Transmission Bad - Automatic Won't Start

[Eggman]

Before I begin (first post here) I want to thank all the folks here for such a great community and informative forum. I have learned alot and found much help by quietly lurking for a while

My delima, not solved by searching the forum...

I have a 96 automatic, about 98k, that has been running beautifully up 'til now.

I parked it the other day and two or three days later I went to start it and it cranked but no go.

So I tried several more times and it finally turned over but the transmission warning light stayed on (the gear with the exclamation point in it).

After about thirty seconds the check engine light popped back on and then the engine shut down.

When it was running for a few seconds I noticed a high pitched wining noise, subtle, but definitely there.

Now it won't start again and I guess I have to have it towed to my shop, but I wondered if any had experienced this or could give some guidance on what to expect so I don't get hit with "You need a new transmission" by my local BMW dealer (at least without some advice that is a possibility of what has gone wrong.)


Thanks.

[CirrusSR22]

Hmmm, seems weird that the transmission would cause it not to start. Did you try to jump start the car?

When the alternator goes out, you get all sorts of caution lights from computers shutting down. ABS, transmission, etc... My guess is more of a failed battery from a failed alternator issue.

[Eggman]

I agree... weird.

Thanks CirrusSR22, I will check the battery, but I believe I bought a new one when I purchased the car in June 2006...

There seems to be plenty of cranking power, it just won't turn over. I'll get my guy to check the alternator...

maybe someone that has had this exact scenario happen will chime in.

I did notice my peak tool won't work, where it has been working fine for two years.

i am getting a "can't read system" error.

[CirrusSR22]

I didn't closely enough that it DID crank. Oops.

The "can't read system" error is not good though. Still thinking a computer issue of some sorts. It sounds familiar for some reason.... Have you search this site or bimmerforums.com for that error?

[Eggman]

Hi,

And thanks again for putting some thought into this...

Well after sitting for a few days, it just started again (getting ready for the tow in the morning).

The transmission light was out, but the check engine light stayed on.

So I restarted and the transmission light came on again, with the check engine.

Next I tried my PEAKE R5/FCX-II tool again, and it ran this time pulling three codes:

94 - EWS Input
d8 - Doesn't show on my specified table (07)
EC - CAN Timeout, EGS

The code I mentioned earlier is just the PEAKE tool stating that the diagnostics bus is "hung" and it can't access the system, so its not actually a BMW code.


The ony other thing we had here that may have effected my vehicle is insane torrential monsoon-like thunder storms that soaked everything. We have been having them on and off for weeks and the car has been running fine, but I wondered if it just got too damp or wet and something shorted out?

I guess my dilemma now is do I drive to the 2.5 miles to my garage or have it towed anyway??? I don't want to damage the engine.

[Eggman]

The mystery deepens. Now the car is running but the transmission light and the ASC light are both on - and sometimes the check engine light (and the ASC won't switch off). The car appears to be in some kind of safety mode with the tranny as it appears to be in third gear.

I took it to my local mechanic, great guy but he mostly does brakes and minor stuff... he inspected it and said that it is probably something with the control module or the transmission itself, and recommended I go to the dealer .

Any advice?

[Eggman]

I am following up on this thread to let folks know that it appears that one technician has reached the following solution: My ABS control module is bad and is therefore causing the transmission failure and ASC light to come on. It appears disconnecting the ABS solves this problem, or of course I could replace the module. I am starting a separate thread to ask whether anyone has experience and if it is ill-advised or not to disconnect the ABS.