e61 Transmission Issue

[nzpanda92 16]

Hi Team,

Got a random one here for you. So few months ago I jumped in my e61 to drive off and the damn thing wouldn't go into Drive. I sat for a while and tried to put the car to sleep and wake up again and had the same issue. Eventually it got into gear so I took it to the workshop to have it scanned. Turned out one of the solenoids was gone in the tranny. All good, sent it to the auto transmission chaps to sort it out and replace. They did the job while I was overseas. I came back to pick it up, paid for it and was ready to drive off and the issue was still there. The mechanics said they fixed everything and it was all good the day before. They ran a diagnostic tool and it wasn't showing any errors that would cause that issue.

Couple weeks later they called me to say that the 2nd solenoid had gone and that they are replacing it.

I checked up today and the mechanic mentioned to me that it was very strange - when he got into the car to change the gear, it wouldn't go into gear, however when one of the other mechanics bounced on the back bumper, it then was able to change into gear.

Has anyone seen this before or know what it could be? I know that the car doesn't go into gear if there isn't anyone in the drivers seat or if the door is open - could it mean an occupancy sensor is stuffed? If it is stuffed, would we see it on a diagnostic scan?
 

Appreciate any advice.

Cheers,

Jimmy

[KwS 2373]

Dumb question, but is the trans fluid level correct? Checked at the correct temp with the engine running. Id expect the trans specialist knows this, but it pays to ask the obvious some times.

[nzpanda92 16]

4 minutes ago, KwS said:

Dumb question, but is the trans fluid level correct? Checked at the correct temp with the engine running. Id expect the trans specialist knows this, but it pays to ask the obvious some times.

Yeah transmission fluid is correct. They also did a transmission fluid change as well when they did the first solenoid. 
 

it’s so bizarre what’s going on with it. 

[Spinner99 53]

Is it showing "D" on the selector but the transmission is not going into gear?  Or is it refusing to move the selector out of park?

Sorry I know this comment isn't helpful, I'm just kinda surprised they didn't do all the solenoids at the same time.  There's a massive assumption on my part but I'm assuming you have one of the e-shift transmissions and were talking about the solenoids attached to the mechatronic?  e.g. not the one on the shift selector.

My $0.05 is I'd be wanting to plug in the computer and watch the live data to see if what the transmission thinks is happening is what's happening.  e.g. brake pedal is pressed, vehicle speed is <5 km/h (off the top of my head I think that's the limit on shift selection changes but might be wrong, sorry if I am) , shift release button is selected, door open/closed that kind of thing.

A crazy out there suggestion also is to check the battery is fully charged and good.  I had my E61 kick into Neutral once while driving (and only once thankfully) when the battery was low.  Full panic stations at the time it was quite violent and I thought the sky was falling down.  I had a few other low voltage related fault codes so I charged the battery and it's been fine since.  

 

 

[nzpanda92 16]

2 minutes ago, Spinner99 said:

Is it showing "D" on the selector but the transmission is not going into gear?  Or is it refusing to move the selector out of park?

Sorry I know this comment isn't helpful, I'm just kinda surprised they didn't do all the solenoids at the same time.  There's a massive assumption on my part but I'm assuming you have one of the e-shift transmissions and were talking about the solenoids attached to the mechatronic?  e.g. not the one on the shift selector.

My $0.05 is I'd be wanting to plug in the computer and watch the live data to see if what the transmission thinks is happening is what's happening.  e.g. brake pedal is pressed, vehicle speed is <5 km/h (off the top of my head I think that's the limit on shift selection changes but might be wrong, sorry if I am) , shift release button is selected, door open/closed that kind of thing.

A crazy out there suggestion also is to check the battery is fully charged and good.  I had my E61 kick into Neutral once while driving (and only once thankfully) when the battery was low.  Full panic stations at the time it was quite violent and I thought the sky was falling down.  I had a few other low voltage related fault codes so I charged the battery and it's been fine since.  

 

 

It is refusing to move out of park! Selector light stays in P.  

Yeah - I too am surprised they didn't change out all solenoids too. Yes it is an e-shift transmission and is the solenoids on the mechatronic unit. I am hoping the mechatronic unit is fine cause the devil be walking on earth if its stuffed.

I was suggesting to the mechanic that I bring in my INPA/ISTA system to have a look but they have not said anything, and are relying on an aftermarket scanning tool. I did witness when I was there to collect it the first time, it wouldn't go into gear. The mechanic got in and was trying all sorts of things. As I got went to book an uber, miraculously the damn thing shifted into gear - which was what happened to me the first time i noticed it go bung.

I'm pretty sure the battery is all good - i changed it last year from a standard battery to an AGM one, and updated it in INPA to reflect the change in battery and battery type.

[Spinner99 53]

Oh great you have ISTA! I appreciate it's probably a delicate issue suggesting to use your own code reader rather than the mechanics  though

If you haven't already, have a read of the FUB "Gear Selector switch (GWS)" - it has some info on when selections can change but I'm not sure if it'll be helpful in your situation.
And if you do get the opportunity to get some one on one time with your car there's also an ABL "GWS: Selector leaver interlock" that looks interesting, if you did get the opportunity to run that on the car while it's playing up it might be able to point you in the right direction?   I found both of those at

Vehicle management 
-> Troubleshooting 
-> Function Structure 
-> Power Train 
-> Transmission control unit 6HPTU 
-> Gear Selector Switch