Help! Check Engine Light For Gas Cap?? - BMW Forum

NMC BEAMER · 01-13-2005, 11:42 AM

Hi everyone,

I just became the 2nd owner of a 1999 BMW 323i.

I put gas in the car on Friday and didn't put the gas cap on right (yes i know I'm an idiot).
Anyway the check engine light came on Sunday and I took they ran a diagonostic test that came up with the codes:
p1478
p0441
I tightened the gas cap Tuesday after the guy said it was probably my gas cap. Filled the tank up Wednesday.
When the heck will this light go off?? Its now Thursday afternoon!!
Rather than to incur any more mechanic fees, can someone give some advice here? I have to get a smog check this weekend and it will fail until these codes clear the system...

Nicole

billB · 01-13-2005, 11:55 AM

If it didn't reset itself in 2 days you may have to reset it by a tool:

A. Go to autozone I heard they do it for free.
B. Any oil change place..Jeffy lubes etc has these tools.
C. You may get away with it by disconnecting your battery terminal for a while..doing this you may need a code for radio. Fault codes are stored in memory which have to be cleared by a reseting tool
good luck
biilb

NMC BEAMER · 01-13-2005, 11:57 AM

Won't the the codes still show up in the California smog check tho even if I reset??

peterkulesza · 01-13-2005, 03:18 PM

yes codes show up.. the problem is that you need a set number of start/stop cycles to clear codes, so this thing will linger for days.

delay your inspection for a week or two, the light and codes shoudl go away.

doughboyea · 01-14-2005, 11:18 PM

I say, just give it time, if your not due for an inspection anytime soon. Took my car one week before it turned itself off.

btw, sometimes, even after it cycles through the gas cap thing, it'll stay on because of something else, like for me, once, it was when the window washer fluid was low. After filling, it turned off.

Dough

falconx_X · 01-18-2005, 03:02 PM

it takes a few on/off cycles before the SES light turns off. However, to confirm that the problem was gas cap and it's fixed, take your car to autozone, and have them erase all the faults..

If they don't feel like erasing it, you can loan the tool from them and erase it yourself