 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  10-08-2005, 08:45 PM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: STL Posts: 6 |  Check engine light / AutoZone won't read codes
Check engine light came on last night. No difference in the car, though it's been running kinda rough with infrequent (not smooth) exhaust. No difference in gas mileage or anything. Anyway, looked around the forums and seen that AutoZone checks the codes for free. Went there this morning and they told me the only place that can check those codes would be the dealership. Obviously they're full of crap but does anyone know if every AutoZone has the tools to read the codes or are these guys just idiots? The tool he brought out had the typical long, almost oval-shaped connector, I showed him the data connector dilly under the hood and he just looked at me funny... |  |  | | 10-08-2005, 09:59 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach area Posts: 1,189 |
Did you check your gas cap?
I remember one time i was driving and the check engine light came up.
It happened to be just a loose gas cap.
Hopefully your situation is as simple as that one.
-Randy __________________ 97 Jet Black 318ti Sport. Not so stock anymore!.... 
Now Featuring:318ti.org sticker  Now featuring: Hartge exhaust|Blacked out Grilles|Front Clear Corners or Ambers depending on how I feel|325is vented front brakes|Bilstein Sports|H&R Sports|E46 RSMs w/ Z3 reinforcment plates|16" Style 45s|17" E46 M68 rims|18" Authentic Hartge Classics C|OEM M135 ZHP wheels
and
99 Titan Silver 323is Dinan S1+few more mods
Coming sometime in the future:...SCed 2.1...new (to me) car mod maybe?...all in one car | | | | | 10-08-2005, 11:24 PM | #3 | | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Nashvegas Posts: 24 |
I have had no problems at all having my codes checked at Auto Zone. Might have been idiots working that day. | | | | | 10-09-2005, 01:31 AM | #4 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
if you have a 96 or later, the OBDII plug is under the dash (and the bmw specific plug is under the hood). have them try plugging into the OBDII port  __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 10-09-2005, 01:34 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 247 |
I have a 98ti ...my "check engine" light came on for no apparent reason. A day or two later I disconnected the battery to install a stereo. The check engine light went off and has not come back on since. I assume the two events are related, but I cannot be sure. Let us know what works. __________________ Silver 98 318ti Standard trans, Sport Package: 16" Stock Wheels, Foglamps, Sunroof, Heated Leather Seats, Bilstein performance shocks, OEM Sach's clutch kit, Dunlop SP Sport A2 225/50/16 tires, Alpine CDA 7894, Dual Rockford Fosgate 12" subs, Rockford Fosgate Amp, Leather Armrest, Replaced M44 engine with only 40k on it!
http://www.geocities.com/evalha/bmwsmaller.JPG | | | | | 10-14-2005, 08:13 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 225 |
Yes, it is true that when you disconnect the batery the CEL goes off but only the light. If you take a code reading tool and check the car, it is likely you will see a fault code. The light has not come on since then is because the problem you have is minor; the computer has yet realized it. Most of the time, the CEL relates to emission system, especially on the car with a bad Cat like ours. I am now driving with my CEL on, the Cat has died a few months ago, and I'm still looking for a good used cat. __________________
Love my ti | | | | | 10-14-2005, 12:47 PM | #7 | | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Nashvegas Posts: 24 |
I thought I read somewhere that if the problem is repaired or goes away that after two successful runs of the car the CEL will clear. Dont remember where I read that at. 96ti I can understand about the Cat. Mine went out this year and I was glad I was under that 80000 mile warranty thing because they told me the cat was 1300. That is just rediculous. | | | | | 10-21-2005, 07:17 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston MA Posts: 221 |
What?!! $1,300 for a Catalytic Converter. My goodness. I am scare now.
I have been driving the car with the check engine light on and ignoring it until the next state inspection to see if my car will pass the emission test or not. Probably by then I will be forced to shell out $1,300. __________________
1998 BMW 318ti M-Tech Sport Silver (Gone to member leeko617)
CURRENT: 2015 BMW X1, 2004 BMW 330ci Convertible, 1998 Porsche Boxster, 2001 BMW 525i Touring
GONE: 2000 Audi A4, 2002 VW Passat, 1985 VW Cabriolet | | | | | 10-21-2005, 08:24 PM | #9 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 89 | Cat Warranty
If you are driving a 98, check with the dealer right away, the warranty for the cat is 8 years and 80000 miles. I just had mine done a couple of months ago. Also, I occasionally have the CEL come on, usually from the gas cap, if I go to a full serve station they put the cap on wrong. | | | | | 10-25-2005, 12:21 AM | #10 | | Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 55 |
I don't know why the light is on. But, that is a really nice pic of your ti!! I just bought a 98ti. And it needs some serious attention. One item is the Cel, if you guys are right..I'm screwed! cause that cat is gonna take a good chunk of $$ that wants to go to other "ti" places. >:-# | | | | | 10-25-2005, 09:37 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston MA Posts: 221 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by Calgary98TI If you are driving a 98, check with the dealer right away, the warranty for the cat is 8 years and 80000 miles. I just had mine done a couple of months ago. Also, I occasionally have the CEL come on, usually from the gas cap, if I go to a full serve station they put the cap on wrong. | Thanks for pointing out the warranty issue. I am going to the dealership to see if mine is still under warranty. __________________
1998 BMW 318ti M-Tech Sport Silver (Gone to member leeko617)
CURRENT: 2015 BMW X1, 2004 BMW 330ci Convertible, 1998 Porsche Boxster, 2001 BMW 525i Touring
GONE: 2000 Audi A4, 2002 VW Passat, 1985 VW Cabriolet | | | | |
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