Slipping tranny

[AspenSpencer]

My wife was driving my car yesterday (2002 330i steptronic/ sport pkg) and she was pulling off from a red light and she said it acted as if the transmission slipped two or three times over the course of a few seconds, not enough to even raise the RPM's. After extensive questioning, she described it as if the car slipped on a couple of small patches of ice. She said the traction indicator blinked for a second or two (like it would if the car was not getting traction). There was no ice or gravel on the road where this occured (50 degrees). I've driven the car 20- 30 miles since and it has been perfect. I read up on the "sliptronic" problem posted on the board and that seems to be a different issue (shifting from reverse to forward) and it appears the sliptronic problem has not been with the '02 models.
Has anyone heard of this? I don't know much about the inter workings of a transmission, but it seems this could be the beginning of something bad. Is it possible the computer just "farted" for a second or two and caused this isolated hic up and maybe this is nothing to be concerned about (please)? Whouldn't you know I just paid the darn thing off in October! Thnaks so much to everyone who is helpful and knows a lot more about these machines than I.

 

[Kirby]

If the traction indicator light came on, it is most likely NOT a transmission problem. For the traction light to come on, the computer has to sense that at least one of the wheels is spinning at a different speed than the others. These sensors are on the wheel hubs, so it must have REALLY spun the tire.

It could be caused by ice, snow or gravel on the road surface, but as you mentioned, apparently the road was clean. I have also seen this happen when you hit a pothole or a series of bumps in the road. The tire loses traction and spins slightly faster. You would hardly notice it, but the computer can sense it.

Or maybe your wife was street racing and burning out!

 

[nadroj]

it does sound like something with the traction control, maybe there was a little watter on the road from sprinklers, and the car would feel like how she discribed if the Tration control kicked in.

 

[AspenSpencer]

Sounds like my wife might be getting on the gas some... Hmmm, no wonder when she drives it, the radio is turned up. She drives an '03 Expedition that is like driving a school bus to me. She tells me how much she loves her "Bus", but she sure seems to enjoy my car when I am picking up the kids in her SUV.
Now that I've heard from ya'll, I bet she just hit the gas too hard and lost a little traction. Maybe it scared her a little and my original post was her version of a simple story of the way the car normally reacts! Damn women!

 

[nadroj]

... Damn women!

FOR REAL

 

[330i and like it]

I had a similar experience with my 2001, 330i. The air sensor needing replacing.

 

[AspenSpencer]

Upon further questioning, it has been determined my wife simply has a heavier foot than first realized. I was all worried about the car and you all armed me with enough information to ask all the right questions and get a confession. I went back to the area she was turning and there are a couple of small bumps. At times when I am accelerating from a stop (when I am getting on the car more than usual), the traction control indicator will sometimes blink if I go over uneven or a rough spot in the road. After having spent more time that I'd like in her Expedition in the past week, I can see how she could hit the gas too hard. Even if it WASN"T on purpose, it's hard to blame her- her Expedition is a DOG and getting behind the wheel of it is like taking a big dose of driving novicane. Thanks,