The check engine light came on. I know this could mean many things. How do I know what it is without taking it to a mechanic?
Buy an OBD 2 scanner, or a less expensive OBD 2 code reader (OBD means on board diagnostics, 2 means second generation-anything built after 1996, generally). Plug into your car's diagnostic port and read the codes. The trouble codes relay what the computer detected as a problem-points you to a course of action. Whether you fix it yourself or take to a shop with the codes for the repairs.
Many national chains, such as Autozone, will do scans of the engine computer for free, hoping you will return there to buy parts. Be aware a trouble code does not relay a specific course of action-it only points you or a technician to what the computer saw as a problem, like a circuit failure in a sensor signal, it could be the sensor or the wiring associated with it. Common sense and a knowledge of how the many components and sensors work and interact will help one understand and find the problem. For example, a code of a bad oxygen sensor signal-reading too much oxygen in the exhaust-would not be a bad oxygen sensor, but one needs to check why the air-fuel mixture is wrong-too lean-is a vacuum line leaking, or is the fuel pressure too low-these are the types of questions that can arise from a trouble code.
If you want to avoid mechanics entirely, better buy a repair manual and learn all you can about modern engine management electronics.
SOURCE: Service Engine Soon light on 2002 BMW X5
go back & sleep with the mechanic, that always works for my sister.
SOURCE: check engine light comes on but car runs great 2002 bmw 325i and
The check engine light could be any number of things and the only way to find out is have the codes scanned. The brake light issue is common on E46 3 series. It is an issue were the brown ground wire that goes into the lamp housing melts at the connector causing a loose ground connection. The connector needs to be replaced and also add additional grounding wires to prevent further issues. And for fuel additives either use the cheveron techron, or the bmw fuel additive(the bmw stuff is the exact same thing, so just use which ever is cheaper).
SOURCE: 2002 BMW 530i service engine light on
It could be any number of things you will nee the codes read to be sure. If yor mileage is near one of the recommended services points 50,000, 100,000 or 150,000 this could be the cause. Again you won't know or sure ill codes are read Good Luck With This
SOURCE: Check engine light on 1996 328i BMW, scanner codes P1421 & P1423
go to the link below, type in the code and the difinition of that code comes up in a list as defined by each car maker.
http://www.aboutautomobile.com/DTC/P1494
SOURCE: check engine light 2003 BMW 325i
both codes are for lean mixture ... bank one and bank two .....that usually means a vacuum leak in the air intake system ... there is a Y shapped boot off the throttle body that fails frequently .. look for a hole or tear or general deterioration ... there is a second boot after the MAF (mass air flow) sensor, that is another possibility ... any off the vacuum hoses you can see under the fancy cover plate could be leaking .. there is a "crank case breather diaphram" that can do the same ... you can test that by removing the oil filler cap slowly (running) ..there should be a sllight vacuum release ... if its a big vacuum whoosh and maybe engine stumbling then suspect the crank case breather diaphram ... finally you could have a bad MAF sensor but more likely the vacuum leak ... running with a lean mixture can eventually damage valves and valve seats ... i use a small rubber hose to my ear to find vacuum leaks (stethoscope) ...
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