EWS Input

[CHACHATTPRINT]

Hey Guys,
Anyone out there having the same problem I am having? My wife has a 98 Green ti automatic standard with NO Alarm system. We started getting Check Engine lights recently. Well, I own a Peake Research Tool and have been checking the reason why the Check Engine light is coming on and it is giving me a Code 94 EWS Input reading. The manual says it is EWS Input Drive Away Protection (Alarm System) Remember the car does not have an alarm. So does anyone have any ideas? I would like to disarm this Input as it is not needed. And I don't want to go to the dealer and spend needless money.
However, I am tried of the check engine light. The problem happens each time we unlock the doors on the car.
Thanks for your help!
CHA
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Black 97 ti Active 5 Speed (my car)
Green 98 ti standard auto (wife's car)

[yeehawbob]

Hey Cha,

I had the same problem and the same tool.
The function of the EWS is that the cars computer communicates with the key, via a small antena that is situated around the keyhole. This is so that someone else cannot start the car without the key that belongs to your particular car.

But the actual problem is not the EWS, as I found out after getting the car diagnosed at the local DINAN service place.
They offered to diagnose the car for $120, which was significantly less than the $tealer's $220.
Dinan gave me a list of things that are wrong with the SRS system (but as long as I do not get into a crash I am okay ) BUT the major problem is the "Camshaft Position sensor" that is malfunctioning.
DINAN is asking $236 to replace it $116 for the sensor and rest for labor.

I went to the $dealer and bought the sensor but ended up returning it as in order to replace it I have to take the intake manifold off. Something that I do not want to do myself.
So I am scheduled to take the car to DINAN so that they can replace the sensor for me.

[Jeff Spooner]

The EWS system is standard theft-deternent. Its only function is to kill the stater if the key does does not have the same code. IT uses a rolling code system w/ 30k codes, each time you start the car it rolls to next number. The problem with the tester you have is the code it shows is not always the correct one. As a indep. BMW shop we have several different tester. ON the 97' and newer cars the aftermarket testers can come up with wrong codes. Three or four times we have had cars that showed codes on our Snap-on or AST testers but when we use our GT1 (BMW factory tester) they come up as something different, most of the time it is the camshaft sensor code. Try to find a shop that has the GT1, it can save them and you a lot of time and money not chasing rabbits. there is a big gap in info between a tester that cost a couple hundred dollars and one that cost $18,000. The GT1 will tell how many times the code has set, the first second and last time it set w/ freeze frame data, miutes the codes set from present, and a test plan to check it. It makes my job a whole lot easier to fix cars right .

[yeehawbob]

Jeff, I was going to have my "camshaft sensor" replaced but all of a sudden the CEL went away and has been away since the 27th of Aug. The car is running okay but it feels that there is a lag in the acceleration.
This morning my instrument cluster and the On board computer shut down. Turns out that the #48 fuse had blown. There is another post in this section about fuel gauge going out of wack, and mine was doing the same this morning.
Can you suggest what could be the problem???