Gearbox fault light amber and car neither engaging nor starting anymore?

[niall1]

Hi Guys

The alternator on my car failed a few weeks ago (49k miles) then 100 miles later the replacement failed. I have an insured warantee on the car so both were replaced under that. BMW wanted to put a number of miles on the car with the 2nd alternator to check if that's ok or whether there's another issue. That was fine while I was away but I took the car back last week to put the miles up myself! I've covered about 250 this week and then this morning when going out my drive the gearbox warning light came on and the car went into neutral itself. I tried turning the car off and restarting it to see if that would clear the fault and it wouldn't restart at all! :banghead:
Any idea what this could be? I've called the AA to flatbed it to the garage.

Thanks
Niall

PS Where's that thread on the PX for a 996 GT3 RS.. ;)

[Mark CSL]

Hi Guys

The alternator on my car failed a few weeks ago (49k miles) then 100 miles later the replacement failed. I have an insured warantee on the car so both were replaced under that. BMW wanted to put a number of miles on the car with the 2nd alternator to check if that's ok or whether there's another issue. That was fine while I was away but I took the car back last week to put the miles up myself! I've covered about 250 this week and then this morning when going out my drive the gearbox warning light came on and the car went into neutral itself. I tried turning the car off and restarting it to see if that would clear the fault and it wouldn't restart at all! :banghead:
Any idea what this could be? I've called the AA to flatbed it to the garage.

Thanks
Niall

PS Where's that thread on the PX for a 996 GT3 RS.. ;)

Make sure the bonnet is closed :whistle:

[alexk]

Close properly the bonnet.

[niall1]

Hadn't opened the bonnet so will check that? Car did restart when the AA guy came but wouldn't go into gear and gearbox warning light still on.

[3wheels3]

Could be bonnet always drop it from 12" to 18". As I said on another alternator thread lately when alternator fails it can take a good battery down with it. This can cause error lights/codes . Alt & battery should be replaced together imo & experience.

[niall1]

Thanks. Had spotted that and put a battery pack on just in case but no joy..

[3wheels3]

Would not be first time I've heard of bonnet switches failing but think it needs plugging in obviously. After my alt fail carried on with car on trickle charge inbetween but batt did cause some error codes. New battery and ok since.

[cantfind1]

Sounds like the Salmon coloured SMG relay in the ecu box....replace it should be fine....first place to start as its the cheapest...

[niall1]

Sounds like the Salmon coloured SMG relay in the ecu box....replace it should be fine....first place to start as its the cheapest...

:notworthy:
And the prize goes to cantfind1

(still looking for that 996 GT3RS now my trust has been broken) :gayfight:

[3wheels3]

(still looking for that 996 GT3RS now my trust has been broken) :gayfight:

Especially if it's recently had RMS sorted :hahaha:

[thegingerninja]

I didn't think the gt3 rs had the rms issue? Supposed to have a different block to the other 996 variants...

[shane@mbtech]

:notworthy:
And the prize goes to cantfind1

(still looking for that 996 GT3RS now my trust has been broken) :gayfight:

I carry a spare relay in the glovebox for this.

[shimmy]

I carry a spare relay in the glovebox for this.

i carry a sandwich and durex for similar reasons (both are now past their best )

[shane@mbtech]

i carry a sandwich and durex for similar reasons (both are now past their best )

Both balls? ;):hahaha:

[83SY]

Sorry to hear you've had these issues. Friend of mine had similar problem on his E46 M3 vert recently & turned out to be a switch in the door telling the car the door was still open. Just a thought

Hope you get it sorted ASAP

[niall1]

Thanks. Hopefully all sorted now, collecting it tomorrow. I'll be buying one of those relays for the tool box!

Re the GT3's engine all variants have a different engine to the regular 996/7 based on the air and water cooled GT1 race cars, Metzger (I think). So no self destructing block like the regular cars..

[shimmy]

Not sure about 6RS but 7RS def has RMS issues

[_Nathan_]

It's IMS issues they don't have.

[niall1]

Fooking stealers :moan:
They charged me a total of €121 to replace the €6 relay!:mad:

[Mark CSL]

Fooking stealers :moan:
They charged me a total of €121 to replace the €6 relay!:mad:

Do you not have bmw warranty ? it will cover that :supz:

[Bounce]

Fooking stealers :moan:
They charged me a total of €121 to replace the €6 relay!:mad:It takes 10 mins tops to put the relay in.Even I managed to to it.I would be having words with them.:mad:

[shane@mbtech]

It takes 10 mins tops to put the relay in.Even I managed to to it.I would be having words with them.:mad:

4 5mm allen key bolts, takes 30 secs tops.

But they cant diagnose things for free,; they have to charge for their expertise. They've fixed it afterall.

[giraffe]

4 5mm allen key bolts, takes 30 secs tops.

But they cant diagnose things for free,; they have to charge for their expertise. They've fixed it afterall.
Agreed i see both sides of this argument as you say replacing relay is quick job but you have to do fault read and follow diagnosis procedure as if you dont and it is warranty we dont get paid . Look at it in positive way he found relay fault rather than replacing a expensive part that you have fitted and problem still there , shouldnt happen but if they dont no the system it could happen . Hope that made you fell bit better :(

Now for the comments telling me to shut up :-D

[shane@mbtech]

Agreed i see both sides of this argument as you say replacing relay is quick job but you have to do fault read and follow diagnosis procedure as if you dont and it is warranty we dont get paid . Look at it in positive way he found relay fault rather than replacing a expensive part that you have fitted and problem still there , shouldnt happen but if they dont no the system it could happen . Hope that made you fell bit better :(

Now for the comments telling me to shut up :-D


I own/run my own Garage so I know the feeling well.

If these problems were so easy to fix, the owners would have done it. :finga:

We had one guy who came to us, he had taken his car to 3 different garages/auto sparks who couldnt tell him what the issue was. I quoted him 2 hrs labour + vat diagnosis to find the issue. (that gave us enough time to check the lights, check the wiring, check the sam module(gives the power out) and check the indicator stalk was giving signal out). He was fine with this.

We found the fault, it took us 1.5hrs to find, it was the SAM module. It was approx £280+vat for part plus 1.5 hrs lab to fit and code the SAM. He refused the work.

He then came to collect the car, we invoiced him for 1.5hrs, as this is all it took us, not the initial 2 hours I quoted. He didnt want to pay because we had'nt fixed it:clown:, what planet did he fucking live on.
He said he shouldnt have to pay anything. We politely told him that we cant work for free, its not our fault he wont pay the cost to fix and that the car would be going nowhere until the bill was paid. We also politely asked him to look at his logic and that we would not be diagnosing things for free to let people get another garage to fit/fix the things that our experience found to be at fault. He paid.

Its not as easy as people think. but thats the joys of business.

[giraffe]

I own/run my own Garage so I know the feeling well.

If these problems were so easy to fix, the owners would have done it. :finga:

We had one guy who came to us, he had taken his car to 3 different garages/auto sparks who couldnt tell him what the issue was. I quoted him 2 hrs labour + vat diagnosis to find the issue. (that gave us enough time to check the lights, check the wiring, check the sam module(gives the power out) and check the indicator stalk was giving signal out). He was fine with this.

We found the fault, it took us 1.5hrs to find, it was the SAM module. It was approx £280+vat for part plus 1.5 hrs lab to fit and code the SAM. He refused the work.

He then came to collect the car, we invoiced him for 1.5hrs, as this is all it took us, not the initial 2 hours I quoted. He didnt want to pay because we had'nt fixed it:clown:, what planet did he fucking live on.
He said he shouldnt have to pay anything. We politely told him that we cant work for free, its not our fault he wont pay the cost to fix and that the car would be going nowhere until the bill was paid. We also politely asked him to look at his logic and that we would not be diagnosing things for free to let people get another garage to fit/fix the things that our experience found to be at fault. He paid.

Its not as easy as people think. but thats the joys of business.
Perfect example , thanks for the back up :-D

[Mark CSL]

Its always hard to pay big bills for a small fix :(

[niall1]

Yes i have an insured waranty but I have a €300 excess..:smt022:
Edit:
On my phone so didn't see the other posts. I work for myself so know that there's no such thing as 'free time' for staff to be finding faults. I felt a bit done as the relay issue was post two alternators (and two excess payments.. this is the third as it's below the threshold) and itemised on the bill was €12.50 plus VAT for charging the battery. Surely they've had enough out of me and my insurance policy in the past two weeks, not to mention the joyride some one had in the car..

On a positive note they've cleaned my car each 'visit' (I use it as my daily and kids in rugby and soccer gear make a horrible mess!), and the service manager is hoping to have one of my excess payments refunded because the first alternator was obviously faulty having failed in less than 100 miles.
:-)
Niall

[Bounce]

I own/run my own Garage so I know the feeling well.

If these problems were so easy to fix, the owners would have done it. :finga:

We had one guy who came to us, he had taken his car to 3 different garages/auto sparks who couldnt tell him what the issue was. I quoted him 2 hrs labour + vat diagnosis to find the issue. (that gave us enough time to check the lights, check the wiring, check the sam module(gives the power out) and check the indicator stalk was giving signal out). He was fine with this.

We found the fault, it took us 1.5hrs to find, it was the SAM module. It was approx £280+vat for part plus 1.5 hrs lab to fit and code the SAM. He refused the work.

He then came to collect the car, we invoiced him for 1.5hrs, as this is all it took us, not the initial 2 hours I quoted. He didnt want to pay because we had'nt fixed it:clown:, what planet did he fucking live on.
He said he shouldnt have to pay anything. We politely told him that we cant work for free, its not our fault he wont pay the cost to fix and that the car would be going nowhere until the bill was paid. We also politely asked him to look at his logic and that we would not be diagnosing things for free to let people get another garage to fit/fix the things that our experience found to be at fault. He paid.

Its not as easy as people think. but thats the joys of business.I know where your coming from Shane,I'm self employed,but sometimes I can't charge what It should have cost,I have to give and take a little,very difficult for big dealerships I know with all the red tape.If they had charged him 50 or 60 quid he probably would have been happy and gone back next time with a bigger issue.;)

[shane@mbtech]

I know where your coming from Shane,I'm self employed,but sometimes I can't charge what It should have cost,I have to give and take a little,very difficult for big dealerships I know with all the red tape.If they had charged him 50 or 60 quid he probably would have been happy and gone back next time with a bigger issue.;)

It's hard Brett, sometimes in the long run its better to let things slide. That's the key to a successful, long and fruitful business. Knowing when to not be short sighted. As I said the joys of business.