1995 318TI Auto Transmission Issues

[gusgriff]

Got a problem with a 1995 318TI Auto Transmission.  It has the M42 Engine and A4S-310R Transmission.

I pulled the engine and transmission to replace the engine and replaced the filter screen and seals in the transmission.  The Torque Converter was installed properly and filled with new fluid prior to placing in bell housing.  The transmission is full of new fluid.

When the car is first cranked, it may shift gear and operate as designed. After a short time if stopped and shifted out of the gear it will not shift back into gear. It gets stuck in what appears to be Neutral and will not  shift to other gears even though the shifter and Selector Lever are moving correctly.

I also discovered that if put in DRIVE and run 10-15 minutes the wheels are no longer driven. I do not know if it  slips out of gear and drops into NEUTRAL or whether the Torque Converter is still turning.  The transmission did not make a noise.  The increase in engine RPMs was the only indication something occurred.

I have talked to several people including BMW.  There are many opinions, Transmission Control Module, solenoids in the transmission, Shifter Cable/Selector Lever at transmission, Shift Interlock/Neutral Safety Switch Assembly.

I went to Pull-A-Part and got two Shift Interlock Switch Assemblies: one off a 1992 E36 and the other a 1997 E36 but I have not had

time to install.


NOTE:   Added Questions

I also found the 1997 still had a Transmission Control Module.  Per RealOEM our 1995 E36 used a Module called an AT-EGS control unit   CODE: KL Part No,24611421643. I am not sure whether the 1997 Module will work in the 1995. The 1997 Module has three labels. The label with the car's VIN is Part No.1423230 and 1423000 but the Bosch Label shows Part No.0260002477, 1423000 & GCD902971656 . The third label on the plastic connector has Part No.0260002477 & GCD9043985

The Fault Detection is ODB1. I do not have an ODBI Reader for Connector Port under the hood. I heard it is not reliable and per the Bentley there are more engine codes than transmission codes.  Can the codes be accessed any other way?  Someone told me there may be a rectangular Port under the dash on the driver side but the dash trim seems to need to be remove to look.

[MLM]

did you top up the trans with the car in the air and the wheels turning? I have seen this step in the manual and it appears to be so that the correct fluid level is achieved at opperating temp. Its possible you are starving the system of fluid as during opperation is pumps to various parts of the box reducing the level below the opperating level. Auto boxes i understand are not like the manual fill up once and all's well kind of deal.

[ti_tony]

The level drops when the car is running, there's no dip stick just a fill plug. Proper level is the bottom of the fill plug hole while car is warmed up and running. I used a small funnel connected to a hose with a helper pouring and me under the car. When filled slam the plug in, when you turn the car off the level will be above the hole.