Trans Fail safe Program

[Iqlima]

My car E38 728i suddenly out of no where giving this error , and now in limp mode I guess stick to 3rd gear . What could be a problem ....... mechanic hook their tools and it said solenoid n/p but replace them with no success....anybody face this problem before ?

 

[cyne]

I have a pretty great condition 5hp18 - 5 speed tiptropic to let go if you want... It was mated to the same engine M52B28. Let me know if you want to change, it's going quite cheap as I'm converting to a manual.

 

[sharizat]

try and drain the gearbox oil and change the oil filter for the gearbox, also do some cleaning with the sensors.. i hope that could solve the issue as it happened to me a couple of months back

 

[moots]

check your battery...batteries on their way out cud trigger this message.....

 

[antiquer]

This ( msg n limp mode ) happened to me once after a long drive in heavy rain. After few hours parked in open parking area the msg n limp mode gone.. lucky me..

 

[uncle aziz]

it happened once to my e38 728 at RnR Bukit Gantang .....The only thing I knew /had in mind is MAF related problems. Stopped the car and perform DIY services to clean the MAF... checked all hoses intact...restart engine okey . Went to diagnose problems at Bayernz BM...nothing detected. But if problem repeated it has to do with gearbox . Just to satisfy myself >> change gear box oil / seals & gasket . It has been 3 years now free of problems.

 

[sudha]

I suffered through this limp mode issue with my e32 for quite a fair bit. After being given worst case scenarios, i was relived it was a small matter.

First - Check your battery. Weak batteries tend to cause the transmission switching into fail safe mode.

If battery is fine, try this - yours is a 5 speed transmission. When you drive forward, instead of selecting "D"... go one notch below to "4". If your transmission does not enter fail safe mode then you have a case of loose cable.

I am sharing this because thats how how I figure out what's wrong with my car. An expert mechanic forgot to tighten the transmission cable and kept telling me my gearbox needs to be replaced/overhauled. My car entered limp mode after 5 minutes of driving... all the time until i accidentally put it into "4" once.

Your problem may not be the same but perhaps you could try to eliminate the cause with this..

 

[Am 740i]

I had experienced this problem everytime I warmed up my e38 740i in less than 15minutes. I thought the atf was not properly pumped into the valve body. Try to warm up at least 15minutes. This problem occurred anytime although I changed the filter and atf. If I warmed up within or more than 15minutes, my gearbox will run smoothly all the way. I replaced my gearbox 2times since I bought it.
This problem happened on my dad's e38 735iL (tiptronic) too. But his gearbox was not in good working order before the faulty appeared, so had to replace the damaged gearbox. He replaced his gearbox 4times since he owned it.
If your gearbox shifts gear smoothly before the faulty appears then your gearbox is still alright. If your gearbox shifts roughly before, then you have to replace your gearbox.

 

[Am 740i]

Why my post becomes many. So sorry about this.
I think my network here in Cameron not alright.