3-Series (E36)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1992-1999. Autodoodad
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My check engine light came on today. It's only orange so I should be okay to drive. I checked in my owners manual and it said the check engine light comes on and that it is because of some part of the emissions sensors. Should I be worried? I have a call into the local BMW retailer to get it checked soon.
Mine came on this week too. Go to an Auto Zone and ask them to read out the codes from your OBDII. This will tell you what the problem may be. I think mine turned out to be just an oxygen sensor failure. I've ordered some new ones and I'm going to install next week.
Anyway, go to Auto Zone and have them read your OBDII for free, then come tell us what it says. Then someone else can help you from there, as I'm a new owner myself and this is the first time I'm working through the same problem too.
friends in this forum said that for as long as you dont have that rotten egg smell then it is more likely your oxygen sensor and not your $700 or so catalytic converter.
i dont know what your car is but if it is a 1996 or later model then you must have an OBDII which AutoZone can check for free. i heard it somewhere that they cannot do it on an OBDI. also, it would have two O2 sensors one before the cat and another after. AutoZone sells a bosch before cat sensor for $61.xx (plus $6 S&H) which is the cheapest i asked (sold online for $95). their after cat sensor is $138.xx. you'll be better off ordering online for $124.xx with free shipping.
oh, before i forget. check engine light turns on too if you have a loose gas cap or oil filler cap. this is US regulation requirement to ensure none of our cars evaporate harmful substances to our air.
Okay, here's the deal. The fault code is P1423. What that means, I don't know. Maybe you guys can help. The thing is, the readout on the diagnostic computer says Auxillary emissions control, manufacturer. In other words, it's not telling us the problem other than it is emissions related. I am going to have to find out through you guys, or the dealer. If you guys can find out, that would be awesome. The dealer here is huge and respected, but they don't return phone calls worth a damn.
this was posted on another forum. i'll just copy it in here and not say where it's from... don't want to the moderator to get upset at me for drawing others away from this forum : - )
your code P1423 is almost at the end. unfortunately, this is all the help i can provide. hopefully someone else out there knows how to fix this problem.
Evaporative System Monitoring for M52 TLEV Vacuum type only.
P0440 - Purge Function Plausibility
P0442 - Small leak detected
P0441 - no purge flow detected
P0446 - shut off valve stuck closed
P0445 - Large leak detected
P0440 - Purge valve stuck open
P0451 - fuel tank pressure sensor range and performance
P1403 - Evap Canister shut off valve and circuit
P0443 - Purge valve and circuit.
Secondary Air Injection Monitoring for M52 engines only.
P1453 - Secondary air pump electric pump.
P0412 - Secondary switching valve.
P1423 - Secondary air injection system bank 1
P1424 - secondary air injection system bank 2
Originally posted by camnipotent@May 14 2004, 02:58 PM Okay, here's the deal. The fault code is P1423. What that means, I don't know. Maybe you guys can help. The thing is, the readout on the diagnostic computer says Auxillary emissions control, manufacturer. In other words, it's not telling us the problem other than it is emissions related. I am going to have to find out through you guys, or the dealer. If you guys can find out, that would be awesome. The dealer here is huge and respected, but they don't return phone calls worth a damn.
you can actually go back to autozone (sorry for not letting you know earlier, i thought they would do this as a matter of course). they have this book for you to see (and probably take notes from) as to the possible causes of the code you got.
it will make you understand the fault better than just telling you its the effect - which is "Auxillary emissions control, manufacturer" it will list down possible causes like: O2 sensors fault, indication that gas cap is loose, etc...
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