2003 - 325Ci - transmission operates in safety mode

[shifty2002]

Look for past experience cause, effect, and remedy. I realize the explanation might be lengthy but I dont want to leave out a crucial piece of information. This is the first BMW I have owner, just bought for my wife to drive her 100 mile round trip back and forth to work. Gas saver. (now I'm paying for the gas my suburban was sucking up in repair bills, sighhhh) Car had 87K, now has 91K. just replaced the hooter valve (completely shot) and water pump (leaking-replaced before failure)

Transmission problem:
2002 325Ci with the sport shift automatic transmission. Ran the car last night through it "manual" shift operation, took it up to about 5000 RPM in first then backed off thru the rest of the gears. Pulled onto a street 1/4 mile down the road, backed up to turn around and had the inidcator light (small gear with exclamation mark) come on where the dash typically indicates what gear you are in. Also had a check engine soon light come on.
Tried turning the car off and restarting (without waiting) indicator light would go off transmission would kick back into safety mode.

Got it back to the house, read the owners manual and followed the procedure to reset the "safety" feature indicated by the idiot light. Turned motor off, set parking break and waited 20-30 seconds. Everything cleared so I figured all was good, that I just had not waited long enough while I wasl tring this in the street.

Got in the car this morning and the engine light was on, drove down the road about 3 miles, heard and felt a "clunk" (like a hard shift) the light came back on, pulled over turned car off as suggested in owners manual, transmission reset same thing. Drove straight to my mechanic, he put on a computer diagnostic and came up with a code stating low voltage to a sensor or valve or something. He couldn't find much info on the code and was going to have to do some research. He checked the battery voltage and everything appeared to be normal. He reset the codes went on a test drive and had same indicator light come on. Went back to shop same code. Tried to run the car solely through the "manual" shift operation and would still jump into safety mode.

Does anybody have any experience with this? I am starting to second guess this purchase. By the way the car is in EXCELLENT condition. People can not believe it is an 8 year old car. Interior is in great shape, etc... Trunk compartment looks new, appears to have been taken care of cosmetically. Car has been traced to a local doctor as original owner then "sold" to his son another doctor, all that BS. My wife LOVES the car I would like to see it perform for her.

Your help is appreciated.

[shifty2002]

MORE INFO

Computer shows manufactures code 94, trouble code P1892 - Low voltage power supply. Voltage was tested through the trouble shooting computer and mechanic said was in normal range.

[rgamble]

have you fixed the problem yet, i got a 2002 330i that went in to limp mode and has the batt light on

[Makeupnet]

Did you finally find out what the problem was? Mine is doing the same thing!

[Lord Vader]

Originally Posted by Makeupnet

Did you finally find out what the problem was? Mine is doing the same thing!

If your car is in Limp mode, you should get the OBD system scanned to see if its throwing a code. Thats the best way to start diagnosing what is wrong. It just doesnt go into limp mode for no reason.

[koason]

Why recommand?

[koason]

why recommand?

[BM POWER PLANT]

Basically ur car goes into Limp mode,tell the mechanic to verify if ur air flow sensor is ok & also to check either the cam shaft sensors together with the crankshaft sensor

[Lord Vader]

How would that cause the car to go into limp mode? Limo mode is designed to protect the transmission upon a fault being detected.