TRANS. Failsafe Mode? E38

[Pe!pe!]

Hello, can anyone tell me what can cause this warning light to pop up on my cluster? I've read horror stories on this forum about this warning light, does this necessarily mean that the transmission will have to be replaced? The light message stayed on for about 3 minutes and then turned off. Thank you

Happy Father's Day Gentlemen.

[jyep]

in reading posts from other forums, comments vary:

turn off ignition, re-start, problem goes away and never comes back.

also, could indicate a car battery problem, check out below thread.

However, if it continues, then recommendations is to get the codes checked.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=222374

[Pe!pe!]

Thanks for the info jvep. The message has not appeared on my cluster since that incident about 2 weeks ago and the transmission has not acted differently. One thing that I have also read is that there is a chance that the speed sensors on the right front wheel will send this message if they are wet. It just happened that this particular day we had a heck of a storm, could this also be a factor?

[Bear]

In the E32s a power surge, battery or alternator going South would do this. Since it was wet out, any possibility the alterantor drive belt got wet and was slipping creating a false sense of loss of voltage?

[Gunt]

2002 - 740 IL transmission failsafe mode.

This error message can be caused by stupidity - case in point:

I left my lights on for 11 hours and drained my battery (still started though) Trans. failsafe warning message came on, but after driving home on freeway and charging up battery everything is back to normal.

So far so good.