QuestionHello, My X5 goes into fail safe trans mode. Done it twice now both times it was wet outside, but does not do it all the time when it is wet. Where do I need to start looking to find out what is wrong.
AnswerDear Chris,
Usually fail safe transmission mode is displayed when the EGS
(transmission computer) notices a speed monitoring problem
or a plausibility fault. In normal english, the trans computer sees something illogical between the speed of the engine and the speed of the transmission gears (and by extension, the vehicle speed). Some people know it more by the term transmission slippage. If it is just your wheels slipping due to wet roads, normally what you would see is an ABS/ASC/DSC(traction control) checklight and not a trans fail safe mode light.
Have the fault read by a scanner. If there is an Autozone
outlet nearby, bring your car to them and ask them for a free scan, note the faults found, and have the faults cleared afterward. Tell me later what faults you got.
Then have somebody take a look at the transmission oil level if it is OK, and more importantly take a look at the oil if it looks dark or black (it should be greyish) , and if it smells burnt. If the oil condition is OK, Dealers usually
replace the trans shift selector switch first. If the faults
(meaning the trans fail safe mode display and the fault codes) continually return, or the oil is black and smells burnt, then a new transmission is needed.
