Limp mode ! HELP !

[E92_TYLER]

First thing this morning (cold start) car went immediately into limp mode, used my bluetooth code reader and saw no codes other than a 'pending' code which read
U0107 "Lost Communication With Throttle Actuator 'A' Control Module" .
After what ive seen i thought instantly it was throttle actuators, but now i am curious because usually U118 and P154E are the codes that come up when those fail.

Once i got to work i turned it off and back on again and it seemed fine, no lights or warnings appeared.

Anyone had this issue? or is this a warning that the actuators are 1 foot out the door?

[Route 16]

Interested to know too

[Patrón]

last year something similar happened to me and happened again on Tuesday. the common factor was my car hadn't been driven in three or four days (don't think this was the issue) and the temps outside were in the 20s.

both times I let the car idle for five to six minutes , restarted the car and everything was fine.

in OK, i'm sure you had similar temps as me down here. I think the cold weather has something to do with it. everything was ok for me today.

[EJT86]

Originally Posted by E92_TYLER

First thing this morning (cold start) car went immediately into limp mode, used my bluetooth code reader and saw no codes other than a 'pending' code which read
U0107 "Lost Communication With Throttle Actuator 'A' Control Module" .
After what ive seen i thought instantly it was throttle actuators, but now i am curious because usually U118 and P154E are the codes that come up when those fail.

Once i got to work i turned it off and back on again and it seemed fine, no lights or warnings appeared.

Anyone had this issue? or is this a warning that the actuators are 1 foot out the door?

Strictly basing this off my initial thoughts not experience on this happening but something to consider is maybe there isn’t a tight fitting on the plug on one of the actuators. I’ve heard this sometimes happens after replacing one and they don’t get plugged in tight enough

I don’t see this as a sign theyre going, I’ve had mine go and the only sign is just intermitten failures but the codes read as a failed actuator

[E92_TYLER]

Originally Posted by EJT86

Strictly basing this off my initial thoughts not experience on this happening but something to consider is maybe there isn’t a tight fitting on the plug on one of the actuators. I’ve heard this sometimes happens after replacing one and they don’t get plugged in tight enough

I don’t see this as a sign theyre going, I’ve had mine go and the only sign is just intermitten failures but the codes read as a failed actuator

Thanks for the insight!
Im not sure that they have been replaced before and neither did the previous owner (ive had it for about 2k miles) but I will drive it and see if anything comes back.

[E92_TYLER]

UPDATE !

After driving the last 2-3 days i have monitored it closely and haven't seen the issue again. It has been operating as normal so far..

[E92_TYLER]

UPDATE..

It has been exactly 1 week since this intially happened and its been fine since..
UNTIL this morning it did exactly the same thing. I drove a couple miles, pulled over and shut it off.

Checked codes and this time it set a hard fault for the
U0107 "Lost Communication With Throttle Actuator 'A' Control Module".

Restarted the car and it was out of limp mode but just the CEL was on now. Drove fine to work.

Ive tried to research this code and cant find anything on it from bmws.

This is the closest thing ive found, anyone have any ideas?
https://repairpal.com/OBD-II-Code-U0...control-module
At this point i may pull the intake and check all the connections to the TA's.

[swhat]

Possiby failed throttle actuator circuit board. Replace TA to check for problems?

[E92_TYLER]

UPDATE..

Hasn't happened for awhile now but once again, cold start on my way to work same thing again.

[Iyzmi]

You are overthinking this. Replace the throttle actuators.

[E92_TYLER]

Originally Posted by Iyzmi

You are overthinking this. Replace the throttle actuators.

Yea im going to order some here in the next week or so.

[Dave07997S]

I am 99% sure its the TAs. I see its a 2009 M3, how many miles?

Dave

[E92_TYLER]

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

I am 99% sure its the TAs. I see its a 2009 M3, how many miles?

Dave

Yea im guessing so as well, i will replace them soon.
I just rolled 53,000 miles.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by E92_TYLER

Yea im guessing so as well, i will replace them soon.
I just rolled 53,000 miles.

i'm at 70k and it's happened twice (Dec '16 and Dec '17) on days where temps were in the 20s or 30s in my parking garage at work.

what were your tempatures when it happened most recently? I go agree with the guys that posted to replace that actuator but if it's only in below average temps, perhaps the ecu is picking up the slightest variance and throwing the code. especially since restart makes the issue go away. just my $.02

[E92_TYLER]

Originally Posted by Patrón

i'm at 70k and it's happened twice (Dec '16 and Dec '17) on days where temps were in the 20s or 30s in my parking garage at work.

what were your tempatures when it happened most recently? I go agree with the guys that posted to replace that actuator but if it's only in below average temps, perhaps the ecu is picking up the slightest variance and throwing the code. especially since restart makes the issue go away. just my $.02

Exactly my thoughts thats why i havent replaced them yet, also same thing with only happening on days where is below freezing.
I have never received a true TA failed fault code just the one listed above.
I may ride it out till summer and see if it returns, if so ill replace them.

[8500RPM]

These cars seem to be sensitive to the weather. My 2012 49k miles acts funny when it gets cold too. I'm talking 40-50*F weather though

[usu335i]

I had this happen to me twice about two weeks ago as well. Same code too. I live in Utah and it's kind of cold here right now.

What I think was causing the code and limp mode was a dying battery. I replaced/registered the battery and haven't had any issues since.
How old is your battery?

[E92_TYLER]

Originally Posted by abdul28

Where do you live. If somewhere within a 3 to 4 hour flight from Michigan, my friend (bmw master mechanic) can fly down and do replace TA's for you. Don't waste your time and money going to the stealerships. He's done as many as 8 for my friends here in the Midwest in the last year alone. He just replaced mine today and I told him I will connect him with other M family members in the country that need his service.

I can also repair your units with new gears and repair the circuit board. We just did it for my e92 m3. Lifetime warranty. So text me if you have any questions. I would gladly help a fellow M member.
7347304411. Thanks buddy.

Im in Tulsa, OK.
I appreciate it! I will keep you in mind if i decide to do it !

[E92_TYLER]

Originally Posted by usu335i

I had this happen to me twice about two weeks ago as well. Same code too. I live in Utah and it's kind of cold here right now.

What I think was causing the code and limp mode was a dying battery. I replaced/registered the battery and haven't had any issues since.
How old is your battery?

Not sure to be honest, purchased the car in November. I will run a load test on it and find out.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by usu335i

I had this happen to me twice about two weeks ago as well. Same code too. I live in Utah and it's kind of cold here right now.

What I think was causing the code and limp mode was a dying battery. I replaced/registered the battery and haven't had any issues since.
How old is your battery?

Originally Posted by E92_TYLER

Not sure to be honest, purchased the car in November. I will run a load test on it and find out.

Old batteries in these cars plays tons of tricks on us, I just wanted to mention that the first error in '16 was on a battery that was only two years old or so, the second time was on a batter that was only a month or two old, brand new oem agm battery.

[Iyzmi]

This is like two hours of labor...that would have to be a really cheap flight to make it worth your while.

[McGuiggsy]

Originally Posted by Patrón

Old batteries in these cars plays tons of tricks on us, I just wanted to mention that the first error in '16 was on a battery that was only two years old or so, the second time was on a batter that was only a month or two old, brand new oem agm battery.

Right, I think there's a lot of truth to this. If you comb the forums, this seems to be a pretty common issue. I just got done with my rod bearings where I removed the engine. The battery was dead dead dead when I pulled the engine, so after the engine was back in the car, I swapped the battery and came up with a similar issue where the car would crank, run up, idle for a second then shut itself off (not a stall, and active shutdown request). This only occurred on a cold start. Once the car was running, it would hot/warm restart correctly. However, after a long soak, back to crank, fire for a second, then shutdown.

If I disconnected the battery for ~5 minutes, I would be able to cold start the car without issue.

If you comb through the forums, you'll find that the 'lost communication code' is sometimes coupled with coolant temp sensor codes, cam shaft sensor codes, injector codes, U011E, U0107, U1136.

I just relearned the battery and the car still exhibits the same issue, and I'm running out of ideas, but have a hunch that part swapping won't fix this one. I think prodding modules will fix the problem, I just can't rationalize why.