e38 tranny ,injecters?????

[keenebeam]

First attempt here. I have a e38 sometimes I'll be driving down the road and the engine, tranny something bucks or hesitates kinda like its going to stop or stall, but if you step on the gas it will take off and stop doing it any suggestions?

[bmw728ivik]

maybe a sensor? like a 02/lam

[rimasl2]

First attempt here. I have a e38 sometimes I'll be driving down the road and the engine, tranny something bucks or hesitates kinda like its going to stop or stall, but if you step on the gas it will take off and stop doing it any suggestions?


Need more info.....any Check Engine Lights (CEL)?

Describe the speed and conditions when you encounter the problem.

How well does the engine idle? when cold?....when hot? Any hesitation (lag) when accelerating when either cold or hot?

How many miles on the car?

Any notable service history on the engine or tranny?

[plik]

maybe a sensor? like a 02/lam

+1

You sound like you've got an O2 problem.

But rimasl2 is right, we need more details. You should have a check engine light showing, and if that's the case then you should have those codes read by AutoZone. Just drive down to AutoZone and tell them your check engine light is one.

[keenebeam]

no check engine light is on, had the o2 sensor done. The car only has 83000 on her. I notice it happens at different speeds when your maintaining speeds and barely depressing the peddle, but once I had message that the "trans protection mode" the car stayed in hi gear, shut it off parked it all day, started it was fine(called dealer)but the car runs great hot or cold...

[plik]

no check engine light is on, had the o2 sensor done. The car only has 83000 on her. I notice it happens at different speeds when your maintaining speeds and barely depressing the peddle, but once I had message that the "trans protection mode" the car stayed in hi gear, shut it off parked it all day, started it was fine(called dealer)but the car runs great hot or cold...

It could be that your drive shaft needs to be replaced. It sounds odd, but I actually know someone who had a similar problem and it turned out to be the drive shaft (specifically the u-joint, I think). What happens is the computer senses if the drive shaft is slipping and disengages the transmission for a moment.

I don't know if that's what you have or not, but either way I think the best thing to do is take your car to an independent BMW mechanic. Here is a website that lists them in your area, http://www.bimmershops.com/bmwshops/new-hampshire/

Good Luck!

[keenebeam]

Thanks I'll look into that...

[cincyrob]

you might want to try taking to the BMW dealer and have them re flash the transmission computer. I had a hesitation problem and spent a lot of money trying to fix. Ended up that a sensor or something in the computer system was sending signal to torque converter to ease up. Bottom line is BMW is re programming the computers to fix many of these issues. Cost me 160.00 but my hesitation problem is gone now. Wish I would have done that first would have saved 2 grand. I believe there are 3 computers on board, one for the engine, one for the ABS system and one for the tranny and they all talk to each other over a network in the car and if the program is off can cause some of the hesitation issues

[Cabo740i]

I'm the guy plik was refering to. It does sound awfully familiiar. I had the car's transmission code re-flashed right before I started to notice symptoms. The tranny was re-flashed becasue of a hard shift from 2 to 1 after spirited driving. At that time, the tranny oil was flushed and refilled by the dealer as well, so I thought it had something to do with that. I'm going to print this thread, and take it with me back to them to see if they will fix it, free of charge.

Thanks for the info, it's really been my only complaint about the vehicle, and I'm looking forward to getting it sorted out.

[crewdog843]

I had a similar incident two days ago. Car has only 63400 miles and no codes, no lights, just runs like it always runs (very well).

Came off a stop sign and decided to open it up on a long straight close to home. At about 70, there was a hesitation, which quickly went away and acceleration continued. Car was already in fourth gear, I believe, when it happened. Has happened a couple of times before, several months ago.

Since this car remembers one's style of driving and adjusts for it, could it be that radical departures from that style will cause a 'hiccup' from time to time.
I'm a fairly sedate driver: My average speed on my daily commute is only 21+something mph...as I only drive 9 miles each way and there are 11 stop lights and 6 stop signs along the way. When I don't get a chance to drive the highway, I try to burn off carbon the old way.

jake

[Cabo740i]

I find it only happens while driving like a grandma in fourth gear. I also get a bit of shudder under light accel at low speeds in fouth.

[Cabo740i]

Just got the car back from the dealer. The head tech drove around town with me for at least an hour trying to diagnose it. He took the car overnight, gave me a screaming little 328 as a loaner, then checked through everything he could think of. He said the car has the latest software, but discovered the tranny fluid was "two eye-droppers worth" low. Whatever, it's driving great now! I'm not sure if it's because they added more fluid, or if it's becasue they upgraded a piece of software. Either way, a big thank you to Mike O. and Keith at Chapman BMW in Scottsdale, AZ!

[plik]

That's awesome!

How much did that software upgrade cost?

[Cabo740i]

Hey pal,

Zilch. They did it all free of charge since I had previously had them flush the tranny fluid and update the tranny software. Which I think was like $300 and $128 or something.