"Transmission fail safe mode"

"Transmission fail safe mode"

Author
Discussion

kiethton

Original Poster:

13,883 posts

179 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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So to round out a st weekend the above appeared as I parked up last night, had the transmission rebuilt approx 5 months/1500 miles ago, thankfully still under warranty from that (1yr).

What's the likely cause?

e39 540i

TheEnd

15,370 posts

187 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
The dashboard often puts up that message if it loses contact with the autobox ECU.

Sometimes you will find no problems with the autobox, it's just a cluster issue.

Plan of action is to scan it for codes anyway, and see if the autobox has a problem, or if it is a false report.

parksie

303 posts

205 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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Could it be the battery is in poor condition?? as happened with me a few years back??

Gruber

6,313 posts

213 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
I seem to recall there's a switch under the gear stick/selector that sometimes plays up on these. I don't know the details but can find out tomorrow.

kiethton

Original Poster:

13,883 posts

179 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Battery is 6 months old, was replaced as part of a long running FSR issue now resolved.

I've called the garage and they seem to be honouring the warranty this far as is was only 6 months/2k miles ago it was reconditioned, got to get it recovered to them on a flatbed though, they have said not to drive it frown

So after the motorbike was stolen on Friday, this happened on Saturday and today my "good" road bike gives up on me...I'm now transport less frown

6ft, 18 stone bloke on a women's road bike for 30 miles a day seems to be the only option now haha!

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
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Main questions.

Why did it go in for the rebuild?
How much was the rebuild?

kiethton

Original Poster:

13,883 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
quotequote all
Slipping torque converter was the initial reason, when they opened it up they found a worn bearing so I got it refurbished

c.£1,800 from memory, paid the extra for a full rebuild to get the guarantee

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
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Hmm, at that price I don't think that'd cover the valve body being rebuild.

Only a rebuild TC and clutches.

8Tech

2,136 posts

197 months

Thursday 30th April 2015
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Transmission failsafe is a message indicating that the engine ECU has seen a fault and put the gearbox into failsafe to protect itself and may have nothing to do with the transmission whatsoever.
If you even lost a plug or coil, O2 sensor fault or MAF out of spec, it would still show transmission failsafe.

ian_cab28

207 posts

216 months

Friday 1st May 2015
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Could be low battery power/duff alternator or loss of fluid when the cooler loses fluid, was there a puddle? Most likely the rebuild though !

8Tech

2,136 posts

197 months

Friday 1st May 2015
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I'll still wager it's not the transmission.

kiethton

Original Poster:

13,883 posts

179 months

Friday 1st May 2015
quotequote all
Popped on when the GF was moving back and forth (2 times in each direction) trying to baypark

kiethton

Original Poster:

13,883 posts

179 months

Wednesday 13th May 2015
quotequote all
Took it to the garage, new gearbox switch

£225 later and it happens again the next day...

Now back in on Saturday and they thankfully still have the old one. His time when it happened I over from R to D, lever resting in D, go to pull away up a slight incline and it hasn't engaged the gear. Metallic "Clunk" from the box, error message comes on as before and I'm stuck in 3rd.

Turning it off and on again fixes it...for now...

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Thursday 14th May 2015
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Get a manual?.....
This is PH after all, not Mumsnet FFS!

























kiethton

Original Poster:

13,883 posts

179 months

Thursday 14th May 2015
quotequote all
Didn't know mumsnet discussed the internal operation of BMW gearboxes?

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Thursday 14th May 2015
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No idea what BS that guy is talking. Hate it when the council starts handing out broadband to their folks.

Anyway, I still think valve body/solenoids.

Ellenlee2013

1 posts

105 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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Hi guys new to this I have a range rover l322 and am getting transmission failsafe programme error. We have tried everything to get it fixed. I'm 700 quid down and still not sorted? Please help

Dr Meat

80 posts

179 months

Sunday 30th April 2017
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Did you ever get this sorted?