Engine Check lights come on, and car is now ill :(

[Jamie]

Morning

(318ci 2.0 valvetronic, 51 reg done just over 100k miles)

On way to work this morning and the engine management light comes on. Well - i think thats what it is, it looks like a tap kind of shape - it comes on when u start up and then goes off normally - next to it is the EML light

Anyway, car has been suffering from intermitant hesitation for a month or 2 now, but today the 'tap' light comes on and literally from then on the car is competley different.

-Loss of power
-Car feels like it wants to stall but it doesnt
- Driving throuh the gears is really rough - engine sounds like its missing or something - feeling like its not getting enough of something to drive properly
- Really hard to get the car to accelerate throuh gears 1 2 3, i.e takes much more time
- Car only 'sounds' normal (engine wise) once the revs are past 3k


What could this be?

O2 sensor? My sis had same symptoms on her 318i and it turned out ot be that

Anything I can try?

When i got to work, I turned the engine off and then back on. She fires up no problem, no lights stay on now but the issue is still there...


Any suggestions guys and do you know any non-dealers south london/kent - where you can suggest I take?

Thanks

Jamie

[RDG 40]

just had this with mine not long back its was jumping big tym so called bmw out, basically it some part that gets a carbon build up on it and stops it working properly, all it needs is taking off and cleaning then it was fine. Im not sure of the name of it cam shaft senser comes to mind but dont qoute me on it. Dont worry try get it to the dealer and say what ive said they should know what i mean, it only took an hour max to clean.

Hope this helps

Russ

[BigFas]

dude, one of your coil packs has gone "kaputt". this has happened twice now on mine, but mine went all of a sudden, as opposed to a build up, but the symptoms are identical.

luckily, mine was under warranty both times it happened (second time it happened wsa literally 2 weeks ago). You can do one of two things. Take it to the dealer and hook it up to a diagnostic port, see which one has failed, OR, more ideally, change all four for about £90 in parts. You can DIY this, or slip the dealer £20 to change them, it takes less than 10 minutes

[Jamie]

just had this with mine not long back its was jumping big tym so called bmw out, basically it some part that gets a carbon build up on it and stops it working properly, all it needs is taking off and cleaning then it was fine. Im not sure of the name of it cam shaft senser comes to mind but dont qoute me on it. Dont worry try get it to the dealer and say what ive said they should know what i mean, it only took an hour max to clean.

Hope this helps

Russ


Coool - yea, some others mentioned cam shaft sensor. Cars done 100k so no idea if it is that if they will replace or clean

Its goin to a trusted indy in Hounslow on sat - gettin insp I done at same time - lets see what happens!!

[Jamie]

dude, one of your coil packs has gone "kaputt". this has happened twice now on mine, but mine went all of a sudden, as opposed to a build up, but the symptoms are identical.

luckily, mine was under warranty both times it happened (second time it happened wsa literally 2 weeks ago). You can do one of two things. Take it to the dealer and hook it up to a diagnostic port, see which one has failed, OR, more ideally, change all four for about £90 in parts. You can DIY this, or slip the dealer £20 to change them, it takes less than 10 minutes


Thanks Fas - sounds like it maybe coil packs/cam shaft sensors at the moment. As posted, its in with good indy with all diag equipment on sat, so hopefulyl should be able to identify the issue there and then

Whats involved in coil pack replacement? Any guides?

Thanks

[kmart]

Had same problems with my 318 i a few months ago.
Dealer cleaned out the build up of carbon in the throttle body
housing,changed the cam sensor and reset the light; but it came back on after a few days. They looked at it again and ended up changing the 02 sensor and it has been fine ever since.
The service guy did tell me this regular fault they normally pick up during servicing,which is a nice little earner for them as it cost the best part of £200 with the parts and labour, lucky for me it was covered by my warrenty.

[Jamie]

Had same problems with my 318 i a few months ago.
Dealer cleaned out the build up of carbon in the throttle body
housing,changed the cam sensor and reset the light; but it came back on after a few days. They looked at it again and ended up changing the 02 sensor and it has been fine ever since.
The service guy did tell me this regular fault they normally pick up during servicing,which is a nice little earner for them as it cost the best part of £200 with the parts and labour, lucky for me it was covered by my warrenty.

Cheers

So, after they cleaned the throttle body sensor and replaced the cam shaft sensor - did the issue go away? Or was it still apparent but the light didnt come on for a couple of days


So in short, its looking like one or a combination of these items:

cam shaft sensor
o2 sensor
build up of carbon on the throttle body - to clean
coil packs

[kmart]

Cheers

So, after they cleaned the throttle body sensor and replaced the cam shaft sensor - did the issue go away? Or was it still apparent but the light didnt come on for a couple of days


So in short, its looking like one or a combination of these items:

cam shaft sensor
o2 sensor
build up of carbon on the throttle body - to clean
coil packs

Hi, after they cleaned the throttle housing and replaced the camshaft sensor it was a little better but still not right.Felt like driving a different car after they replaced the 02 sensor, I think the service guy said something along the lines that if the 02 sensor was on it`s way out it would be giving wrong readings to the ecu which controls the mix; hence the running problems.
Hope this helps you get it sorted!

[Jamie]

Hi, after they cleaned the throttle housing and replaced the camshaft sensor it was a little better but still not right.Felt like driving a different car after they replaced the 02 sensor, I think the service guy said something along the lines that if the 02 sensor was on it`s way out it would be giving wrong readings to the ecu which controls the mix; hence the running problems.
Hope this helps you get it sorted!


Yea - thats sounds like the baby

I'll reply to this thread when I find out more over the weeked

Any DIY guides on checking myself any of the above?

[Jamie]

Well my cars now puring like a cat
Ended up bein what Fas said - a coil pack had gone. Had 3 replaced since this was all dealer had in. Also had insp I done at the same time and had the guy also reprogrammed something to make the lights flash and beep when the alarm is on/off and for the doors to look when you drive off

Top bloke and fitted me in in short notice

If anyone wants a trusted BMW specialist in Hounslow - PM me and I can give u details...

Thanks for the advice on here guys!

[BigFas]

I am THAT damn good :D

Good to hear you're back up and running fella

[Jamie]

I am THAT damn good :D

Good to hear you're back up and running fella

:D :D :D :D :D [cool [cool [cool