"Check Engine Soon" displayed

[cweeks]

2001 540I with 45K miles on it. Just got this "check engine soon" display. I am thinking this is a data link reset procedure to get rid of this annoyance??? Or is this a diagnostic that indicates something is amiss with the emissions stuff???

Should I ( and if so how) reset this warning???

[CosmosBlack]

You should get it read/checked to see what is wrong.
Defeats the purpose to just reset it, doesn't it?

[cweeks]

not sure how the software is designed--it could be that at routine intervals they post the message so you take the car back to the stealer.

[LOS]

Originally Posted by cweeks

not sure how the software is designed--it could be that at routine intervals they post the message so you take the car back to the stealer.

No, that's not the case!

There is a tool you can buy that reads the codes or take it to an autoparts store where they'll check it for you. It could be many things but this is for sure emissions related.
Did you overfilled the gas tank? check the gas cap? How's the car running?

LOS

[Alex MPower]

Los is right! Check the gas cap,when you close it you should hear a clic! My dad had this problem on his 2002 Toyota Rav4,and after closing the cap to first clic it worked!

[Eric S.]

Go to Autozone; they have a reader they will either use themselves or loan you for free that can read the OBD-II codes that has been triggered. This will give you a clue as to what's wrong. Once you've fixed what's wrong, you will need the dealer or a Peake type of tool to reset the code so your CEL turns off. There is also a way to do it without a tool, via jumping certain terminals on your diagnostic port, but it is rather risky to do and you can potentially screw up your ECM if you don't do it right.

[Ivan]

yeah check engine lights come on only for emissions related stuff

[Dirty_Tool]

Originally Posted by Eric S.

Go to Autozone; they have a reader they will either use themselves or loan you for free that can read the OBD-II codes that has been triggered. This will give you a clue as to what's wrong. Once you've fixed what's wrong, you will need the dealer or a Peake type of tool to reset the code so your CEL turns off. There is also a way to do it without a tool, via jumping certain terminals on your diagnostic port, but it is rather risky to do and you can potentially screw up your ECM if you don't do it right.

Jumping pins at the diagnostic connector will not clear a check engine or SES lamp. There are 2 pins at the diag connector you can jump for resetting the oil service or Inspection lights, but as Eric said, you risk causing damage to the Instrument cluster.

DT

[Eric S.]

Originally Posted by Dirty_Tool

Jumping pins at the diagnostic connector will not clear a check engine or SES lamp. There are 2 pins at the diag connector you can jump for resetting the oil service or Inspection lights, but as Eric said, you risk causing damage to the Instrument cluster.

DT

Sorry, thanks for the correction, DT. You are tha man.

Now if only you could tell me why my A/C compressor is rattling loudly, yet still cools the car wonderfully.

[Dirty_Tool]

Eric,
Make sure its not just the belt tensioner making noise and that its actually coming from the compressor. If it is there are products like BG's Frigi-quiet that you can add to the AC system to possibly quiet it down some. I just wouldnt buy a cheap auto-zone product, Id search online for either the BG stuff or similar professional grade additive.
DT

[cweeks]

Originally Posted by Dirty_Tool

Jumping pins at the diagnostic connector will not clear a check engine or SES lamp. There are 2 pins at the diag connector you can jump for resetting the oil service or Inspection lights, but as Eric said, you risk causing damage to the Instrument cluster.

DT

thanks for the response. Im an electrical guy so if you can tell me what pins need to be handled at the obd2 diag port it would help me when i do my oil changes. ive ordered a obd2 reader just to be sure. i really think the problem was the gas cap as the light has extinguished without any intervention other than normal gas fill ups.

[Dirty_Tool]

This is for 01 and later if you do NOT have the 20 pin round diagnostic connector under the hood

BMW insp. reset

- Iginition OFF (POS 0)

- Press and Hold the trip odometer button while turning key to position 1 (ACCESSORY)

- Keep the button depressed (about 5 secs.) until you see "Oil Service" or "Inspection" with "Reset" or "Re" in the display

- *Note: On vehicles with "High" cluster, you will also see the amount of fuel (in litres) remaining until next service

- Press the button again and hold for approx. 5 secs. until "Reset" or "Re" flashes

- While the display is flashing, briefly press the button again to reset the Service Interval. After the display has shown the new interval you should see "END SIA" for about 2 secs.

Note that if the "Reset" or "Re" does not flash, then you have not met the minimum consumption level and cannot reset.

Note: Instructions courtesy of www.bmwtips.com

[Teh Prof]

Originally Posted by Ivan

yeah check engine lights come on only for emissions related stuff

Well, not quite. My camshaft position sensor threw a CEL fault code too.

[cweeks]

DT-

Many thanks for the link. Just what I was looking for. What does "HIGH" cluster mean??? Higher vin's have different clusters???

[Dirty_Tool]

The "High" cluster is a higher line cluster with the matrix display which will give you warnings etc via text. A low cluster will have a pictogram of a car on it to show you warnings like "door open" or "tail light out" Most 540i's will have the high cluster while the 528i's will have the low cluster. The exception would be any 528i or any e39 for that matter with Navigation will definitley have a "high" cluster.
DT