BMW Diagnostic Software and Codes

[ccupani]

-

[gbirk]

I was hoping you could help with some fault codes on my car (740 IL 1995 / 109k). The check engine light came on for about 3 seconds the other day. I took it to my Repair shop and they ran the autologic diagnostics on it. They are uncertain of what do and want to wait. They said it could be either the oxygen sensors or air mass meter, it came up with "The fault lamp (check engine) can also be requested by faults in the transmission control unit, if no faults are stored in the DME but the fault lamp is lit, check the transmission control unit.
(203) CB Oxygen sensor control 2,
(201) C9 Oxygen sensor control 1

the second page said
(203) CB oxygen sensor control 2 not detected for 6 starts, currently not present mixture at oxygen sensor to lean.
Note CANNOT INCREASE/REDUCE MIXTURE AS LIMITS HAVE BEEN REACHED.

I did get codes from the car over the weekend by putting the key to position 2 and doing the kickdown 5 times. it just came up with a bunch of 1213's. Any thoughts, I like the people I take my car too, they are honest/good people, but am moving to Raleigh NC, soon, Any BMW shops you might recommend up there. i know Greensboro is in the area. Any thoughs or recommendations are appreciated. I don't want to be stranded to find out what is going on with my car. thanks,

[David Mc]

1213 is a lean/rich mixture detection in your secondary Oxygen sensor. It would apppear that your car is attempting to compensate for a problem in the intake system as if it was the result of poor combustion due to a weak spark, the engine would have also thrown other codes. I would check for a vacuum leak in the intake system and clean the MAF, which I believe would rectify the problem.

[rnzb]

Dear Sir
i purchased E46 model 2000 323i one week ago
i tested the car with the scanner and everything went good sure not mine scanner
my first question :i noticed after i got the car that the oil lamp will go yellow after i start the engine in 30 secs and keep around 30 mins as yellow and then will go off and will not light on again till i stop the engine and then turn it on and the same thing happen

second the security alarm was disabled so in the service they enable the alarm for me but told me that the alarm horn and siren board is damaged, so first i would like to ask how to test the alarm if it's working and how i can know if it's really damaged

third when i keep holding on the remote control on the close button it will not close the windows and the sunroof as they described in the manual but if i keep holding the open button or button 1 it will open the windows and the sunroof.as far as when i turn the key to the left or right in the drivers door it will not respond even if i leave it to the extreme right for seconds
i don't know if the second and the third questions are related


thank you for everything in advance
hope i can find usefull response because i'm new to these cars
and in our country they took very high price to do service or even to attach the scanner

thank you in advance

[David Mc]

I take it that you mean the oil service indicator light is glowing yellow. The behaviour you describe is normal for the service indicator and the fact that it is showing yellow rather than green means that you car is due for an oil change and service light reset.
Download a copy of the BMW Electrical Troubleshooting Manual for your car frome here http://www.wedophones.com/Manuals/BMW/1999%20BMW%20318is-c%20-%20323is-c%20-%20328is-c%20-%20M3%20%20Electrical%20Troubleshooting%20Manual.p df and it will give you all of the electrical wiring diagrams and component locations for your car. This will identify the location and connections to your factory alarm system.
Roll the windows of your car down and close and lock the door with the key, then keep holding the key in the turned position until the windows roll up. You should then be able to unlock the car with the remote as normal and the convenience close feature should be reset.

[rnzb]

thank you very much for your reply
in fact i changed the oil 2 days ago

and my problem is that the key is not locking the door i only can lock and unlock via remote

thank you in advance

[David Mc]

If you have already changed your oil, you will need to reset your oil service indicator light. You need to run a diagnostic on the ZKE/ZVM system and look for errors with the central locking system. Assuming that the key actually turns in the door lock, it may be a faulty microswitch inside the door lock mechanism. Can you lock and unkock the passenger door with the key?

[rnzb]

thanks also for your reply
i really appriciate that

in fact i don't know how to reset the oil service indicator light if you can guide me how
the key will open only the driver door and not all the doors
even i turn to the extreme right or left and keep holding it

while i can open all the passenger doors from the remote

thank you in advance

[David Mc]

To reset the oil service indicator, you need to ground Pin 7 of the round 20 pin diagnostic connector under the hood for 3 - 4 seconds whilst the ignition key is in the "on" position (dash warning lights on but engine not running).

You need to hook the car up and read the codes of the ZKE/ZVM module as it sounds as if you have a fault in the drivers door lock actuator.

[m2pc]

I have an E36 that's having some strange issues... my idle is "stumbling" at random times (the whole car will actually shake when I'm sitting at a light).

During hard acceleration I sometimes get the CEL triggered (stays on) with VERY ROUGH idle (almost stalling)

When I read the codes with an OBD-II scan tool, it says "No Codes" but will allow me to reset the CEL. Once I reset the CEL the car immediately runs normal again. I occasionally get a "P0303 (Misfire detected in cyl #3)" but usually there's no codes found.

Any thoughts? I had a blown HG about a year ago and had the head resurfaced/valve job and replaced both front O2 sensors and the Camshaft Position Sensor.

I'm wondering if I need to use CarSoft or something better than my generic OBD-II scantool?

Much thanks for helping me solve this strange issue.

[nighthawk328i]

m2pc, have you checked your plugs and coils? I had a similar problem with my car shaking and stumbling on accelerations and idle. Could be a fuel issue too, clogged fuel filter or dying fuel pump.

[m2pc]

m2pc, have you checked your plugs and coils? I had a similar problem with my car shaking and stumbling on accelerations and idle. Could be a fuel issue too, clogged fuel filter or dying fuel pump.

Coil it was! It eventually started throwing misfire codes for cyl #3 so I swapped coils with #4 and the code followed it.

I got a new replacement coil today and installed it -- normal engine! :D

[cato2510]

hello i have the problem with e39 m5 i get the this codes
196 c4
201 c4
201 c9
203 cb
if you help me i will be greatful

[mattmartindrift]

hello i have the problem with e39 m5 i get the this codes
196 c4
201 c4
201 c9
203 cb
if you help me i will be greatful


I also have code 196 on an '01 M5, anyone?

[David Mc]

Getlemen,

Read this link, http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14972175&postcount=607 then go to the shared site and download the lists of code definitioins

[Alhaji]

Hi everybody,

i live in Lagos, Nigeria and am a new user on this pages. i drive a BMW520i E39(1996 model). Recently, i can't start my engine when i insert the key into the ignition. It clicks all the way to no2 position but there is no signal to the kickstarter to start the engine. Any suggestions as to what is wrong? Pls help

[47jag]

Alhaji,

Is it automatic? Try moving the selector to N and try it. If it works then you may have a bad safety switch.

Art