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Trans fail safe mode

Discuss the problems with your X5 (E53).
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Rknight
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Trans fail safe mode

Post by Rknight » Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:22 am

I have an 06 x5 with 100k miles. Today the trans fail safe mode light came on. I have hade no previous issues with the tranny or battery. It will shift thru all gears but is now very jerky when shifting. Also, the abs system is acting up as it grabs when I attempt to put on my brakes. Anyone have insight they can share?

Any info is greatly appreciated!

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Dan Alex
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Re: Trans fail safe mode

Post by Dan Alex » Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:11 pm

ABS and jerky shifts combined?? That's awkward.  Get it diagnosed asap.
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Smeeagain
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Re: Trans fail safe mode

Post by Smeeagain » Thu Dec 18, 2014 11:30 pm

[quote="Rknight"]
I have an 06 x5 with 100k miles. Today the trans fail safe mode light came on. I have had no previous issues with the tranny or battery. It will shift thru all gears but is now very jerky when shifting. Also, the abs system is acting up as it grabs when I attempt to put on my brakes. Anyone have insight they can share?

Any info is greatly appreciated!
[/quote]

Ok, sooooo you've" had no previous issues with the battery" yet the car is 8 years old. So it it the original battery ? If so then it is most probably well past it sell by date. to have both ABS and gear change  issues which are clearly unrelated mechanically speaking yet are both driven by the electrics.
If you do have an eight year battery Id be changing it regardless of whether it is connected or not as it is only going to go downhill
If it's less than 4 years old then I'd probably be looking elsewhere. Equally the gearbox is of an age where problems can creep in however it's not connected to the ABS

Do you use a battery conditioner? do you do long or short journeys? 

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shadrack
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Re: Trans fail safe mode

Post by shadrack » Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:50 pm

have you got same size/ brand tyres on the front axle?
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Steamyrotter
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Re: Trans fail safe mode

Post by Steamyrotter » Sat Dec 20, 2014 11:31 pm

As above first shout is new battery and check Alternator output (Both DC volts and AC component)

Could be a wheel speed sensor issue..
EGS (Gearbox control) uses the ABS Sensors to know what the car is doing... Going around corners, loosing grip, etc etc and will modify its behaviour to suit..

Read memory to see what's stored as should narrow it down significantly
If things were meant to be easy, then I will soon complicate them....
Please note...
Anything I say is only from my personal experience and knowledge..
I don't assume to know everything, and know there is a lot I don't know..
But then I could be talking bollox.. O:-)

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