functioning again. And this is not the first time i come across smthng like this on a BMW.
A word of advise : before you even think of showing the car to anyone try forums. Dig as deep as the amount of info allows. Research all the possibilities even the ones that seem odd. Check all the links people post ( you'll thank yourself for doing this one ). Check ebay for parts ( how about a 140Amp Bosch alternator for $125 against dealers $800 considering that both are rebuilt and the one from ebay is actually from a respectable shop with decades of experience ). My car has 212 000 kms of experience it's a 2000 323i . I don't believe that beemers reputation for weak electronics is due to the actual electronics. I'd say it's due to the fact that electronics need to be treated as such and given a chance to give a faulse reading at times. And when you show up at a garage with a BMW for a car mechanics think you'r full of cash and they will be looking for all the ways possible to make you part with it. Do as much as you can by yourself. First without starting the engine, then without driving the car, then without driving it far and then try not to drive it to the dealer.
Hey guys I have a 95 m3 which the light (TCM) came on. And to make things worst the car wont start when its on. My brother got the light off twice by moving the gears and the light came off. But since then the light has remained on. If you Guys could help me out I would appreciate it.
Lovenickolette it's really hard to read that. Get the transmission codes. You need to go to BMW specialist or dealer. Autozone etc. can't pull transmission codes. Your in the wrong forum since 1994 is an e34 not e39, so you might want to post in e34 forum to get better responses.
there is a recall on some of the neutral safety switches on certain models, the neutral safety switches are a problem with all the insulation flaking off the wires, the only true repair is to replace it, I found them at autozone and had it in 2 days pt no sw4722 and I have a 97 528i and it was an oem part that was reboxed. Ive got a good friend who is a factory bmw guy and he tells me the transmission control computer rarely fails. if your transmission is revving up and its not wanting to move its most likely an internal problem, seals or a clutch pack I would figure
]I have a 1997 328i, and I seem to have that same indicator light and the only problem my car is having is hard shifting at about 25mph and then as I slow down, below 15 it Hard Shifts again...
I've had the "Lifetime" Fluids flushed and changed. YUK! the stuff was almost BLACK! Took it around the Block and still having the same issue. The only Indicator light that comes on is the Trans Gear Light.
I am thinking about just buying another TCM from ebay, but now after reading these post I'm getting a bit freaked out that it needs "programming" I'm not even sure how that would, and not sure who can do it...besides the dealer $$$$$$$$$$.
I did read someone talking about trying a OSS (Output Speed Sensor)
I will try that first or at least testing it for now..........
Please,,,anyone with more insight feel free to give your input...Appreciate it...
I'm getting a bit freaked out that it needs "programming" I'm not even sure how that would, and not sure who can do it...besides the dealer $$$$$$$$$$.
There are some good programming forums which can help you with those detailed questions.
These links should point you in the right direction, should that be needed:
- INPA, EDIABAS, NCS Expert, DIS, EasyDIS, Progman, & other BMW factory & dealer programming, coding, and diagnostic software (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) & related BMW diagnostic tools forums (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & the most often recommended BMW diagnostic tools & cable interfaces (1)
Do you have any light on you dash on ie: abs check engine brake light? Sound like one of your ABS wheel speed sensor may be bad. Check the front passenger side ABS wheel speed sensor.. Its been know to cause havoc with the gearbox when it is bad. Look for bad insulation crack wires on the wheel speed sensors. If you do change the speeds sensor.... "ONLY use O.E.M. Replacement part" you will read about others trying aftermarket WSS including me having bad results until a OEM sensor was used..
That has got to be it. It has always said to check the Brake lights, and something else to do with that. The lights dont all light up on the dash, so I dont know what it says exactly. But, I did change the front struts/springs, and took the passenger side wheel sensor out just for kicks. I bet you you're right!!!! I can't wait til daylight to find out. Thanks Buddy. johnrich
OEM wheel speed sensors are about $75 to $100 bucks. Do Not Try the cheep aftermarket on eBay they will not work... I myself and many others Have tried them so save yourself a headache ..
I have in the past bought use OEM wheel speed sensor from a salvage yard.. Be sure you give the correct year and production date of your car.. Only 1997 528i to 09/1998 are compatible. If your production month is after September 1998 I be leave up to 2003 are compatible.
alex, I had the car put on a computer. I got 4 codes. It was a snap-on computer, the mechanic had to put on a different connector for BMW. I didn't know my car had a connection/plug-in for that. Anyhow, codes were; 54-Battery Voltage,104-Voltage Supply,132 Gear Monitoring,32 Magnetic Valve 3.
alex, I had the car put on a computer. I got 4 codes. It was a snap-on computer, the mechanic had to put on a different connector for BMW. I didn't know my car had a connection/plug-in for that. Anyhow, codes were; 54-Battery Voltage,104-Voltage Supply,132 Gear Monitoring,32 Magnetic Valve 3.
I m not sure on the OBD codes for a 740. But I know bad or old battery have been know to have. A negative effect on our computer as a result many have reported transmission problem due to a week battery.. The gear monitoring code is a result of your shifting problems but not the problem. The magnetic valve code ? Could be a shift solenoid . that was a problem I had with hard shifting on my 528.
Try to get the codes read by someone with a BMW code reader..
No that appears to be a aftermarket wheel speed sensor.
Here is a sample of a OEM sensor
this is for 1997 to 09/1998 528i after 09/1997 to 2003 the connector are light blue.. Not gray or black like the 97
Can somebody tell me, prior to check any error code, what most likely I have to check if my tranny switch to limp mode straight away after turn ignition key to the 2nd position (so do not necessary to start engine). I mean, if I turn the key into the 2nd pos, the P letter just disappear after cca 1 sec and remain in this state even after restart.
Similar problems as those who replaced tcm (gs20) but I am guessing. Did anyone who replaced their tcm have a problem reading error memory?
In my case Read and manuiplated everything else on the trans but failed reading error memory with a INPA IFH-0009: NO RESPONSE FROM CONTROL UNIT ERRORS. Note this is not the long discussion about bad cables and wrong config. The control unit will do everything else but talk to error memory. I assume bus works to tcm tcm receives and responds to other commands and gives error above when something is broken inside the tcm.
or does it actually have specific error codes to tell you that memory is bad?
Other opetions is the job is invalid being submitted by the software however it did work
on another vehicle with a gs20. In fact the only diffence was the 20 pin vs the obd plug the
20 pin failed this one request. So is it how the software is asking for the error memory thru the 20 pin?
Do these units (tcm/ecm) do their own diagnostics on startup to determine that everything is working? So for example if error memory was bad and detectable by the tcm, would that be forwarded to the ecm? Hopefully with a little more information we can determine why jumping the car is causing problems. Obviously some circuits are not protected and I am thinking that the symptoms are trans works fine so most of the tcm is working but it is unable to clear errors from the error memory and the light stays on.
I believe the unit is fairly robust and would detect any internal hardware problems at startup
but don't know how far this goes and what checking is done. If you cannot turn off the ses light and there is no error code telling me that the tcm error memory is bad I need the next level of information or replace the unit. Nah time for a scope then tear open the tcm. Oh no don't do that there might be smaller than hair size silver wires wiggling around in goop!
well hope this helps someone. So my problem was the tcm bought a used one replaced it and the codes went away and the engine light went off. Before I replaced the module I checked wires for power to make sure there were no shorts however I did not expect any problems as the only thing that did not work was reading error memory so some how error memory was not readable with the replacement module I had to read the memory in inpa with the e46 transmission gs20. It had a 54 error and it was easily cleared and when I started the car the ses light went off and no more codes from obd2. Now I will try to figure out how the nvram got zapped which is what I suspect happened when the unit would not allow me to only read or clear error memory
According to an ebay seller, and his pictures, that number looks like belong to the TCM (transmission control module) itself. I suppose your bimmer has located this module at the same like at my previous E39. So open the hood, and remove the the cabin filter box at your RIGHT hand side (at top right corner on picture bellow) as you standing front of the car (normally says that is the left hand cabin filter ).
As far as I remember, there is 2 control boxes. The box with blue connector is the TCM. There is 2 clips to release and slide up the TCM. I think you will see like this:
I fixed mine, as I found the faulty component. Well, I'm not a guru, but I heard not all code reader can read properly the control modules, or not all kind of code be recognized.
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