Tugging or jerking feeling. Misfire? Transmission? Transfer case?

[Meehow]

Transfer case 100%. Change the fluid and run a calibration in ISTA

[markslc1]

I guess I'll start with plugs. Really hope it is not a transfer case. Any other tests to confirm?

[markslc1]

Originally Posted by Meehow

Transfer case 100%. Change the fluid and run a calibration in ISTA

Is there a diy somewhere for this?

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by markslc1

I guess I'll start with plugs. Really hope it is not a transfer case. Any other tests to confirm?

Sounds like misfire. You said you had old misfire codes too.
Just change your plugs first and go from there.

[markslc1]

Originally Posted by turboawd

Sounds like misfire. You said you had old misfire codes too.
Just change your plugs first and go from there.

No codes. So thinking it's something else

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by markslc1

No codes. So thinking it's something else

But you said it had those codes in the past?
Just change your plugs first. It's easy and cheap.
There's 2 plugs on transfer case. One to drain and another to fill. Takes less than a quart of fluid if I remember correctly. And it's expensive if you buy the fluid from a dealer. Supposedly it's a GL4 lubricant.

[Meehow]

Originally Posted by markslc1

I guess I'll start with plugs. Really hope it is not a transfer case. Any other tests to confirm?

yes, get underneath the car and disconnect the transfer case plug - fairly simple. I think you can do the same pulling fuses.

I would scan the car - if you don't have any misfire codes it's the transfer case for sure.

I had mine done at the dealer for $250 - fluid service with adaption reset at 60k miles. Has been fine ever since.

[menelaos]

Gotta check codes being fired first.
Could be ignition coils too. If one is bad, it causes headaches.
Changed mine preemptively to avoid any blinking CEL in future.

[markslc1]

Originally Posted by Meehow

yes, get underneath the car and disconnect the transfer case plug - fairly simple. I think you can do the same pulling fuses.

I would scan the car - if you don't have any misfire codes it's the transfer case for sure.

I had mine done at the dealer for $250 - fluid service with adaption reset at 60k miles. Has been fine ever since.

What does removing the transfer connector case do exactly?

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by markslc1

What does removing the transfer connector case do exactly?

hey, dont let the other guy scare you about the transfer case yet. i would think a bad transfer case would shudder at low speed turns. just get the plugs changed first. its a simple job. rule that out first.

[LocksmithNick]

The transfer case issues are mostly with 50i. Yours is probably just plugs.

[Meehow]

Originally Posted by markslc1

What does removing the transfer connector case do exactly?

It deactivates it. PM is you would like to chat further about it, might be easier to jump on a call. (will throw a code) but if you go drive it and the tugging is gone, you know the culprit is the transfer case.

I've chased the same symptoms for about 2 months - changed plugs/coils- did nothing. (dumb, because I didn't have codes, but all the experts on here believe that should be step 1 in diagnosing anything)

Once I did the fluid change and adaptation, it's smooth as butter.

[LocksmithNick]

Originally Posted by Meehow

It deactivates it. PM is you would like to chat further about it, might be easier to jump on a call. (will throw a code) but if you go drive it and the tugging is gone, you know the culprit is the transfer case.

I've chased the same symptoms for about 2 months - changed plugs/coils- did nothing. (dumb, because I didn't have codes, but all the experts on here believe that should be step 1 in diagnosing anything)

Once I did the fluid change and adaptation, it's smooth as butter.

Plugs can definitely give your car a sluggish feel when they need replaced, which is a similar feel (I think) to the transfer case issues. Regardless, both things probably need serviced on a 60k mile German vehicle.

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by turboawd

hey, dont let the other guy scare you about the transfer case yet. i would think a bad transfer case would shudder at low speed turns. just get the plugs changed first. its a simple job. rule that out first.

Was transfer case for me and only did it under harder (not excessive) acceleration.

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by LocksmithNick

The transfer case issues are mostly with 50i. Yours is probably just plugs.

Happened with my 35i

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by Meehow

It deactivates it. PM is you would like to chat further about it, might be easier to jump on a call. (will throw a code) but if you go drive it and the tugging is gone, you know the culprit is the transfer case.

I've chased the same symptoms for about 2 months - changed plugs/coils- did nothing. (dumb, because I didn't have codes, but all the experts on here believe that should be step 1 in diagnosing anything)

Once I did the fluid change and adaptation, it's smooth as butter.

This is what the dealer did for me, first replaced plugs and coils, still there. Disconnected the transfer case and issue went away. Things replaced under CPO. Symptoms were under semi-heavy acceleration the car would kind of buck or skip. It was bad enough the wife noticed it and she doesn't notice much when driving.

[markslc1]

So I'd like to start with the transfer case oil change. The change seems easy enough. But the resetting of adaptations would require some coding I believe. What is the most cost effective way to do that ? Carly?

[David3]

Not an F15, but the transfer case in my F10 needs to be changed as it exhibits the same described symptoms. Yes, unplug the electrical connector at the transfer case. You will get tons of warning lights, but ignore those and go for a drive. If the symptoms go away, it is the transfer case and an oil change will not fix the issue.

It is important to not mix and match tires front to back or simply replace tires on one axle at a time as the small change in diameter (front to back) plays havoc with these transfer cases.

Usually, you will get a whine as well as the jerking feeling. usually gets worse as the fluid temp rises.

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by markslc1

So I'd like to start with the transfer case oil change. The change seems easy enough. But the resetting of adaptations would require some coding I believe. What is the most cost effective way to do that ? Carly?

Why not the plugs? They are a wear item and who knows if the previous owner had a tune or a heavy foot and put some wear on the plugs..

[markslc1]

Originally Posted by Meehow

It deactivates it. PM is you would like to chat further about it, might be easier to jump on a call. (will throw a code) but if you go drive it and the tugging is gone, you know the culprit is the transfer case.

I've chased the same symptoms for about 2 months - changed plugs/coils- did nothing. (dumb, because I didn't have codes, but all the experts on here believe that should be step 1 in diagnosing anything)

Once I did the fluid change and adaptation, it's smooth as butter.

Crawled under the car to locate the TC plug and found this

View post on imgur.com

But I can't get my hand in there to pinch the connection. Any advice on getting it unhoooked?

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by markslc1

Crawled under the car to locate the TC plug and found this




But I can't get my hand in there to pinch the connection. Any advice on getting it unhoooked?

You'll have to remove the splash shield

[David3]

Originally Posted by David3

Not an F15, but the transfer case in my F10 needs to be changed as it exhibits the same described symptoms. Yes, unplug the electrical connector at the transfer case. You will get tons of warning lights, but ignore those and go for a drive. If the symptoms go away, it is the transfer case and an oil change will not fix the issue.

It is important to not mix and match tires front to back or simply replace tires on one axle at a time as the small change in diameter (front to back) plays havoc with these transfer cases.

Usually, you will get a whine as well as the jerking feeling. usually gets worse as the fluid temp rises.

I should probably clarify my previous post: For me, the jerking symptom (F10) happens while coasting, same with the whine. When my F10, 550i exhibited jerking on acceleration, it turned out to be a bad coil.