Trans Failsafe Mode

[E39 Ian]

For the last fews days, when I start the car and select gear it dies, sometimes this can be a few times before getting on the move.

Today starting the 4th trip in the car, it went through the same nonsense of starting, then it struggled to reverse out the driveway and forwards you can forget about it. Then this message appears "Trans Failsafe Mode"
The car does not want to drive...:cursin:

Please help

On the american forums, it be anything from battery to alternator to fluid low and filter replacement required. Hopefully nothing more serious than that....?

And the sad part is I cannot drive it cause it in limp mode....:cursin:

 

[zaleonardz]

Trans failsafe on a power condition (battery or alternator) occur when there is not enough power in the system, the gearbox senses it, and gooi's an error. In your case, I am fairly sure its not the problem....

The engine stalling concerns me, a mechanical failure of the gearbox would not cause that, unless the box itself is locking.

I doubt in this case its a low fluid problem, based on the stalling, low fluid would not cause that.

I suspect that the problem could be serious, and recommend a diagnostics as soon as possible.

That stalling bugs me, I cant figure it out.... unless the box was locking at low rpm ?

 

[rick540]

I phoned Ian

The stalling is unrelated, been doing that forever, it's a fuel enrichment/air leak as it stalls when you turn the steering as well.

The car was running fine before he parked it, so that is a good sign for now.

gave him some pointers to check.

I'm betting on electrical

 

[zaleonardz]

Ok well that changes things drastically.

If that is the case, and he is battling to select a gear, but once in gear he can drive fine, my money is either on fluid and or valve body, but more valve body, as the system senses a clear error, ie failsafe condition.

On low fluid, it would not do that if the checkballs in the valve body could move freely

 

[Truvalu]

Good luck Bud!! Hope you get sorted!

 

[E39 Ian]

Checked all fuses...all ok

Checked shift lights on dash cluster, all work even S, but cannot get M to come up (that is just with the key in and motor not started.

There seems to be a leak on tar underneath the gearbox...

Don't know how to check for oil in resvoir water of the radiator

 

[Nic_s]

Shouldn't there be a dip stick close to the firewall to check the gearbox's fluid level?

 

[Boerie]

Checked all fuses...all ok

Checked shift lights on dash cluster, all work even S, but cannot get M to come up (that is just with the key in and motor not started.

There seems to be a leak on tar underneath the gearbox...

Don't know how to check for oil in resvoir water of the radiator

rick what is it when the gearing lights doesn't come up ?
no hijack intended, just wanted to know. Cause my N did light up a while ago but not anymore. Also my P and R only works when they feel they want to.

Ian, let us know what a manual conversion cost. hie hie hie hie

 

[zaleonardz]

Manual conversion is going to be very tricky in finding a 6 speed box.

5 speeds are more available.

 

[Roundal]

Again at risk of a hijack, did the 6 speed ever become standard on the E39 540i at some stage? There must be very few 5 and 6 speed manuals in SA. Does anyone have an idea on the numbers?

 

[clutchplate]

yea, Very few ! .lol
not sure exactly on numbers...

 

[rick540]

Diagnosed Ian's car today

Has full reverse, no forward gears at all.

Electronics, diagnostics, solenoid valve activation gear position indicator, TPS, Turbine speed sensors, literally everything checks out fine ran all the tests possible, so there's zero electronic problem. The Trans failsafe error is being caused by input Vs output speed differential when the engine speed increases too much.

I think a clutchpack has gone south.

Anybody have links to technical documents on the A5S440Z (5HP-24)

This link is for the Audi A8 version of the 5HP-24A, but will give Ian an idea of what the clutch packs look like as it's the same trans inside. Possibly we have the same seal problem.

http://tomboynton.com/Audi.html

 

[Jandre]

Could also be valvebody? Or not. As far as I know valvebody failure will give similar symptoms.