After sitting... what else could go wrong!?!?!?

[Phatty5BMW]

Hey guys, I haven't been here in a while. My car has been sitting in my driveway since like march. I replaced all of my front end parts with the Hamburg-Technic parts back then and really didnt need the car because I have been out of town and needs an alighnment. But both tie rod boots are shot and the sway bar links as well.

So I get my car up and going to start driving it, and after taking it for a ride, I notice my one rear brake is sticking. Then right after that I notice my fuel line is pissing everywhere, and my gauge cluster is wigging out!

So to get to the point, I took apart the brake, cleaned the piston put that all back together. I cut the fuel line out, installed a piece of fuel injection rubber hose. Done no leaks.

So i take it for another ride today after fixing it all and freezing my ass off in the meantime, My car wont shift.

The fluid is up to par, as I did a fluid filter change, everything was great before it was parked.

So, it wont shift out of gear in either sport or economy mode, unless it is near redline. Manual mode, I can shift through 1-3 just fine, and cant hit 4th because I am not going to redline 3rd gear.... too fast.

Maybe the there is something plugged up in the trans or maybe my tranny ecu went out or something but I dont know what the hell is going on. Thats why I am here.... :)

Should I take it for a long drive to see if it clears up?

Should I buy a new tranny computer?

Should I change the fluid and filter again? I did it last year in like august, drove like 1000 miles on it.....

I am freaking out!!!!! HELP!!!!

-Pat

[632 Regal]

dont freak out dude, it could be a fluke. My trans is different but one time after a hard left turn while accelerating made it stick in 1st, long ride home. Was freaking as you, checked everything and seemed good. Unplugged the battery while checking things and put it all back together, all was fine, trans shifted fine. Maybe a sensor is telling the trans that the engine is cold and holding the gears? Idonno just dont freak.

[Phatty5BMW]

Ya, I just dont understand why it will shift just fine in manual and not E or Sport.

Since the car has been sitting, the battery has been dead, I have charged it and let it run for a while so I dont think the computer would need a reset. I will try it tommorrow but I did the other day unplug the trans comp for a while but it still is doing it. I will try the good ol shogun reset but I dont think it is going to work as planned.

I am going to take it for a nice long ride tommorrow and see if it will clear up after i do the reset. I just dont understand. I have NEVER had anything like this happen.

[attack eagle]

could be low voltage. If the battery has been sitting connected since march, it is almost guaranteed to be shot.

you could try cleaning the gear reader and the A/M switch too just to eliminate them.

[Phatty5BMW]

could be low voltage. If the battery has been sitting connected since march, it is almost guaranteed to be shot.

you could try cleaning the gear reader and the A/M switch too just to eliminate them.

I will check the voltage on it today. The E/S/M switch works as it changes modes when switched, and what is the gear reader? I will update as soon as I get it done. Thanks for the help guys!

-pat

[whiskychaser]

IMHO a low battery or a faulty sensor would give you a TRANSPROG warning. My guess is you have a sticking pressure solenoid because it hasnt moved for months

[Phatty5BMW]

IMHO a low battery or a faulty sensor would give you a TRANSPROG warning. My guess is you have a sticking pressure solenoid because it hasnt moved for months


Well my gauge cluster is pissing me off. All the lights on the bottom will work all the time, but the fuel gauge temp gauge and all that wont work unless I rev it to 3k rpm and then it works but sometimes if I hit the brake, it will just turn off.

As for the pressure solenoid, How would you unstick it? Just get the tranny nice and hot or change out the fluid and filter?

[whiskychaser]

As for the pressure solenoid, How would you unstick it? Just get the tranny nice and hot or change out the fluid and filter?
As long as there are no other adverse symptoms like slipping, I'd do exactly that - get it nice and hot and give it a run. I'd read any fault codes as a matter of course

[Phatty5BMW]

As long as there are no other adverse symptoms like slipping, I'd do exactly that - get it nice and hot and give it a run. I'd read any fault codes as a matter of course


There is no slipping at all, trans shifts fine in Manual. I just got back from a decent drive. Drove it pretty hard, lots of drag strip passes :P Still wont freaking shift! I think I may have to change the fluid again and give that a whirl. I guess I am just going to get it fixed and sell her. I think I may buy me a e39 540 6speed M-Sport. I don't know, I just wish this would shift like normal :(

[whiskychaser]

There is no slipping at all, trans shifts fine in Manual. I just got back from a decent drive. Drove it pretty hard, lots of drag strip passes :P Still wont freaking shift! I think I may have to change the fluid again and give that a whirl. I guess I am just going to get it fixed and sell her. I think I may buy me a e39 540 6speed M-Sport. I don't know, I just wish this would shift like normal :(

Sorry a decent drive didnt fix it. Have the factory disc for mine that includes a full list of symptoms and fixes. Not a lot of good to you though. Your alternative choice sounds good though I hope somebody can come back and sort this one for you

[632 Regal]

if you are having electrical issues that probably the culprit. The trans is controlled electronically. You should start by checking grounds.

[Phatty5BMW]

if you are having electrical issues that probably the culprit. The trans is controlled electronically. You should start by checking grounds.

You know where I should start checking the grounds at? I am going to sell it and need to get this trans problem fixed before I do. The trans will only shift at redline, but when I let off the gas, it will go to the next lowest gear and hang there. Any other ideas? TIA

[Phatty5BMW]

You know where I should start checking the grounds at? I am going to sell it and need to get this trans problem fixed before I do. The trans will only shift at redline, but when I let off the gas, it will go to the next lowest gear and hang there. Any other ideas? TIA


Ok, got the gauge cluster done, there was a loose fuse somehow.
As for the transmission, I took the electrical connector off from the trans, cleaned it real good, put it back on. Still doing it. In E or S mode, when its in first gear, its like a free wheeling tranmission, say going 20mph and i let off the gas, the RPM's drop to almost idle and wont accel or decel until i match rpm. Manual mode, works great... shifts all gears.... I really need some advice here!!!! I don't know where else to turn. Am I the only one hear that is experiencing the problem? Ever? HELP!!!!

[Phatty5BMW]

Ok, got the gauge cluster done, there was a loose fuse somehow.
As for the transmission, I took the electrical connector off from the trans, cleaned it real good, put it back on. Still doing it. In E or S mode, when its in first gear, its like a free wheeling tranmission, say going 20mph and i let off the gas, the RPM's drop to almost idle and wont accel or decel until i match rpm. Manual mode, works great... shifts all gears.... I really need some advice here!!!! I don't know where else to turn. Am I the only one hear that is experiencing the problem? Ever? HELP!!!!


Oh, I cleaned the range selector and the lever switch, did nothing. I was going to maybe try a trans computer out of my parents e32 735i but it has EML so I am not sure if that would work or not. :(

Also, How do you read fault codes for the transmission?

[632 Regal]

did you ever disconnect the trans computer in an effort to reboot it?

[Phatty5BMW]

did you ever disconnect the trans computer in an effort to reboot it?


Well beings the battery was completely dead, I would think it has lost all its juice, but I am going to go for that in the morning. I thought it was in the box by the ECU, but after doing more research, I learned its in the passenger kick panel..... I will inspect it tommorrow.

I did send an email to ZF earlier, but have not heard anything back, who knows if they will write me back or not. I was thinking of changing out the fluid/filter again to see if maybe from it sitting it got a lot of sediment down there and maybe plugged the filter?

Fluid is at the correct level.

Looking at the wiring scematic and realoem, I cant quite figure out where all the electrical connections are on it. I was reading somewhere also about the trans sensing off the throttle body?

Its just getting really old ****ing with this. I dont know where to turn anymore.

[632 Regal]

you wrote ZF, did you write to Kirt? let me find info...

europetransman@hotmail.com
(800)624-3876 ext 5735
or direct at (616)748-5735

edit: give him a couple days, usually very worth the response. Very good in customer relations regarding ZF.

[Bill R.]

dash cluster, I've seen a number of them do that, the only difference is that as soon as you tap the brake pedal, you get a bong chime as well as losing the gauges etc. First i would charge the battery fully and see if that helps

Next thing i would try is removing the dash cluster and if you have some stabilant 22 ,treat the connections, if not treat them with deoxit d5 which is available at radio shack and most electronics stores.

If that doesn't help then i would replace the capacitors in the dash cluster.





Well my gauge cluster is pissing me off. All the lights on the bottom will work all the time, but the fuel gauge temp gauge and all that wont work unless I rev it to 3k rpm and then it works but sometimes if I hit the brake, it will just turn off.

As for the pressure solenoid, How would you unstick it? Just get the tranny nice and hot or change out the fluid and filter?

[Phatty5BMW]

you wrote ZF, did you write to Kirt? let me find info...

europetransman@hotmail.com
(800)624-3876 ext 5735
or direct at (616)748-5735

edit: give him a couple days, usually very worth the response. Very good in customer relations regarding ZF.

No it was some other email address, I will have to give him a call. He probably isn't open today eh? I appreciate the info guys.

[Phatty5BMW]

you wrote ZF, did you write to Kirt? let me find info...

europetransman@hotmail.com
(800)624-3876 ext 5735
or direct at (616)748-5735

edit: give him a couple days, usually very worth the response. Very good in customer relations regarding ZF.

The e-mail address is not working :(

[Phatty5BMW]

The e-mail address is not working :(


Ok, Regarding what ZF wrote me. What do you guys think. M30 doesn't have have a TPS does it? I will have to do some research on real oem and find out if that output speed sensor is replaceable without taking the trans out and what not. What do you guys think? Any input?
TIA!!


Dear sir thank you for contacting ZF regarding your transmission problem. From the information you provided I am going to guess this transmission is a 1043 010 644. This would be the number on the metal id tag attached to the transmission. It’s important as it provides detail into the specific engineering of this transmission. This transmission has electronic shift control. The difference between manual mode and auto mode is strictly programming. If the transmission shifts in manual it indicates mechanically it is properly working and all the shift solenoids are also firing correctly. The fact you indicate it free wheels tells me its not receiving the correct signals to perform the next shift. One item that could affect this is the out-put speed sensor. If it’s reading incorrectly the trans controller would not realize how fast your moving and would not command the next shift. More than likely I would suspect this is not the cause as it’s a sealed sensor with no moving parts. If the vehicle was sitting why would it fail? Also the sensor is internal and should not have picked up any moisture in the plug. I would look at engine sensors. Mainly the TPS and or MAP/mass air whichever it has. The TPS may be providing a wide open signal to the trans controller. This would cause late shifts or full throttle shifts in every range and the free wheeling you are speaking of. It would also cause incorrect fuel ratio and some drivability problems. If the engine runs well I would go back to the out-put speed sensor. It is also possible corrosion has occurred at the controller connector or within the controller it self.