bmw 540 e39 instrument cluster diaplay problem

[Vee-325is]

Hello all.This is my first post here but i've browsed through this website a few times.Its a great forum.Thanks to everyone.Anyways my dad has a mechanical workshop.we repair cars.we having a problem with a bmw 540i e39 2000 model steptronic.when switching on the ignition the instrument cluster displays a message saying "trans.failsafe prog".On our daignostic machine i picked up faults on the engine indicating a faulty brake light switch and the same fault appeared on the gearbox and abs+traction.So we fitted a new brake light switch and the brake lights worked.before it did not.but the message on the instument cluster still appears but the car moves perfect.the gearbox changes perfect before and after replacing the switch.Anyways,when the customer picked up the car the brake lights kept staying on.so we removed the switch and sent it back to bmw.they going to test it and let us know if its faulty.now my question is the gearbox display problem "trans.failsafe prog" related to the brake light switch?has anyone experienced a problem like this and what could the problem be?Thanks very much for any help.It is very much appreciated and my appologies for the long post.Im new at this so am a bit rusty.All the best!

 

[Jandre]

Hello all.This is my first post here but i've browsed through this website a few times.Its a great forum.Thanks to everyone.Anyways my dad has a mechanical workshop.we repair cars.we having a problem with a bmw 540i e39 2000 model steptronic.when switching on the ignition the instrument cluster displays a message saying "trans.failsafe prog".On our daignostic machine i picked up faults on the engine indicating a faulty brake light switch and the same fault appeared on the gearbox and abs+traction.So we fitted a new brake light switch and the brake lights worked.before it did not.but the message on the instument cluster still appears but the car moves perfect.the gearbox changes perfect before and after replacing the switch.Anyways,when the customer picked up the car the brake lights kept staying on.so we removed the switch and sent it back to bmw.they going to test it and let us know if its faulty.now my question is the gearbox display problem "trans.failsafe prog" related to the brake light switch?has anyone experienced a problem like this and what could the problem be?Thanks very much for any help.It is very much appreciated and my appologies for the long post.Im new at this so am a bit rusty.All the best!

I think you should discuss this with members like BimmerMan and Clutchplate. They should be around shortly. Good luck.

 

[BimmerMan]

Hello all.This is my first post here but i've browsed through this website a few times.Its a great forum.Thanks to everyone.Anyways my dad has a mechanical workshop.we repair cars.we having a problem with a bmw 540i e39 2000 model steptronic.when switching on the ignition the instrument cluster displays a message saying "trans.failsafe prog".On our daignostic machine i picked up faults on the engine indicating a faulty brake light switch and the same fault appeared on the gearbox and abs+traction.So we fitted a new brake light switch and the brake lights worked.before it did not.but the message on the instument cluster still appears but the car moves perfect.the gearbox changes perfect before and after replacing the switch.Anyways,when the customer picked up the car the brake lights kept staying on.so we removed the switch and sent it back to bmw.they going to test it and let us know if its faulty.now my question is the gearbox display problem "trans.failsafe prog" related to the brake light switch?has anyone experienced a problem like this and what could the problem be?Thanks very much for any help.It is very much appreciated and my appologies for the long post.Im new at this so am a bit rusty.All the best!

I think you should discuss this with members like BimmerMan and Clutchplate. They should be around shortly. Good luck.

Howzit man and welcome to the forum

The faulty brake light switch would definately trigger an ABS\DSC fault but I am not so sure about the Gearbox.

Does the gearbox throw any more fault codes? Anything from the ABS\DSC controller specifically?

It could simply be that the fault codes need to be cleared to clear the Trans Fail-Safe message from the OBC.

 

[clutchplate]

ok, your brake pedal switch is probably not faulty .. if you climb down there right under your pedals.. you will see that the switch moves in and out.. it has little lines on the inside of the switch, sothat you can adjust the position of the sensor towards or away from the brake pedal.... ok, so move the brake pedal to its normal standing position, and the push that switch all the way out sothat it touches the flat spot on the brake pedal... that should solve your problem.. otherwise try to hold a piece of magnetic metal against the sensor and see if the brake lights go off.

the abs units go faulty quite easilly, their positioned too close to the engine so they get very hot and the solder joints go bad.. I need to get a new one as it is... try get your fixed somewhere, I'll try find out for you where you can get it fixed... it could also be your wheel speed sensors ... you can get them from bemow's for 250 each I think... you can also get these tested at bmw...

as for the gearbox.. eish. I think you will have to get this tested at bmw.. you could always jack it up, and make sure your connectors to the gearbox are still working lekker... and if you can give me till nextweek, I see you are in jhb .. we can try to put my steptronic gearbox module in your car.. and see if that is the problem.

let me know how far you get. btw, I think I have a spare brake sensor here.. I will check for you.

Regards,
Clutchy.