Oil level switch BMW 3 SERIES 1988 E30 User Guide

REF•13
REF
Fault Finding
Automatic transmission
Note:Due to the complexity of the automatic transmission, it is
difficult for the home mechanic to properly diagnose and service this
unit. For problems other than the following, the vehicle should be
taken to a dealer or transmission specialist.
Fluid leakage
m mAutomatic transmission fluid is a deep red colour. Fluid leaks
should not be confused with engine oil, which can easily be blown
by airflow onto the transmission.
m mTo pinpoint a leak, first remove all built-up dirt and grime from the
transmission housing with degreasing agents and/or by steam-
cleaning. Then drive the vehicle at low speed, so airflow will not
blow the leak far from its source. Raise the vehicle and determine
where the leak is coming from. Common areas of leakage are:
a) Transmission sump (Chapters 1 and 7B)
b) Filler pipe (Chapter 7B)
c) Transmission fluid cooler lines (Chapter 7B)
d) Speedometer sensor (Chapter 7B)
Transmission fluid brown, or has a burned smell
m mTransmission fluid burned; fluid should be changed. May indicate
transmission internal fault (Chapters 1 and 7B).
Transmission will not kickdown with accelerator
pedal pressed to the floor
m mKickdown cable out of adjustment (Chapter 7B).
General shift mechanism problems
m
mChapter 7B deals with checking and adjusting the shift linkage on
automatic transmissions. Common problems which may be
attributed to poorly-adjusted linkage are:
a) Engine starting in gears other than Park or Neutral.
b) Indicator on selector lever pointing to a gear other than the one
actually being used.
c) Vehicle moves when in Park.
m mRefer to Chapter 7B for the shift linkage adjustment procedure.
Engine will start in gears other than Park or Neutral
m
mInhibitor switch malfunctioning (Chapter 7B).
Transmission slips, shifts roughly, is noisy, or has
no drive in forward or reverse gears
m mThere are many probable causes for the above problems, but the
home mechanic should be concerned with only one possibility -
fluid level. Before taking the vehicle to an automatic transmission
specialist, check the level and condition of the fluid as described in
Chapter 1. Correct the fluid level as necessary, or change the fluid
if needed. If the problem persists, have a professional diagnose the
probable cause.
Manual transmission
Vibration
m mDamaged propeller shaft (Chapter 8).
m mOut-of-round tyres (Chapter 1).
m mTyre out-of-balance (Chapters 1 and 10).
m mWorn propeller shaft universal joint (Chapter 8).
Noisy in neutral with engine running
m
mWorn clutch release bearing (Chapter 8).
m mWorn transmission input shaft bearing (Chapter 7A).
Noisy in one particular gear
m
mDamaged or worn constant-mesh gears.
m mDamaged or worn synchronisers.
Noisy in all gears
m
mInsufficient lubricant (Chapter 1).
m mDamaged or worn bearings.
m mWorn or damaged input gear shaft and/or output gear shaft.
Slips out of gear
m
mWorn or incorrectly-adjusted linkage (Chapter 7A).
m mTransmission-to-engine mounting bolts loose (Chapter 7A).
m mShift linkage binding (Chapter 7A).
m mWorn shift fork (Chapter 7A).
Leaks lubricant
m
mExcessive amount of lubricant in transmission (Chapters 1 and 7A).
m mLoose or broken input shaft bearing retainer (Chapter 7A).
m mInput shaft bearing retainer O-ring and/or lip seal damaged
(Chapter 7A).

REF•26Index
E
Earth check - 12•2
Electric fan - 3•4
Electric shock - 0•5
Electric windows - 12•9
Electrical equipment - REF•2
Electrical system fault finding - 12•1
Electronic control system - 4•3, 4•14
Electronic control unit (ECU) - 6•1
Engine fault finding - REF•10
Engine tune-up - 1•7
Engine electrical systems- 5•1et seq
Engine electrical systems fault finding -
REF•11
Engine management and emission control
systems- 6•1et seq
Engine oil - 1•3, 1•7, 1•11
Environmental considerations - REF•8
Evaporative emissions control (EVAP)
system - 1•26, 6•5
Evaporator - 3•10
Exhaust emission checks - REF•4
Exhaust manifold - 2A•6
Exhaust system - 1•21, 4•20, REF•3
F
Fan - 3•4, 3•5
Fault finding- REF•9et seq
Fault finding - automatic transmission -
7B•2, REF•13
Fault finding - braking system - REF•14
Fault finding - clutch - REF•12
Fault finding - cooling system - REF•12
Fault finding - electrical system - 12•1,
REF•11
Fault finding - engine - REF•10
Fault finding - fuel system - 4•21, REF•12
Fault finding - manual transmission -
REF•13
Fault finding - suspension and steering -
REF•15
Filling - 11•3
Final drive - 8•2, 8•10, 8•11
Final drive oil - 1•3, 1•19, 1•26
Fire - 0•5
Flexible coupling - 8•7
Fluid level checks - 1•7
Fluid seals - 7B•5
Flywheel - 2A•18
Fuel and exhaust systems- 1•20, 4•1et
seq,REF•4
Fuel system fault finding - REF•12
Fuel filter - 1•25
Fuel hoses - 1•14
Fuel injection system - 4•3, 4•14
Fuel injection system - fault finding - 4•21
Fuel injectors - 4•18
Fuel level sender unit - 4•5, 4•6
Fuel lines and fittings - 4•7
Fuel pressure - 4•3
Fuel pressure regulator - 4•16
Fuel pump - 4•3, 4•4, 4•5
Fuel tank - 4•7, 4•8
Fume or gas intoxication - 0•5
Fuses - 12•2
G
Gaiters - 1•22, 8•9, 10•13
Gashes in bodywork - 11•2
Gaskets - REF•8
Gear lever - 7A•1
Gearbox - SeeManual transmission
Gearbox oil - 1•3, 1•19, 1•25
General engine overhaul procedures-
2B•1et seq
Glass - 11•4, 11•8
Glossary of technical terms - REF•20
Grille - 11•4
H
Handbrake - 1•23, 9•2, 9•12, REF•1
Handbrake fault - REF•14
Handles - 11•8
Hazard warning flasher - 12•2
HC emissions - REF•4
Headlights - 12•3, 12•5, 12•6
Heated rear window - 12•8
Heater - 3•2, 3•7, 3•8
Hinges - 11•4
HT leads - 1•18
Hubs - 10•8, 10•11, REF•3
Hydraulic servo - 9•11
Hydraulic tappets - 2B•11
Hydrofluoric acid - 0•5
I
Idle air stabiliser valve - 4•18
Idle speed adjustment - 1•15
Ignition coil - 5•5
Ignition control unit - 5•6, 5•7
Ignition sensors - 5•8
Ignition switch - 12•3
Ignition system - 5•3
Ignition timing - 5•4
Ignition timing sensors - 6•4
Impulse generator - 5•6, 5•7
In-car engine repair procedures- 2A•1et
seq
Indicators - 12•2, 12•3
Information sensors - 6•2
Injectors - 4•18
Input shaft - 7A•2
Instrument cluster - 12•4
Instrument panel language display - 0•7
Intake manifold - 2A•4
Intermediate shaft - 2A•12, 2B•14, 2B•19
Introduction to the BMW 3- and 5-Series -
0•4
J
Jacking - 0•8
Joint mating faces - REF•8
Jump starting - 0•9
K
Kickdown cable - 7B•3
L
L-Jetronic fuel injection system - 4•14,
4•19
Language display - 0•7
Latch - 11•8
Leaks - 0•10, 7B•3, REF•12, REF•13
Locknuts, locktabs and washers - REF•8
Locks - 11•4, 11•8
Lubricants - REF•18
M
Main bearings - 2B•17, 2B•19
Manifolds - 2A•4, 2A•6
Manual transmission- 7A•1et seq
Manual transmission fault finding - REF•13
Manual transmission oil - 1•3, 1•19, 1•25
Master cylinder - 8•3, 9•9
Mechanical fan - 3•4, 3•5
Mirrors - 11•8, REF•1
Misfire - REF•11
Mixture - REF•4
MOT test checks- REF•1 et seq
Motronic engine management system -
6•1
Motronic fuel injection system - 4•14, 4•19
Mountings - 2A•19, 7A•3
O
Oil - differential - 1•19, 1•26
Oil - engine - 1•3, 1•7, 1•11
Oil - final drive - 1•3
Oil - manual transmission - 1•3, 1•19, 1•25
Oil filter - 1•11, 1•12
Oil pump - 2A•16
Oil seals - 2A•12, 2A•13, 2A•19, 2B•20,
7A•2, 7B•5, 8•10, 8•12, REF•8
Open-circuit - 12•2
Output shaft - 7A•2, 7B•5
Overcooling - REF•12
Overheating - REF•12
Oxygen sensor - 6•2
P
Pads - 9•2, 9•3
Pedals - 8•3, 9•13
Pinion oil - 8•12
Pinking - REF•11
Piston rings - 2B•18
Pistons - 2B•12, 2B•16, 2B•21
Plastic components - 11•3
Poisonous or irritant substances - 0•5
Position sensors - 5•8
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV)
system - 6•4
Power steering - 1•14, 10•15, 10•16
Power steering fluid - 1•12
Propeller shaft - 8•2, 8•6, 8•8
Pulse sensor - 5•8
Purge valve - 6•5