 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 409,706 Views | | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 3,424 Views | | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,344 Views | |  |  |  | |  03-27-2007, 08:33 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 |  Help me out homies.
I was driving through the city today and my check engine light came on. As I was in traffic, I had to keep driving a little more (I knew the oil was good, so I wasn't too worried) and it died in the road. I was able to get it off onto a side road and pop the hood. I noticed the cover where the diagnostic computer hooks up was off. I put it back on and started the car. It died one more time before I got home, but after that it drove the last 10 miles just fine. The check engine light is still on. Any ideas? Could driving with the diagnostic cap off cause these problems? There are a couple metal pins in the cap, so I figure those connections are important. I think the car is okay now, but does anyone know how to get the check engine light to go out? Thanks. __________________ ...
ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ |  |  | | 03-27-2007, 08:37 PM | #2 | | doesn't care about you. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 3,925 |
Quote: Originally Posted by b.u.ti-ful  I was driving through the city today and my check engine light came on. As I was in traffic, I had to keep driving a little more (I knew the oil was good, so I wasn't too worried) and it died in the road. I was able to get it off onto a side road and pop the hood. I noticed the cover where the diagnostic computer hooks up was off. I put it back on and started the car. It died one more time before I got home, but after that it drove the last 10 miles just fine. The check engine light is still on. Any ideas? Could driving with the diagnostic cap off cause these problems? There are a couple metal pins in the cap, so I figure those connections are important. I think the car is okay now, but does anyone know how to get the check engine light to go out? Thanks. | Sounds like a cam positioning sensor. Have the codes read. __________________ 
'99 Dinan M3 | | | | | 03-27-2007, 09:47 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 |
How did the cover get off in the first place? How long was the cover off? Wouldn't this problem have occured sooner, if the cover was off for an extended amount of time? I once noticed the same thing about the cover, it has connecting pins. There are easy fix ways to clear the codes, but to read them would require some diagnostic tool. Quote: Originally Posted by b.u.ti-ful I was driving through the city today and my check engine light came on. As I was in traffic, I had to keep driving a little more (I knew the oil was good, so I wasn't too worried) and it died in the road. I was able to get it off onto a side road and pop the hood. I noticed the cover where the diagnostic computer hooks up was off. I put it back on and started the car. It died one more time before I got home, but after that it drove the last 10 miles just fine. The check engine light is still on. Any ideas? Could driving with the diagnostic cap off cause these problems? There are a couple metal pins in the cap, so I figure those connections are important. I think the car is okay now, but does anyone know how to get the check engine light to go out? Thanks. | __________________ 
1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd
OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | | | 03-27-2007, 10:03 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 |
I don't know how it came off or how long it has been off. I did the paper clip reset a few months ago and this is my "spare" car, so I haven't ridden it much since then. I may have forgotten to put it back on at that time. __________________ ...
ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | | | 03-28-2007, 03:01 AM | #5 | | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 23 |
boo, my check engine light just came on too.  | | | | | 04-05-2007, 03:37 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | lights out
I started my car yesterday and the check engine light went out. My guess is, after the computer got enough normal readings after I put the cap back on (about five rides) it turned the light off. __________________ ...
ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | | | 04-05-2007, 07:59 PM | #7 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
So that's it, you're just going to leave it at that? If I were you, I'd seriously be concerned and have the codes read. Autozone will loan you the scan tool for free, all you have to do is leave a deposit. Your car's trying to tell you something, I wouldn't ignore it. The codes are stored in the computer's memory until they are cleared regardless if the CEL is on or off. BTW, the Autozone scanner allows you to clear the codes and reset the CEL. | | | | | 04-05-2007, 09:25 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | Thanks
Thanks! I didn't know Autozone did that. I'm always spending money there any way. I'll check it out. __________________ ...
ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | | | 04-06-2007, 12:57 AM | #9 | | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 23 |
I took my car in and had the code checked out, and apparently the engine light came on because the gas cap wasn't tight enough. my boyfriend filled my tank and didn't close it all the way! $45 to clear the code.... so it's good to find out about autozone! | | | | | 04-06-2007, 01:32 AM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
Quote: Originally Posted by rgirl I took my car in and had the code checked out, and apparently the engine light came on because the gas cap wasn't tight enough. my boyfriend filled my tank and didn't close it all the way! $45 to clear the code.... so it's good to find out about autozone! | You can probably find a new boyfriend at autozone too.  __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 04-06-2007, 02:37 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | Thanks
Thanks! I didn't know Autozone did that. I'm always spending money there any way. I'll check it out. __________________ ...
ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | | | 04-06-2007, 02:45 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,625 |
CEL would have gone out on its own, I think, in a day or two.. Quote: Originally Posted by rgirl I took my car in and had the code checked out, and apparently the engine light came on because the gas cap wasn't tight enough. my boyfriend filled my tank and didn't close it all the way! $45 to clear the code.... so it's good to find out about autozone! | | | | | | 04-06-2007, 10:18 PM | #13 | | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 23 |
well, the boyfriend redeemed himself today by helping me push my car off the freeway after I heard a pop under the hood and it started smoking. it was leaking a bunch of coolant, so I had it towed to my mechanic.... just waiting to hear what the damage is. | | | | | 04-07-2007, 06:24 AM | #14 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
Quote: Originally Posted by rgirl well, the boyfriend redeemed himself today by helping me push my car off the freeway after I heard a pop under the hood and it started smoking. it was leaking a bunch of coolant, so I had it towed to my mechanic.... just waiting to hear what the damage is. | About $1600 if the headgasket went and the shop does the work, or about $25 if a hose blew off or one of the two notorious plastic coolant lines blew up and you do the work yourself. | | | | | 04-07-2007, 11:10 PM | #15 | | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 23 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cooljess76 About $1600 if the headgasket went and the shop does the work, or about $25 if a hose blew off or one of the two notorious plastic coolant lines blew up and you do the work yourself. | you were right, it was one of the plastic coolant lines that cracked. the shop fixed it but it's still overheating. they said it might be the thermostat, or something else... it's up to $450 so far. man, I really need to learn how to work on cars! | | | | | |
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