Auto Gearbox woes

Brian4

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
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Dec 23, 2011
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Near Grantham
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Z3 3.0i Auto
I was off to Biscester Sunday scramble to see @BMBabe and @Mnbrennan when the gearbox warning light came on. The car drove normally and not in limp mode but not happy, so turned around and went home with fears of big bills looming.

Plugged into INPA reader and came up with
code 39 BLS-BTS plausbility
and code 151 Can Brake signal

so did some research and looked as if it is a faulty brake switch. The brake lights worked and could engage gears as you need your foot on the brake to engage a gear, and the roof still worked. Anyway ordered a new brake switch which arrived today and fitted.

No dash light and errors codes not active so cleared them and so far after a shortish drive still haven't come back so happy bunny again £10.99 instead of 2.5K or as twin turbo had 12K (warranty).

Will keep posted if it comes again.
The brake switch has 2 circuits one does the lights etc and the other is a test circuit so looks as if this failed even though the continuity test was ok for it.
 

BMBabe

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Glad you got it all sorted :thumbsup:
 

Grumps

Always happy, apart from when I'm not 🤬
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Hopefully that'll be the end of it Brian.
 

Bozzy

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You must have been a tad concerned after Mozza's disaster with his auto box.
Pleased you've sorted it for a few quid :thumbsup:.
 

Pingu

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The g/box warning light keeps coming on my 330. It's probably the same box as yours (A5S 325Z / ZF 5HP19). Lack of use will be the issue with mine as I only use it one month of the year.

Mine resets if I switch off and then back on again. I've checked INPA and it's not very helpful as it only tells me the gear selection that I was in when it failed. It's never the same. I suspect dirty oil due to lack of use.

I've just priced up the cost of a new oil filter, sump gasket and oil. £300 from BMW.

I've got a lot more shopping around to do before I'll be parting with any cash:wideyed:.
 

Brian4

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Points
173
Location
Near Grantham
Model of Z
Z3 3.0i Auto
The g/box warning light keeps coming on my 330. It's probably the same box as yours (A5S 325Z / ZF 5HP19). Lack of use will be the issue with mine as I only use it one month of the year.

Mine resets if I switch off and then back on again. I've checked INPA and it's not very helpful as it only tells me the gear selection that I was in when it failed. It's never the same. I suspect dirty oil due to lack of use.

I've just priced up the cost of a new oil filter, sump gasket and oil. £300 from BMW.

I've got a lot more shopping around to do before I'll be parting with any cash:wideyed:.
Not the same box as mine is the GM box not ZF as yours is.
Agree changing oil could help. Check if the Filter and gasket for a jaguar fits as they use the same gearbox.
 

Pingu

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I've just looked online and can get the price down to £110.55 - much better.

Now time to find out how much to get someone to do it. Then I'll decide if I DIY.
 

DavidM

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Great to hear the problem was not major!
 

GazHyde

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Z4 MR
Those pesky brake pedal switches cause all sorts of aggro!

OT - I had a VW Bora some years back and the glow plug warning light stayed on. That was a warning to show the brake lights weren’t working - low and behold new brake pedal switch and it was gone. Don’t really know how you are supposed to easilydiagnose stuff these days. Sadly my new brake pedal switch cost me £160 by the time VW charged for an hours labour and diagnostics
 
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