Is my transfer case bad?

BurningRubber92 · 11-26-2022, 06:34 PM

After driving on the highway I am getting a yellow break light and 4x4 light. If I turn off the car and remove the key the lights will go away when I start it up next. Had the dealer look at it and said I needed a new transfer case ($4000). I have ISTA and am reading the following codes.

0055C3 - VTG: AWD limp-home control activated. No DSC specified nominal torque
0054C8 - VTG: Classification resistor
005EC0 - DSC: steering angle sensor adjustment

Originally thought it was the transfer case servo motor so I replaced it and reset the adaption in ISTA. Still getting the same errors. Going to change the transfer case fluid to see if that does anything, but it did not look bad when replacing the servo motor.

ISTA is saying there is a communication problem with the VTG control unit.

The 4 wheel drive works after startup until the codes come on and they only pop up when driving on the highway. Around town it works fine, after driving about 5 miles on the highway the codes come up. So im not sure if it would be the Transfer Case itself or maybe the control unit?

As far as I can tell the only thing happening is im loosing AWD drive and only using RWD, but this also disables my cruise control which is annoying. Any input would be helpful, im hoping to get the AWD working for the winter, but don't want to spend $2k on a transfer case.

335i54n · 11-26-2022, 08:23 PM

yeah likely, you put a new motor and it still cant adapt to its calculate specs because it too worn

Suvorovo · 11-29-2022, 07:24 AM

How many miles were on your transfer case when it failed? Did you change the oil at all?

My TC oil was changed at 95k. Also hoping it doesn't fail.

BurningRubber92 · 11-29-2022, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suvorovo

How many miles were on your transfer case when it failed? Did you change the oil at all?

My TC oil was changed at 95k. Also hoping it doesn't fail.

It's been going on since under 75k, currently have 85k on it. I'm waiting on fcpeuro to send me new tc oil to see if that fixes it. I bought the car used so I doubt it was ever changed. It's just strange that it works fine if I drive under 40 around town but once I'm on the highway for a few miles it fails.

Suvorovo · 11-30-2022, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningRubber92

It's been going on since under 75k, currently have 85k on it. I'm waiting on fcpeuro to send me new tc oil to see if that fixes it. I bought the car used so I doubt it was ever changed. It's just strange that it works fine if I drive under 40 around town but once I'm on the highway for a few miles it fails.

Make sure to reset oil wear in ISTA+ or maybe INPA if your version has it.

jadams161 · 12-06-2022, 08:27 AM

If the steering angle sensor is bad or lost calibration then the car shuts off DSC and you get the 4x4 warning and limp home..You need to make sure the SAS is working and communicating with the DSC module. Protools or ISTA is needed to check this.

BurningRubber92 · 12-08-2022, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadams161

If the steering angle sensor is bad or lost calibration then the car shuts off DSC and you get the 4x4 warning and limp home..You need to make sure the SAS is working and communicating with the DSC module. Protools or ISTA is needed to check this.

I wish I saw this earlier! Spent so many hours trying to figure this out. Did a transfer case fluid change today, reset the calibration in ISTA and the error came back. Eventually checked the steering wheel calibration and the angle was off by about 10-13 degrees when the wheel was straight. Recalibrated the steering wheel and boom lights off! Drove for about 20 miles and they did not come back on. Going to test it tomorrow on a long (hour+) drive and hopefully it stays off.

PS. Im not sure if the actuator motor was bad, but the calibration was way off (1000 degrees). After installing the new motor it stays between 110 and 160 degrees.

This is also my first time using ISTA so took much longer than it should. Great and simple program to use and saved me hundreds in programing costs.

Kicks197 · 03-24-2023, 07:54 PM

If you do end up needing a new TC. I had mine replaced in my e90 328ix for about $700. I had a used TC with 90k miles and a trusted euro shop install it. Labor was about half of the cost. Goodluck

11-26-2022, 06:34 PM	#1
BurningRubber92 New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 328xi Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Is my transfer case bad? After driving on the highway I am getting a yellow break light and 4x4 light. If I turn off the car and remove the key the lights will go away when I start it up next. Had the dealer look at it and said I needed a new transfer case ($4000). I have ISTA and am reading the following codes. 0055C3 - VTG: AWD limp-home control activated. No DSC specified nominal torque 0054C8 - VTG: Classification resistor 005EC0 - DSC: steering angle sensor adjustment Originally thought it was the transfer case servo motor so I replaced it and reset the adaption in ISTA. Still getting the same errors. Going to change the transfer case fluid to see if that does anything, but it did not look bad when replacing the servo motor. ISTA is saying there is a communication problem with the VTG control unit. The 4 wheel drive works after startup until the codes come on and they only pop up when driving on the highway. Around town it works fine, after driving about 5 miles on the highway the codes come up. So im not sure if it would be the Transfer Case itself or maybe the control unit? As far as I can tell the only thing happening is im loosing AWD drive and only using RWD, but this also disables my cruise control which is annoying. Any input would be helpful, im hoping to get the AWD working for the winter, but don't want to spend $2k on a transfer case. Last edited by BurningRubber92; 11-26-2022 at 06:37 PM.. Reason: typos
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11-26-2022, 08:23 PM	#2
335i54n Lieutenant 285 Rep 515 Posts Drives: e90 335i, e39 m5 Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: socal iTrader: (0)	yeah likely, you put a new motor and it still cant adapt to its calculate specs because it too worn
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11-29-2022, 07:24 AM	#3
Suvorovo Lieutenant 254 Rep 501 Posts Drives: Broken e90 330xi 6MT Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	How many miles were on your transfer case when it failed? Did you change the oil at all? My TC oil was changed at 95k. Also hoping it doesn't fail.
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12-06-2022, 08:27 AM	#6
jadams161 First Lieutenant 169 Rep 335 Posts Drives: 2009 E93 335i. 2011 E90 328xi Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Upstate New York iTrader: (1)	If the steering angle sensor is bad or lost calibration then the car shuts off DSC and you get the 4x4 warning and limp home..You need to make sure the SAS is working and communicating with the DSC module. Protools or ISTA is needed to check this.
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03-24-2023, 07:54 PM	#8
Kicks197 Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: Bmw 328ix e90 Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: Minnesota iTrader: (0)	If you do end up needing a new TC. I had mine replaced in my e90 328ix for about $700. I had a used TC with 90k miles and a trusted euro shop install it. Labor was about half of the cost. Goodluck
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