nocom

Hello everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster
I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

I have a 2004 E60 525i M54 engine, ZF 6HP19 transmission. I've already replaced the transmission pan, fluid, and the solenoids, and the car shifts and behaves perfectly now. My only problem is that it goes into limp mode (trasmission failsafe) every now and then. It used to happen only once a week, now it's almost every other day.

I was able to get the error logs using INPA but I don't know what it means. I was hoping someone could tell me if the issue is with the gear shift assembly or with the "hall effect" sensor in the mechatronics itself.

E R R O R M E M O R Y
---------------------------------------
Date: 09.05.2016 18:09:26
ECU: GS19A
JobStatus: OKAY
Variant: GS19A
-------------------------------------------------------------
RESULT: 1 error in error memory !
-------------------------------------------------------------

5088 clutch choice Sensors wrong
P0706 Transmission Range Sensor 'A' Circuit Range/Performance
P0706 Transmission Range Sensor 'A' Circuit Range/Performance
Error counter: 7
Logistic counter: 40

1. Umweltsatz
Mileage 140368 km
time after reset/ignition OFF-ON 7650.00 ms
Battery Voltage 13.76 Volt
Status S-switch CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Tip-switch CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Position ser. line (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Position CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Driver`s door CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Driver`s seat CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Key CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Kl15 Signal CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
status ignition Ignition on 0-n

2. Umweltsatz
Mileage 140648 km
time after reset/ignition OFF-ON 7650.00 ms
Battery Voltage 14.08 Volt
Status S-switch CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Tip-switch CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Position ser. line (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Position CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Driver`s door CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Driver`s seat CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Key CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Kl15 Signal CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
status ignition Ignition on 0-n

3. Umweltsatz
Mileage 140840 km
time after reset/ignition OFF-ON 7650.00 ms
Battery Voltage 14.00 Volt
Status S-switch CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Tip-switch CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Position ser. line (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Position CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Driver`s door CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Driver`s seat CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 1.00 0/1
Status Key CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
Status Kl15 Signal CAN (0=OK, 1=F/ES) 0.00 0/1
status ignition Ignition on 0-n

Wire Doding from the Position Sensor is not plausible
Test conditions not yet fulfilled
Error not present now, but already stored
Error would not cause a warning lamp to light up

Error code: 50 88 38 07 06 07 06 07 28 44 8A FF AC 94 02 44
AD FF B0 94 02 44 C5 FF AF 94 02
================================================== ===========

Thanks very much in advance!

seanjordan20

It can be a number of things. First question is, did you do the solenoid fix yourself and when? Yes, it could be the shift assembly but was this happening before the fix. If the answer is no then you know its has something to do with the fix (i.e. not seating everything correctly, fluid issue (dirty/low), P/N switch issue. If it is an issue you have had for a while then its a good possibility that it is the shift assembly. That is just my way of troubleshooting something that should be fairly easy to pinpoint by the process of elimination being that you just worked on the system that is giving you the problem.

KyleB

check your bowden cable position at the transmission. that appears to be a fault with the neutral safety switch. the bowden cable is secured to the selector arm with a screw, it is adjustable as bowden cables can develop slack over time.

nocom

Thanks very much for your inputs!

I'll definitely check for slack in the bowden cable this weekend.

I replaced the solenoids, fluid, pan, and square & round rubber seals about 2 months ago, when I got the 4F86 "transmission ratio fault". This particular issue (5088) didn't appear back then; it appeared 2 weeks after I fixed the 4F86 error. As far as I remember, I put everything back together properly I can check again, but I was hoping to leave this as last resort.

Does anyone know what F/ES means?

The log says 0 means OK and 1 means F/ES (?). And it indicates positive for S-switch CAN, Ser-Line CAN, and Position CAN. Could this point to the root of the problem?

The error also comes up always at the same time - 7650.00ms from ignition on.

Thanks again!

KyleB

What year is your car again?

nocom

2004

KyleB

I would definitely make sure you have the selector cable in the correct position at the selector arm down at the transmission.

nocom

Thanks KyleB.

I do notice that in normal D mode, the car shifts up too early and so when it does this it lands in a low engine rpm and so the car feels very sluggish. To get around this, I drive it in manual or sport mode.

Maybe this is a side effect of a loose bowden cable as well.
I will try to check it tomorrow (if I can).

nocom

Hi guys

I've adjusted the transmission's bowden cable over the weekend, but the car still goes into transmission fail safe. It seems to do this when I go on an incline and stay on it (an incline) for about 5 seconds.

I think I'll have to open up the mechatronics again to see if I've missed anything.

Will update if I find anything.

nocom

Hi again!

I've opened up the transmission again and this time thoroughly cleaned all of the sensors and all gunk I could get out.

It was error-free for about two weeks, and then it's back again

I'm running out of options.