Drive train malfunction error message

John Meyer Guest	Drive train malfunction error message Mar 28, 2018 18:08:06 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by on Mar 28, 2018 18:08:06 GMT -5 Sometimes I get a "drivetrain malfuction take in for service soon". Next day the error is gone. When I take it in for service will they say no trouble found without the error message? What could be causing this?

Kris

BMW i Owner Moderator

BMW i3 REx Owner
Electric Miles: 145000

Drive train malfunction error message Mar 29, 2018 22:04:43 GMT -5

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Post by Kris on Mar 29, 2018 22:04:43 GMT -5

Mar 28, 2018 18:08:06 GMT -5 John Meyer said:

Sometimes I get a "drivetrain malfuction take in for service soon". Next day the error is gone. When I take it in for service will they say no trouble found without the error message? What could be causing this?

Hi John,

Depending on the age of the car, it could be moisture in the HV cables. It's worth taking it in and having the service advisor pull any codes from the key.

Kris

13 REx--2017 15,000 miles
330e --2017 9,500 mile (daughter's)

I3 REx -- 2014 41,191 miles (was hers, now his) RIP
RAV4EV -- 47,500 miles (his) RIP
Active E--26 months, 28,000 miles RIP

afadeev

Giga Contributor

Drive train malfunction error message Mar 30, 2018 17:12:30 GMT -5

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Post by afadeev on Mar 30, 2018 17:12:30 GMT -5

Mar 28, 2018 18:08:06 GMT -5 John Meyer said:

Sometimes I get a "drivetrain malfuction take in for service soon". Next day the error is gone. When I take it in for service will they say no trouble found without the error message? What could be causing this?

Your dealer is being lazy.
Even though the light is not ON, the fault code is store with the onboard computer. They can definitely find it.

The other problem is identifying the root cause, and addressing it.
i3's are notorious for unexplained "drivetrain" and "lighting system" malfunction errors that pop up, then go away on their own.

I used to worry about them with my first i3-REX.
With my second i3-BEV, "drivetrain" malfunction errors went away, but "lighting system failure" errors still pop up every time I have to do emergency/ABS breaking. Like clockwork. Then they go away.

I'm just ignoring them now.
That's not to say you should do the same, as they may be indicative of some major issue with your car. But I just gave up trying to get my dealer to diagnose them, since they never know what caused them.

Good luck!

a

__________________
'17 I01 i3-BEV (PB/DD)
'15 F80 M3 (SO/SS)
ex-'14 I01 i3-REX (LG/SG) - 25.7K miles

Post by on Mar 28, 2018 18:08:06 GMT -5

Post by Kris on Mar 29, 2018 22:04:43 GMT -5

Post by afadeev on Mar 30, 2018 17:12:30 GMT -5