auto trans issue

I've read the issue with ASC traction light abs light on....i have a 97 528i...is the passenger front wheel sensor the only thing that will cause having to manually shift gears with these lights on? I've had these lights on before but happened when it was wet...came on a few days then went away and been normal for months.. for the past week or so lights have been on.. i have the replacement wheel sensor already but if its not the issue i dont wanna waste money..

The best way to diagnose the issue is to pull codes.

Originally Posted by HTK12

The best way to diagnose the issue is to pull codes.

i've ran the scanner on it twice... i didn't get any codes that suggested anything with a sensor or the trans itself... some of the codes pulled werent defined.. i had other codes but nothing trans related..

I have the same issue going on with my 98 528. I don't think it is completely dependent on the right wheel speed sensor. In fact I thought it was the left sensor that tied to the transmission. But anyway, from my reading it may also be related to the steering angle sensor. There is an excellent thread here by bluebee on ABS/ASC failure. But when it talks about testing the speed sensors at the ABS valve/pump, it shows a newer pin out on the cannon plug than what we have on the older models. One should still be able to test the diodes in the wheel speed sensor where it connects in the wheel well. I'm on a trip all week and won't be able to check mine until the weekend. Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays intermittently fixed while I'm on the road.
Please post your progress on this issue. I am confident it is an input sensor problem.

Also, a regular scanner will not normally show transmission fault codes, and the old 97 and 98 model OBD codes only show "speed sensor" for all the four wheel sensors.



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Originally Posted by firehawk17

i've ran the scanner on it twice... i didn't get any codes that suggested anything with a sensor or the trans itself... some of the codes pulled werent defined.. i had other codes but nothing trans related..

What scanner, which diagnostic port did you use?

Originally Posted by HTK12

What scanner, which diagnostic port did you use?

I used the one inside the car...i dont have the circular plug for the one under the hood

Originally Posted by firehawk17

I used the one inside the car...i dont have the circular plug for the one under the hood

Well you might want to look under the hood again.. You got the round diagnostic plug. From the OBDII socket inside the car you can only access DME. To diagnose anything else like ABS you need to use the round diagnostic port that is under the hood.

Originally Posted by HTK12

Well you might want to look under the hood again.. You got the round diagnostic plug. From the OBDII socket inside the car you can only access DME. To diagnose anything else like ABS you need to use the round diagnostic port that is under the hood.

I know where it is... i just dont have the scanner to fit that plug is what i meant to say... i wasn't clear.. i have to buy that scanner

Originally Posted by firehawk17

I know where it is... i just dont have the scanner to fit that plug is what i meant to say... i wasn't clear.. i have to buy that scanner

Okay.. Well you might want to consider buying INPA cable. It costs $20-50 and it's the best bang for the buck solution.

Originally Posted by HTK12

Okay.. Well you might want to consider buying INPA cable. It costs $20-50 and it's the best bang for the buck solution.

what cable is that? hooks to a obII scanner or to a computer?

Hi:

This is my firsts post as a member of the community. I've got an 02 530i automatic. All in the course of a couple of hours, the car went from driving smoothly to simply not moving while in drive, or any of the drive additional options. Took it to the shop, who ran the codes. Will only move in reverse. Called a transmission specialist who says it needs a new or rebuilt transmission. Quoted a price between $4700 and $5300 for full job. I've been looking on line and see listings for auto trans for this model for about $1500 at lowest.

Any one have any ideas?

Originally Posted by danville bmr

Hi:

This is my firsts post as a member of the community. I've got an 02 530i automatic. All in the course of a couple of hours, the car went from driving smoothly to simply not moving while in drive, or any of the drive additional options. Took it to the shop, who ran the codes. Will only move in reverse. Called a transmission specialist who says it needs a new or rebuilt transmission. Quoted a price between $4700 and $5300 for full job. I've been looking on line and see listings for auto trans for this model for about $1500 at lowest.

Any one have any ideas?

wow...I've never heard of a trans just going out like that.. Of course those shops gonna say you need a whole new trans thats where the money is.. especially if they aren't familiar with BMW per say... but it seems something electronically has failed for it to just go out like that.. i cant say what for sure but im only deducing what the possibilities may be.

Yeah it's an incredible bummer! The car normally drives like nothing else out there! I think we get spoiled driving this particular model! This is the 3d BMW I've had. The first was a '94 328i manual. The 2d was a '98 528i. I had trouble with the transmission on the manual driving uphills in SF, but nothing like this! What they're asking is practically blue book value!

How would you suggest ruling out an electronics cause without putting the car up and opening it up, which gets the money flow going?

Originally Posted by firehawk17

what cable is that? hooks to a obII scanner or to a computer?

As stated above it's mostly called INPA cable. It goes by other names too, but it's easiet to find a compatible cable when you just search for INPA cable. It hooks to a computer. Since you got 97 model you also need the 20 pin to obd adapter. You'll find these cable using the names mentioned in ebay, amazon etc. Here a example links so you know what to look for:

INPA cable
20 pin to obd

Originally Posted by danville bmr

Hi:

This is my firsts post as a member of the community. I've got an 02 530i automatic. All in the course of a couple of hours, the car went from driving smoothly to simply not moving while in drive, or any of the drive additional options. Took it to the shop, who ran the codes. Will only move in reverse. Called a transmission specialist who says it needs a new or rebuilt transmission. Quoted a price between $4700 and $5300 for full job. I've been looking on line and see listings for auto trans for this model for about $1500 at lowest.

Any one have any ideas?

Did you hear any unusual sounds? Have they pulled the codes?

Originally Posted by danville bmr

How would you suggest ruling out an electronics cause without putting the car up and opening it up, which gets the money flow going?

well the cheapest way is to purchase your own scanner and pull whatever codes your car is giving... any shop usually charges way too much to scan a car when you can come out cheaper and buy your own.. i would start there then that can give you a more clear plan of action..

What I heard, over a short period of time, about 5 minutes or so after starting up the car, was the engine revving more loudly but the car simply not getting into gear initially for a few seconds, then longer, then not at all.

As for the codes, the service tech said he ran the codes, didn't show them to me.

Originally Posted by danville bmr

What I heard, over a short period of time, about 5 minutes or so after starting up the car, was the engine revving more loudly but the car simply not getting into gear initially for a few seconds, then longer, then not at all.

As for the codes, the service tech said he ran the codes, didn't show them to me.

he should have showed you or told you...preferably showed you but something electrical or some sensor is haywire..Im only guessing but I have never heard or experienced a transmission just going out like that.. something that monitors the transmission or its signal is interrupted somewhere...

Only reverse works correct? will it go in park fine? just the driving gears wont engage?

I'm not quite sure how to answer that. What do you mean by "go in park?"

Originally Posted by danville bmr

I'm not quite sure how to answer that. What do you mean by "go in park?"

when you put the gear shift into "park" is park engaged? does it lock the transmission and prevent the car from rolling?

The gear shift goes into all the different gears. However, it only works for reverse.

My trans is stuck in fail safe mode... but I'm wondering if the camshaft position sensor will cause this..

Originally Posted by firehawk17

My trans is stuck in fail safe mode... but I'm wondering if the camshaft position sensor will cause this..

It shouldn't. Issues with ABS/ASC will cause trans fail safe. So I would start from there.

Originally Posted by HTK12

It shouldn't. Issues with ABS/ASC will cause trans fail safe. So I would start from there.

well yes my ABS/ASC lights are on but those sensors arent throwing a code.. my radio cuts out every now and then as well.. maybe my battery or alternator could cause this if its not receiving proper voltage.. possibly?