XSeries-forum

Nice new problem this morning, all the transmission related warning lights came on and the sat nav screen died at once but car still driving. Stopped to turn off and restart and everything clicking, headlights flickering as if battery had given up on the spot. Tried it twice and same thing happened.

Left it for 10 minutes and it started first time with no issues like I had imagined it!!! Drove to work (12 miles) and trans failsafe back on and sat nav screen cut out again so once at work turned it off but started straight away with no issues. Anyone got any clue whats causing this????? Is it a battery fault perhaps???

I'd go with battery or alternator, but battery first. Charge it and see if the problem returns. Know how old it is, ever replaced?

yes going to try that first along with diagnostic, the battery is difficult to see as its now hidden under the spare wheel LPG tank that the previous owner fitted, which incidentally is why I have no Sub enclosure, it has been removed to re-house the suspension compressor, so I may have to take the tank out to change the battery as I fear it may be the original 1

You can at least charge it from under the bonnet.  Saves too much digging in the boot.  If it needs changing then at least you know it really needs it.

Richard

Now heres a thing, don't ask me why this has happened and it may just be a coincidence, but I forgot to bring my ipod with me today so was not plugged into Intravee, and car drove faultlessly to work this morning, no warning lights or gearbox trans fail safe?????????? Didn't charge the battery or do anything different but I cant help but think that as soon as intravee and interface installed, that's when I started to get warning lights coming on. Or am I just paranoid :noexpression:

Depends what iPod you use - they 'should' all go into deep sleep to avoid battery drain issues (think after 16hrs or so).

You need to check that the iPod you are using definitely goes into deep sleep, otherwise it will drain the battery.

The iPod may be keeping other systems from going to sleep. Frustrating to have battery drain issues, it makes your stress levels got sky high every time you go to start the car. Hope you have got to the bottom of it.

Well I've had the Ipod unplugged for a few days and its still not right! The car died on me when I was driving it yesterday, no battery power at all only clicked when I tried to start it. Left it for 3 hours and tried again and it started straight away only to die again 2 mins later!! Think it has to be the battery cells that are gone so New battery in first and foremost to see if that solves the problem! Only problem is that the lpg tank is in spare wheel well so need to be careful moving it out the way enough to squeeze battery by it >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

I am having the same problem, it's so random so it hard to pin, we thought originally that my stupid wheels were causing the issues but I just spent 2 grand on all new rims and tyres, car was good till today when I got dsc warning then later on I got abs and finally "trans fails safe came up, everytime i switch off I loose the trans fail safe message, everything is ok for a few miles then it's back to Xmas lights again.

If the lights are coming on then there should be a fault being logged.  What fault codes are being recorded?

Richard

could be a bad abs sensor on one of the wheels.
my warning lights used to come after exactly 11 miles into every journey. stop and switch off, and it reset until another 11 miles!! changing the abs sensor sorted it out. there was a fault code but cant remember now.

It's definitely battery issues for me hopefully not alternator though!! Have Charged Battery over night twice now and it lasts for about 4 days driving with no warning lights or trans fail safe but then 1 by 1 they all re-appear until it dies completely!! New battery being delivered tomorrow morning and going to look into getting alternator reconditioned just as a precaution.[[quote="Spartanx5"]
I am having the same problem, it's so random so it hard to pin, we thought originally that my stupid wheels were causing the issues but I just spent 2 grand on all new rims and tyres, car was good till today when I got dsc warning then later on I got abs and finally "trans fails safe came up, everytime i switch off I loose the trans fail safe message, everything is ok for a few miles then it's back to Xmas lights again.
[/quote]

I had this problem with an M3 I owned previously when I changed the wheels and it was a faulty sensor I cant remember exactly which 1 it was but it was either a rear speed sensor in the hub or an ABS sensor. soon as it was changed it recognized the fact the tyres were bigger etc and problem went away.

I had random problems similar to this about 2 years ago - would be driving along perfectly when all of a sudden the  tans fail safe, DSc and other messages would appear and car would go into limp mode - really randomly.    Raj had had something similar happen and after  LOT of troubleshooting at the main dealers, the alternator was changed and he didn't have a recurrence - I went via the same main dealers as he did and communicated about the similar issues and they fitted a new alternator under warranty which again, cured the problem totally.  All the tests done on the alternator didn't show up anything - drop test etc - but service manager drove the car for a day or two and the random fault happened to him, so the alternator was identified as the chief suspect and once exchanged, the fault has not recurred over the past 2 years. 

They will go down the route of wanting you to fit a new battery first, though.  I would hedge my bets on it being a random, difficult to pin down, alternator fault - these cars can be very touchy or at least the CANBUS can, when it comes to voltages.

Bmw have had my car for a few days and they have decided to fit a new alternator so they are doing that and a transfer case oil change plus some other bits,  all for the bargin price of £1500!!!!! :'( grand total for the past 2 months

£4500

[quote="Spartanx5"]
Bmw have had my car for a few days and they have decided to fit a new alternator so they are doing that and a transfer case oil change plus some other bits,  all for the bargin price of £1500!!!!! :'( grand total for the past 2 months

£4500
[/quote]

WOW !!!! , are they guessing that that might solve your problem ? What if it still flags up the same fault when all that's been done?  :-[