Check Engine light. What EXATCLY does it tell you?

[Erick]

Hey guys, I'm in a dilemma here.

Every once in a blue moon.... my check engine light would come on for 2 seconds at most.... usually if I was WOT on 2nd gear. Today I went to pick up a monitor for my father and when I park my car the check engine light goes on. It stayed on for 20 minutes and I turned off and on the car twice to see if it'd go away.

I checked all the fluids recently and everything looks alright. The car ran fine and strong with the light on as well. Just the regular oscillating of the RPMs between 600-900 rpms but that's nothing new to this car.... I'm still trying to find out what it could possibly be.

I am doing a tune-up hopefully this weekend, or the next at most. I have all filters, spark plugs, etc.... laying here in my garage already.

Well off to the Bentley I go.... unless anyone knows an answer before I can find it up there.

Thanks,
Erick

[James Crivellone]

see if it throws a code, if it does not then....


"Its a FEATURE"

[Erick]

if by throw a code you mean the light flashing certain number of times to give a symptom, then no.... there is no such thing.

......so it's a feature huh? cluster going crazy maybe?

[e9nine]

Something related to emissions might be funky. Could be an o2 sensor a vacuum issue or the likes. Use the gas pedal trick to see if you can figure out what's up.

http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylor/BMWText/technical/MotronicFaultCodes.html

You have Motronic 1.3

[Erick]

Yeah that's what the BMW shop my dad takes ihs e30 to told me. I called him up and had a chat over the phone. He is about 20 miles from here and in a Friday Rush Hour, no way in hell I'm taking my car there now.... next week if I can't figure this out myself

[windsor318is]

all e30s, motronix 1.3??

[Erick]

I think early e30s and M3s are exempt from Motronic......

[windsor318is]

I think early e30s and M3s are exempt from Motronic......

so mine is 1.3 as well, 91 318is

[Fred]

You might have a vacuum leak somewhere.

[AdamF 88iS]

Early 318 is Ljetronic
'e' cars, and M3s are motronic 1.0
early 'i' cars and superetas are 1.1
late 'i' cars are 1.3
late 318 is 1.7

[Erick]

You might have a vacuum leak somewhere.

Thought came to mind first. I got a new intake boot and it seemed to get a bit better.

I checked everything else and I still couldn't find a vaccum leak. I'm not sure I did the best job at it, but I swapped most intake components with my father's e30, and I didn't find anything.

I called up a mechanic today and he says it's emission problems. So my best guess is that the problem, whatever it is.... lies past the headers..... or maybe a gasket? I dunno I'm tired.... too many possibilities.

[iXer]

It could be the O2 sensor if it's exhaust related, the check light should tell you if it's shot with the fault code blinking.
From what I know the Motronic 1.3 can be found on all E30s with a catalytic converter in the exhaust. In Europe that means -87/-88 and newer.

[Erick]

But that's the thing! There is no flash when I turn the key! All I get is a solid red check engine light!

[e9nine]

But that's the thing! There is no flash when I turn the key! All I get is a solid red check engine light!

Did you read the article on the link I posted on how to get the codes? You have to use the gas pedal to activate the fault code readout sequence....

[Erick]

Sounds pretty no-brainer to me.... but I still got nothing. I'll try it again later because I dont have anything better to do until Monday where the shop opens.