E39 tranny issue please HELP!!!!!!!

[MMc]

I have a automatic 1998 528i
Recently the AST and ABS , light came on in the instrument cluster.

Also the car does not want to shift past 2nd gear.
This means I can not get on the hiway, or go past 40mph. The RPMs are too high over 40 mph. It's not shifting to 3rd or 4th gear.
I need it to **** manually so pass from S2 to S3 and then to D, i search on the web , i found similar problem but no answer

Is this a transmission problem?
or it can be related to the ABS light ? (abs sensor)

[joshua43214]

AST,ABS, and trans controll are all inter related. You need to get it to a qualified person asap before you destroy your transmission. Don't try to do what you have already decribed, if it doesn't want to go into 3rd gear and drive fast, dont make it. Hopefuly no permanant damage is done yet.

[MMc]

what do u think is the issue for the moment i don t drive the car to do not have more problem

[Tiger]

That is limp home mode... You need to have the car serviced by BMW specialist or unless you are handy and have a BMW scanner.

[MMc]

i changed the abs sensor and same issue , anyway i will send it to the scanner monday (stupid automatic tranny :( )

[MMc]

I foun 2 similar issue again
http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=71411&subForumID=201727&action=viewSubForum

I can't belive this happen to alot of people but I cannot found a fix answer

[Bellicose Right Winger]

How did you know which of the (4) sensors to change? On these cars one of the wheel speed sensors provides vehicle speed info, there is not a separate differential sensor like the E34's. Lack of speed signal may explain why trans is in limp mode. ASC/ABS controllers are failing at a very high rate on E39's also. Unfortunately you need the dealer diagnostic system to identify culprit, bad sensor and/or bad controller, although you may be able to identify the bad wheel sensor with a DMM. Failures are so high there are several companies advertising rebuilding these controllers. A new controller MUST be programmed by dealer to work. This is a very popular topic on the Roadfly E39 board.
http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e39/

Paul Shovestul




i changed the abs sensor and same issue , anyway i will send it to the scanner monday (stupid automatic tranny :( )

[MMc]

i had a problem with my front driver side wheel i had to change the spindel , disc, so my mechanical guy who did the job thought that it was the abs sensor of the driver side that had a problem , so he tried to change this abs sensor but now i will send the car at another place to have it scan

but i am happy regarding what ur saying it is not a transmission issue
in the beginning i was affraid that it could be a transmission issue that will need to change the tranny

[joshua43214]

i had a problem with my front driver side wheel i had to change the spindel , disc, so my mechanical guy who did the job thought that it was the abs sensor of the driver side that had a problem , so he tried to change this abs sensor but now i will send the car at another place to have it scan

but i am happy regarding what ur saying it is not a transmission issue
in the beginning i was affraid that it could be a transmission issue that will need to change the tranny

Don't assume its not a transmission problem or something that won't hurt the transmission if you continue to drive it. Most likely its related to the asc controler, but don't gamble with your trans.

Also, find a new mechanic, its really easy to diagnose wheel speed sensors, if they where unable to check it, they are not qualified to work on your car, its not a chevy after all.