check engine.

[Heresy]

does this problem happen to anyone else?
i drive a 97' 328i 49K miles. the car is in excellent condition. last week, the check engine light came on. so immediately i took her to the shop to get a diagnostic check done. turns out the gas cap had a worn spring. so i replaced that and the light went bye bye. or at least the guy reset it and it didnt come back. until today. so now the check engine light is back on.. and i dont know if its related to something else or the same thing. taking it back to the shop for the guy to tell me the gas cap is acting up again seems a little silly, not to mention costly.
is there a way i can diagnose this problem? will the light go out? or is it up there until i clear it.
ive heard there is a way you can reset it manually, however, i dont want to overlook a potential new problem.
thanks for the help.

 

[Fielding Yost]

FWIW, I had the "service engine soon" light come on my brand new 5er just one week after I took delivery (in June). At my first visit, I was told that everything looked fine and that the dealership must not have screwed the cap on tightly enough. Two days later the light came back on. During my second service trip, it was discovered that the purge valve had to be replaced (why they didn't see this the first time, who knows).

Anyway, I don't know how to manually reset it, but I wouldn't ignore it. My understanding is that the light could be an indication that the gas tank isn't maintaining adequate pressure. Then again, I was also told that it could just be a simple emission level issue. For my peace of mind, I'd have them check it out again. Since they didn't fix the problem the first time around, I'd like to think that they won't charge you for the second visit (aside from any replacement parts and such).

Just my experience. I know it's limited, but hope it helps. Good luck.

 

[Heresy]

yeah, i hear what you are saying.
on one hand, im thinking: hey, maybe its just something superficial.. just wait it out until you get the oil changed in a month. i just got a full diagnostics done not even a week ago and the car was fine.

on the other hand im thinking: this light is going to be there every time i drive the car. mocking my ignorance of what could be the culprit. it could be something bad that i have the chance to catch. or maybe the guy at the shop will give me a break considering he just reset it a week ago.

above all, i'm leaning towards ignoring it and waiting until oil change time.

 

[bimmin328is]

my check engine light came on about 2 weeks ago. I call the dealership and asked them whats up. They said if your one of those ppl that like too listen to the radio or have the ac on while your refueling that light will come on due to some kind of pressurization of the gas tank. So when refueling ur e36 keep your car completely off. So I stopped listening to the radio while i fueled and in about a day after the next time i refuelded the check engine light turned off.

 

[kpytoi9]

If you have a local auto zone near by, they will diagnose it for free with the computer and tell you what the problem is and possibly reset the light. Thats what they did for me

 

[carcus]

my check engine light came on about 2 weeks ago. I call the dealership and asked them whats up. They said if your one of those ppl that like too listen to the radio or have the ac on while your refueling that light will come on due to some kind of pressurization of the gas tank. So when refueling ur e36 keep your car completely off. So I stopped listening to the radio while i fueled and in about a day after the next time i refuelded the check engine light turned off.

Don't know what the dealer was smoking when they told you having the radio or AC on while refueling will set a check engine light. Actually, refueling with the engine on is dangerous. Most likely, it is something wrong with the emissions system as most check engine lights are a result of a faulty sensor. Could be a bad 02 sensor, even a bad gas cap. Have the car scanned for the fault code and see what the code says is wrong. Will it cost you a bit under 100 bucks....yep....but the only way to find out what is setting the code.