"TRANS PROGRAM" UPDATE--PLEASE READ!

[juan525i]

92 525i, have had the car for almost 2 years, sin ce i bought it the message was always on but theres was no "limp mode" just an aanoying message. 3 months ago it started going into limp mode only after driving it about 20 to 30 minutes in the mourning. went to brunos site did everything he said.
1. checked battery, alternator (good)
2. checked cleaned DME, fuel pump relays. did not replace them!!!
3. checked and cleaned all switches and connections in the shift area.
4 replace fluid in tranny
5. replaced the tranny speed sensor($70)

--then from a post here i heard that the "band apply solenoid" always goes bad and that may be the culprit, had my hopes up and changed it $45 put evrything back together and stiil going into limp mode only after 20-30 minutes of driving and when i stop at a red light it happens.then--

--took it to bmw specialist did a computer check on engine and transmission
and it showed....
1. "o2 sensor control" on engine check..
2. "magnetic converter clutch" on tranny check..( TCC solenoid)

--I ordered the TCC solenoid $75 hoping that this problem was going to be finaly over, i installed the new solenoid yesterday and took it out on a test drive feeling relieved, drove to my girlfriends house and on my way back 20 minutes later it happened again, "limp mode". i am so frustrated and i really need some good advice because i have tried everything and nothing has changed, please advise me on anothere possible culprit. remember that the "trans program" message has always been there since i bought the car 2 years ago but it never went into "limp mode" until 3 months ago.

--somebody said that grouding one of the pins i dont know where erases the problem, correct me if iam wrong but i need any help or advice i can get..

[pyro]

check the wires that go to all of the sensors my o2 sensor heater wire got cut by someone who ownd the car before me (bmw im pritty shure) and grounded itself out causing that wire to melt every wire in the engine wrieing harnis. that caused a whole slew of problems. so just check your wires

[pyro]

check the wires that go to all of the sensors my o2 sensor heater wire got cut by someone who ownd the car before me (bmw im pritty shure) and grounded itself out causing that wire to melt every wire in the engine wrieing harnis. that caused a whole slew of problems. so just check your wires


EDIT:
check the ground strap that goes from the transmition and the block or frame i forgot which it connected to first.

[Scott C]

92 525i, have had the car for almost 2 years, sin ce i bought it the message was always on but theres was no "limp mode" just an aanoying message. 3 months ago it started going into limp mode only after driving it about 20 to 30 minutes in the mourning. went to brunos site did everything he said.
1. checked battery, alternator (good)
2. checked cleaned DME, fuel pump relays. did not replace them!!!
3. checked and cleaned all switches and connections in the shift area.
4 replace fluid in tranny
5. replaced the tranny speed sensor($70)

--then from a post here i heard that the "band apply solenoid" always goes bad and that may be the culprit, had my hopes up and changed it $45 put evrything back together and stiil going into limp mode only after 20-30 minutes of driving and when i stop at a red light it happens.then--

--took it to bmw specialist did a computer check on engine and transmission
and it showed....
1. "o2 sensor control" on engine check..
2. "magnetic converter clutch" on tranny check..( TCC solenoid)

--I ordered the TCC solenoid $75 hoping that this problem was going to be finaly over, i installed the new solenoid yesterday and took it out on a test drive feeling relieved, drove to my girlfriends house and on my way back 20 minutes later it happened again, "limp mode". i am so frustrated and i really need some good advice because i have tried everything and nothing has changed, please advise me on anothere possible culprit. remember that the "trans program" message has always been there since i bought the car 2 years ago but it never went into "limp mode" until 3 months ago.

--somebody said that grouding one of the pins i dont know where erases the problem, correct me if iam wrong but i need any help or advice i can get..

The grounding of the pin only "works" to mask a false reporting of the failure from the tranny control unit to the check control module.... If you are going into limp mode.... it won't help you.

Scott

[gale]

This might be apples & oranges, but I replaced many of the similar parts as you have, on a Nissan automatic a few years ago, and the code readouts always kept pointing to another solenoid or other component. I lost patience with it & took it to a shop and they kept coming up with the same false-positive component fault codes until one of them had the sense to swap a known good TCU -- problem solved.

For yours, the next thing I would try would be another TCU if you can find one for cheap on Ebay or www.car-part.com, or open yours up & look for a leaky cap or cold solder joint on the pc board & repair or replace it accordingly. I'm of the opinion that trans program messages are something other than the transmission in most cases.

[juan525i]

This might be apples & oranges, but I replaced many of the similar parts as you have, on a Nissan automatic a few years ago, and the code readouts always kept pointing to another solenoid or other component. I lost patience with it & took it to a shop and they kept coming up with the same false-positive component fault codes until one of them had the sense to swap a known good TCU -- problem solved.

For yours, the next thing I would try would be another TCU if you can find one for cheap on Ebay or www.car-part.com, or open yours up & look for a leaky cap or cold solder joint on the pc board & repair or replace it accordingly. I'm of the opinion that trans program messages are something other than the transmission in most cases.

---like you said it might be the tcu, i'll try to get one with my mechanic and see if it works, but i do think that it might be sending a false error only, because the message has been there since i bought the car but it never went into limp mode until 3 months ago, also when i turn on the car everyday the first time, the "transprogram" message appears as soon as i turn the key like 10 seconds after but it drives normal until 20-30 minutes later then it goes in limp mode. I turn the car off for 3 minutes and on again and it works fine for an extra 1-5 minutes. i think that the tcu would not cause it to go in limp mode thats what i think i dont know if iam right!!!

---i am going to computer diagnose it again tomorrow, and see what comes up. also today i lifted one wheel on my car and spun it until it went into limp mode. before it did i flicked the auto/manual switch over and over and you could here i think one of the solenoids engaging and disengaging(clicking sound underneath) as soon as it went into limp mode the sound stoped, and this makes me think that maybe the solenoid that was making the sound might be the culprit but which solenoid runs the auto/manual mode i know there are 2, one controls---1-2/3-4 shift and the other---2-3shift, in my opinion it might be the one that controls 1-2/3-4 shift i dont know. in total there are 5 solenoids in the 4l30e trans....

1- 1-2/3-4 shift
2- 2-3 shift
3- *band apply solenoid PWM--- (already installed)
4- *Torque converter clutch solenoid(TCC)--- (installed)
5- Force motor( pressure regulator)

--now which one works with the auto/maunal mode switch i dont know!!

[Javier]

in the solenoids harness inside the transmission? When you did switch the solenoids, what was the status of the harness? good insulation? A short may also cause a failure report in the TCU. (Sensors and solenoids good but bad harness).

Javier

[gale]

This just in -- good summary of home remedies on "the other" board:

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e32/6921343-1.html

[joe maniqz]

had the same message for a month and it goes to limp mode but after restarting it goes away...got tired of restarting every now and then so...i replaced the transmission control unit located below the glove box and it fixed it...bought a used one at a junkyard for $200US, brand new would cost $900US...but check the unit# bec. it differs from each unit.