It's running a little hot!
100 miles into a drive to Dallas, the "Service Engine Soon" indicator light lit up. Being so early into the break-in period on the new engine (replaced in November) I decided that it was best to play it safe and return home.
When the OBD system determines that a problem exists, a corresponding "Diagnostic Trouble Code" is stored in the computer's memory. The computer also illuminates a yellow dashboard light indicating "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" or displays an engine symbol. This light informs the driver of the need for service, not of the need to stop the vehicle. [ref]
Timeline
Sunday, 29-Dec-2002
Indicator light lit up so I turned around and headed home.
Monday, 30-Dec-2002
Called BMW of Austin to schedule a time to bring the car in. They said I could bring it in first thing on Tuesday.
Tuesday, 31-Dec-2002
Took car in at 8:30a. Received call in the afternoon that parts were on order and I could expect the car back on Thursday, Friday at the latest. The dealership would be closed on Wednesday for the holiday.
Thursday, 2-Jan-2003
Received apologetic call from John that the parts needed never actually got ordered. More delay. . .
Saturday, 4-Jan-2003
Parts arrived, work completed. Technician's notes indicate:
"dme faults 13 53 175 208 209 210 213 215, engine running too rich. Checked fuel press. 4.5 bar checked stat of fuel pump running at 8.3msec replaced fuel pressure reg and fuel pump relay, cleared adaptations and fault memory. test drove car, adaptations normal no faults stored fuel pump clocking at 3.5 msec. replaced spark plug due to gas fouling."
I picked up the car around noon on Saturday and proceeded to enjoy the rest of the day. It was unseasonably warm (20C) in Austin and sunny and beautiful. I washed the car, cleaned it out, ran a zillion gratuitious errands and generally had a wonderful top-down day. As dusk settled and I made my way back home, the "Service Engine Soon" light lit up yet again.
Monday, 6-Jan-2003
Dropped off the car at BoA again. We'll see...
Thursday, 16-Jan-2003
Got the car back. Service notes indicate:
"DME faults 175 fuel sys diag 4-6. Fault 208,209,210,213 misfire faults defective precat O2 sensors. Pre-cat O2 sensors giving incorrect reading, O2 sensor exposed previously to extreme rich mixture. Checked fault memory, checked intake system for vacuum leaks, no leaks found. Checked adaptations, 4-6 multiplicative at 23.98% 1-3 at -4.24 additive at 1-3 - .94ms 4-6 .22ms . Checked O2 sensors for correct position-OK. Smooth running showed cyl 6 running the worst. Exchanged #1 and #6 coils, problem stayed at 6. Exchange #1&6 fuel injectors problem stayed in cyl 6. Checked compression and leak down on all cylinders. Compression between 160 and 175 on all cyl. Leakdown under 10% on all cyl. Replaced both precat O2 sensors cleared adaptations and set idle syncro. Test drove car checked adaptation and let car idle. Adaptation stayed in range"
© Copyright 1995-2009 David McNett. All Rights Reserved.
