Bad news on the eve of a long road trip to Tahoe this weekend!
It's suddenly and unexpectantly my turn for the E39 TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG transmission failure error message.
After fueling up so that I'm ready to leave before dawn early Friday morning, the automatic transmission wouldn't shift out of high gear and showed the dreaded TRANS FAILSAFE PROG error message on the cluster.
Changing plans, I cancelled my errands and immediately limped home about a dozen miles after the message; so here's all that I know so far ...
My symptoms are:
- The transmission fluid is original. Green sticker. 121,871 miles. I've never checked the ATF level.
- There were no prior symptoms. <== EDIT: In hindsight, the last two stops at lights seemed very sluggish, but I only thought about it afterward.
- The transmission appears to be stuck in high gear (perhaps it's 5th gear, I don't know). <== EDIT: Limp mode is apparently 4th gear, i.e., 1:1 ratio
- It does not shift up or down, even under very high load (e.g., starting from stopped, or climbing a hill).
- Putting the automatic transmission in manual mode changes nothing - it won't shift manually either <== EDIT: And it shows an "S" instead of "M" in the cluster.
- At one point, I couldn't even move the shift lever out of D while driving or with the vehicle stopped; but now it's parked and in the P position.
- Electrical system is, AFAIK, good; but I will check anyway. <== EDIT: Autozone subsequently tested the charging & starting system as good.
- The problem "feels" very mechanical, at least by the clear and obvious baulkiness of the shift lever.
I've never done much with everyone elses' TRANS FAILSAFE PROG error other than to point them to the VERY best of E39 Links ... so that's exactly what I'll do first.
- How people tested & resolved transmission "Trans Failsafe Program", aka "Limp Mode" (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17)
But I figured I'd start a thread, to ask for advice and to document the diagnostic scenario.
It's suddenly and unexpectantly my turn for the E39 TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG transmission failure error message.
After fueling up so that I'm ready to leave before dawn early Friday morning, the automatic transmission wouldn't shift out of high gear and showed the dreaded TRANS FAILSAFE PROG error message on the cluster.
Changing plans, I cancelled my errands and immediately limped home about a dozen miles after the message; so here's all that I know so far ...
My symptoms are:
- The transmission fluid is original. Green sticker. 121,871 miles. I've never checked the ATF level.
- There were no prior symptoms. <== EDIT: In hindsight, the last two stops at lights seemed very sluggish, but I only thought about it afterward.
- The transmission appears to be stuck in high gear (perhaps it's 5th gear, I don't know). <== EDIT: Limp mode is apparently 4th gear, i.e., 1:1 ratio
- It does not shift up or down, even under very high load (e.g., starting from stopped, or climbing a hill).
- Putting the automatic transmission in manual mode changes nothing - it won't shift manually either <== EDIT: And it shows an "S" instead of "M" in the cluster.
- At one point, I couldn't even move the shift lever out of D while driving or with the vehicle stopped; but now it's parked and in the P position.
- Electrical system is, AFAIK, good; but I will check anyway. <== EDIT: Autozone subsequently tested the charging & starting system as good.
- The problem "feels" very mechanical, at least by the clear and obvious baulkiness of the shift lever.
I've never done much with everyone elses' TRANS FAILSAFE PROG error other than to point them to the VERY best of E39 Links ... so that's exactly what I'll do first.
- How people tested & resolved transmission "Trans Failsafe Program", aka "Limp Mode" (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17)
But I figured I'd start a thread, to ask for advice and to document the diagnostic scenario.