another SMG light thread :facepalm:

Zenocchio · 05-17-2012, 09:19 PM

I am sorry to bother the forum with another SMG light thread, but here are the facts:
this morning I was driving in A3 and the SMG light came up on my dash.
I got the car just 3 weeks ago, and nothing came out during the PPI related to the transmission.
Bottom line, I tried to reset it today unsuccessfully performing the following:
1 - Disconnected the battery for 2 hours, the only thing that I manage to do is resetting the clock
2 - Resetting the SMG by going in N and pulling both flaps for more than 5s in a speed >80km/h, nothing happened, but now it shifts less harsher
3 - I invested 20$ and bought a new pink relay, nothing happened.

I must say that the car drives fine, if it wasn't for the light on that bothers me I would never feel any trouble.

On a side note, since I disconnected the battery my front windows only roll up with their own independent switch, but all 4 windows go down by pressing the common switch.

I just spent thousands to buy it, and I'm feeling pretty bad right now...

BWOODM3 · 05-17-2012, 10:12 PM

So the light is currently on but still drives? Does the gear selector on the dash blink?

Zenocchio · 05-17-2012, 10:30 PM

No blinking, light on and the car just drives fine

mooninite · 05-18-2012, 11:53 AM

Get your codes read.

/thread

OBD2 readers may not tell you anything. Find someone in your area with the INPA or DIS BMW software. Or pay your dealer an hour labor for them to read it.

Zenocchio · 05-21-2012, 07:14 PM

Could it be a worn clutch?
what are the signs of a worn clutch on an SMG transmission?

e46built · 05-21-2012, 07:29 PM

It might be one of the pumps because mine did the samething

Zenocchio · 05-22-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46built

It might be one of the pumps because mine did the samething

One of the pumps? Why do you think so?

e46built · 05-22-2012, 03:47 PM

Because mine did the same the light turned off but would drive normal and i took it to get it checked at the dealer and they told me it was one of the pumps

Zenocchio · 05-30-2012, 08:15 PM

Problem solved, or at least postponed.
today I invested 40$ and got my code read by a shop and the fault code was (021) 15 Hydraulic Pump Relay, Activation. Apparently this error is stored 41 times in the cpu.
I don't know what to think, as soon as they erase the code, the light went off and so far hasn't turn on yet.
Before changing the relay I did a SMG reset by pulling the two flaps and disconnected the battery. Probably then the errors stored were erased?
I then changed the relay but the light was still on. I probably should have disconnected the battery again then.
any suggestion?

Mallee · 05-30-2012, 08:32 PM

I don't believe that pulling the battery will reset codes.. (I've never heard of it being that easy with an air bag code.)

And I'm not sure exactly what you did with the "SMG reset" but it sounds like the one that is supposed to be done at 40kph.. and that does not reset any codes, it just get is to reset it's shifting data to default.

mcmcgnns · 12-01-2012, 06:33 PM

Did the relay ultimately solve your issue? I have precisely the same occurrence and swapped the relay and cleared the code. I am hopeful that your equivalent symptoms were resolved with the relay replacement.

roadtrip1098 · 12-02-2012, 11:27 AM

Make sure your battery is fully charged. That can cause a bunch of codes for the SMG yet the car will drive fine. It can also fry that new $20 relay you bought. Odds are the car's never had a new battery and it's getting to be that time.

Other things to check - SMG Hyd. Fluid lever (covers near the intake manifold). Check to make sure all doors, trunk and hood are completely closed. Drive in S3-S6 and see if you notice any weird delays in shifting. Most problems don't really present in drivability issues unless you are in S5 or S6. As another member said, get your codes read and report back. We'll be able to tell more from there.

roadtrip1098 · 12-02-2012, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mallee

I don't believe that pulling the battery will reset codes.. (I've never heard of it being that easy with an air bag code.)

And I'm not sure exactly what you did with the "SMG reset" but it sounds like the one that is supposed to be done at 40kph.. and that does not reset any codes, it just get is to reset it's shifting data to default.

Airbags, because we like cars to be a PITA, run on a separate module so they don't reset with the rest of the codes.

Zenocchio · 12-02-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmcgnns

Did the relay ultimately solve your issue? I have precisely the same occurrence and swapped the relay and cleared the code. I am hopeful that your equivalent symptoms were resolved with the relay replacement.

Once swapped the relay and cleared the code I haven't had any problem.

mcmcgnns · 12-02-2012, 06:38 PM

Good to hear - to above, battery is behaving appropriately both (via MM readings) with and without a load. The error was precisely as above computer shows error 15 SMG relay implausible value or some such gibberish. To the OP the windows can be reindexed by going from top position to bottom and back up (relearning position) - once indexed the universal switch should behave properly. I assume you figured this out given the age of the thread but I noticed the question wasn't addressed.

Thanks again - I think I am in good shape.

05-17-2012, 09:19 PM	#1
Zenocchio Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 109 My Ride: M3 vert e46 SMG View My Garage	another SMG light thread :facepalm: I am sorry to bother the forum with another SMG light thread, but here are the facts: this morning I was driving in A3 and the SMG light came up on my dash. I got the car just 3 weeks ago, and nothing came out during the PPI related to the transmission. Bottom line, I tried to reset it today unsuccessfully performing the following: 1 - Disconnected the battery for 2 hours, the only thing that I manage to do is resetting the clock 2 - Resetting the SMG by going in N and pulling both flaps for more than 5s in a speed >80km/h, nothing happened, but now it shifts less harsher 3 - I invested 20$ and bought a new pink relay, nothing happened. I must say that the car drives fine, if it wasn't for the light on that bothers me I would never feel any trouble. On a side note, since I disconnected the battery my front windows only roll up with their own independent switch, but all 4 windows go down by pressing the common switch. I just spent thousands to buy it, and I'm feeling pretty bad right now...

12-01-2012, 06:33 PM	#11
mcmcgnns Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Memphis Posts: 5 My Ride: 2004 325i View My Garage	Follow Up Did the relay ultimately solve your issue? I have precisely the same occurrence and swapped the relay and cleared the code. I am hopeful that your equivalent symptoms were resolved with the relay replacement.

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05-17-2012, 10:12 PM	#2
BWOODM3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Brentwood, CA Posts: 380 My Ride: 2002 M3 convertible View My Garage	So the light is currently on but still drives? Does the gear selector on the dash blink?

05-17-2012, 10:30 PM	#3
Zenocchio Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 109 My Ride: M3 vert e46 SMG View My Garage	No blinking, light on and the car just drives fine

05-18-2012, 11:53 AM	#4
mooninite Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 377 My Ride: M3, 325i View My Garage	Get your codes read. /thread OBD2 readers may not tell you anything. Find someone in your area with the INPA or DIS BMW software. Or pay your dealer an hour labor for them to read it.

05-21-2012, 07:14 PM	#5
Zenocchio Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 109 My Ride: M3 vert e46 SMG View My Garage	Could it be a worn clutch? what are the signs of a worn clutch on an SMG transmission?

05-21-2012, 07:29 PM	#6
e46built Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: new york Posts: 195 My Ride: 325ci View My Garage	It might be one of the pumps because mine did the samething

05-22-2012, 03:47 PM	#8
e46built Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: new york Posts: 195 My Ride: 325ci View My Garage	Because mine did the same the light turned off but would drive normal and i took it to get it checked at the dealer and they told me it was one of the pumps

05-30-2012, 08:15 PM	#9
Zenocchio Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 109 My Ride: M3 vert e46 SMG View My Garage	Problem solved, or at least postponed. today I invested 40$ and got my code read by a shop and the fault code was (021) 15 Hydraulic Pump Relay, Activation. Apparently this error is stored 41 times in the cpu. I don't know what to think, as soon as they erase the code, the light went off and so far hasn't turn on yet. Before changing the relay I did a SMG reset by pulling the two flaps and disconnected the battery. Probably then the errors stored were erased? I then changed the relay but the light was still on. I probably should have disconnected the battery again then. any suggestion?

05-30-2012, 08:32 PM	#10
Mallee Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 392 My Ride: 2002 E46 M3 View My Garage	I don't believe that pulling the battery will reset codes.. (I've never heard of it being that easy with an air bag code.) And I'm not sure exactly what you did with the "SMG reset" but it sounds like the one that is supposed to be done at 40kph.. and that does not reset any codes, it just get is to reset it's shifting data to default.

12-02-2012, 11:27 AM	#12
roadtrip1098 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Winslow, ME Posts: 349 My Ride: 04 M3 SMG LSB View My Garage	Make sure your battery is fully charged. That can cause a bunch of codes for the SMG yet the car will drive fine. It can also fry that new $20 relay you bought. Odds are the car's never had a new battery and it's getting to be that time. Other things to check - SMG Hyd. Fluid lever (covers near the intake manifold). Check to make sure all doors, trunk and hood are completely closed. Drive in S3-S6 and see if you notice any weird delays in shifting. Most problems don't really present in drivability issues unless you are in S5 or S6. As another member said, get your codes read and report back. We'll be able to tell more from there.

12-02-2012, 06:38 PM	#15
mcmcgnns Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Memphis Posts: 5 My Ride: 2004 325i View My Garage	Good to hear - to above, battery is behaving appropriately both (via MM readings) with and without a load. The error was precisely as above computer shows error 15 SMG relay implausible value or some such gibberish. To the OP the windows can be reindexed by going from top position to bottom and back up (relearning position) - once indexed the universal switch should behave properly. I assume you figured this out given the age of the thread but I noticed the question wasn't addressed. Thanks again - I think I am in good shape.