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E39-Jerking and unable to low gear while up/down hill

Discussion in 'E39' started by transporter, Feb 29, 2016.

  1. transporter

    transporter Club Guest

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    Hello All,

    while travelling to genting yesterday, my E39 525i unable to downshift to lower gear while going uphill. even manually downshift it is not changing to lower gear. after that the engine start to jerk and very small amount of smoke came out under the hood. OBD straight away beep and 'check engine oil level' is displayed and oil icon on dashboard lighted up. a quick check at the engine oil level and it turns out it is at a sufficient level. a mechanic that passed by informed that the smoke is caused by the engine oil leaking to the exhaust and the car should be able to drive on a straight road without issue. so i made an uturn back from genting and true enough on a flat road i am able to drive fine without issue. while driving back, whenever i am going up or downhill the engine will start to jerk slightly and i have to let go of the acceleration pedal to stop the jerking. the car seems to drive fine only on an absolutely flat road.

    sifus, may you let me know what is the cause for this issue?
     
  2. moots

    moots Club Guest

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    1. your valve cover gasket koyak ady and it is allowing oil to drip onto the hot exhaust thus smoking it on contact.
    i went thru exactly the same scenarion whn going up slight inclines...
    2. your gearbox oil level is suspected to be low,thus causing the jerkiness.
     
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  3. transporter

    transporter Club Guest

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    thanks bro. noted. will update back once diagnose by my mechanic. :rock:
     
  4. Herbert

    Herbert Well-Known Member

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    This is the initial symptom of the worn out oil seal at the AFT oil pump. Had similar experience with my e39 525i.
     
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  5. jarance

    jarance Founding Member

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    Any sign of oil stain on the floor where you park? If there is, then can confirm ATF level low.
     
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  6. transporter

    transporter Club Guest

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    ok Herbert, will keep that in mind.

    checked, no oil stain on floor. but there is very slight sign of smoke when i open the hood after the uphill scenario mentioned earlier...
     
  7. Herbert

    Herbert Well-Known Member

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    Seah,

    Take to workshop & check for ATF leak. Small AFT leak (from oil seal) would also decrease the pressure to torque converter resulting in lost of power/slippage. Go to a reliable trustworthy mechanic otherwise they will just ask you to replace the whole gearbox with a reconditioned one for quick money.
     
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  8. transporter

    transporter Club Guest

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    Took to mechanic today and was asked to changed ignition coil but turn out did not solve the issue. Will resend again to check for the ATF leak. Update back again. :)
     
  9. jarance

    jarance Founding Member

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    btw, I presume that you have change the fuel pump, fuel filter and air filter recently.

    and have cleaned your MAF as well.
     
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  10. d4ngerz0ne

    d4ngerz0ne New Member

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    did they plug it in to check for errors/fault codes?
     
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  11. transporter

    transporter Club Guest

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    air filter yes, the rest not yet..

    yes, the diagnostic showed that ignition coil no # 3 is faulty. therefore was told to changed them.
     
  12. antiquer

    antiquer Official Member

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    How ignition coil can cause uphill/downhill jerkiness?
     
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  13. transporter

    transporter Club Guest

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    wondering the same thing too...dont know why changed it without asking..sigh..
     
  14. BiMmEr78

    BiMmEr78 Club Guest

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    :77: Nowdays everything available in google ... n I also wonder how this can be a relation to your issue ... I might be wrong too
     
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  15. transporter

    transporter Club Guest

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    Went mechanic today and was told the ignition coil no 3 which i had replaced earlier still had error on the diagnostic tool. Was told by the mechanic that The non operating coil caused the pressure in the engine to built up and for the oil to seep out of the engine. It sounded logical and therefore will get my 3rd coil to be rechecked again. Will post further updates on it.
     
  16. jarance

    jarance Founding Member

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    if it the coil, just swap it with another. say No.5. The problem should transfer to No.5 if that is the case.

    BTW, was your fuel tank at 1/4 mark when you experience the jerkiness.
     
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  17. transporter

    transporter Club Guest

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    hello jarance,

    the thing is i have changed all 6 coil but coil #3 still showing fault. will get the mechanic to check it again.

    fuel tank is at 1/2 mark when it happened.
     
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  18. jarance

    jarance Founding Member

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    In that case, check the connector for loose connection. i once have this problem because the coil was not insert in all the way.
     
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  19. gendong

    gendong Moderator
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    would suggest for a pressure test to be performed on cylinder #3.
     
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  20. moots

    moots Club Guest

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    Huh?
    Just 1 failed coil will give a very rough engine idle and an almost undriveable car.You don't experience this do you?
    WTH does "pressure in the engine" mean?Combustion chamber pressure?Engine crankcase pressure?Neither can cause overpressure with a failed plug or coil.....time to look for a new mech?
     
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