PDA

View Full Version : Gas cap & Check Engine Light


LoganBerry
04-30-2005, 09:02 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have had a check engine light on in my 1997 E36 M3 for a while now.

I just found out I had the wrong gas cap on it and replaced it with the correct cap from the dealer.

MY QUESTION:

Will the check engine light turn off on its own after a certin amount of time or starts or miles? How long do I have to wait or drive or whatever?
Ffroggs
04-30-2005, 09:06 PM
As I recall, it will automatically reset the CEL after 40 good starts. Or you could find someone else to reset it for you.

I had the same problem and couldn't stand looking at that light, so I had it reset with one of the PEAKE tools.
LoganBerry
04-30-2005, 09:26 PM
hmmmmmm, do I restart it 40 times to try an clear it...

Can anyone else confirm that this works?
99M3Riverside
04-30-2005, 11:42 PM
I seem to get this fault every third fill. I think I might get a new cap just in case that is the culprit. I am thinking it is the person twisting it. That being said, I believe after a certain amount of miles the light will clear. Myself, I never leave home without my Peake tool.
Ffroggs
05-01-2005, 11:17 AM
There's been at least one other thread about this, and consensus seems to be that it will turn off, but still store the code that caused the problem.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175489&highlight=CEL+restart

msf
biggafigga
05-01-2005, 11:53 AM
40 restarts is a bit much. I talked to at tech at the dealer, and it has to be a number of "good" starts. Car has to be on for a while, not just on/off. When I retightened my cap, I started the car a few times and drove it around each time, and it went away on the third time.
LoganBerry
05-02-2005, 12:15 PM
Well, I've been driving it for a few days and the light is still on. Time to invest in the tool. Will the light stay off for a certin amount of time after the reset or will it come on immediately if there is still a problem?
hal9000
05-02-2005, 04:43 PM
Well, I've been driving it for a few days and the light is still on. Time to invest in the tool. Will the light stay off for a certin amount of time after the reset or will it come on immediately if there is still a problem?

3 restarts and the light will go off on it's own. The code will still be stored for recall later if you care. If you're restarted that many times and the light is still on, you need to get the code read. It may be something different. If the light comes back on, you have another issue (it may be the same code, but then you've still haven't fixed it).