Newbie (Car SOS)

[Goshawk01]

Hi, I’m a new member and this is my first time using a forum. So first thank you for letting me join the forum.

I have a 2004 3.0i SE Auto. I was advised by a very helpful person on Facebook to join the forum. My Z is acting very strangely. The first sign was the roof not opening (solid red on the light and nothing else). Then after trying the roof the car remote locking stopped working for about 2 minutes but came back. (this happens every time I try the roof) Then the air bag light came on the dash and the indicator repeater stopped on the dash, yet the indicators work. Then the headlights and front fogs stopped working as well as the LEDs on the gear selector. Took it for a drive and the roof started working again for 5 minutes then stopped again. I disconnected the battery for 5 minutes. The headlights came back but not the front fogs, but still an air bag light on, roof does not work, and gear selector lights are out sometimes. The factory fitted radio also does not work as well as the pop-up screen. This morning the rear speakers have constant static noise and can’t switch it off and headlights not working again nor the roof.

I have been told that this could be a K-Bus issue. But I’m well out of my depth on this. I’m in South Wales and I am looking for an expert that can help save this car as I'm not ready to give up. I am told there is a member of this group, user name ‘colb ‘ that is in my area and is a whizz of these kind of issues.

Thank you

 

[coldel]

Sorry to hear of your problems, but welcome along!

First thing I bought when I got my first Z4 was a Creator ODB2 code reader. Really good to have one on hand to read errors with the car. Can be had for circa £50 on Amazon. But it does sound like you have a general issue with anything electrical, how old is the battery?

 

[enuff_zed]

Good morning. That was me who spoke to you.
As I said, you need three posts to PM [ref]colb[/ref], but by me referencing him here he should be notified and get back to you soon.

Please note, it may not be anything so serious, but you really do need codes checked first and I'm pretty sure colb won't fleece you like the garage would.

Good luck. Hope you get it sorted.
While you're here, have a browse. I know forums are being overlooked for fb etc these days, but this one is brimming with information, help and spares.

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]colb[/ref], I may be completely wrong on my assumption but within the last couple of months I have seen two cars with very similar issues and when checking codes there were myriad mentions of k-bus, cannot communicate, etc.
Both these turned out to be water in the plug of the centre airbag module.
One is ongoing as the module is knackered and we are still procuring a replacement.
The other was a lucky forum member who checked there on my suggestion, dried out the plug and it fixed it.

Hoping you can help out with this one as it's your neck of the woods.

 

[coldel]

Agree on searching the forum, I find literally 90% of my answers on here. Problem with FB is that it doesn't store info well, you also get lots of conflicting answers to questions often diametrically opposite! Some people that know the answers, vs some that think they know.

 

[colb]

Welcome Gosshawk01 to the Forum, as enuff-zed pointed out I am in Newport, South Wales and have a Z3 and a Z4, we have a Whats App Group of members from Zroadster and this forum spread across South Wales and some Bristol based members who help each other out as and when we require jobs done on our cars, we call the Group Zedshed Cymru, owners supply parts and we muck in and do whats required, centred usually at my home garage as I have a scissor lift which makes things a lot easier. Full diagnostics available using various kits of software. Up to the individual if they make a donation to the Shed to cover consumables.
As to your problems first thing would be to scan the car for codes which will point to the cause of the issues you have.
If you want to bring the car to me we can scan it and do a Health Check on all the modules to see whats going on.
Just off Junctions 28 or 27 of the M4 in Rogrerstone Newport. How old is the battery if its aged and under par thats the first thing to suspect, these cars need a good healthy battery otherwise the electronics will present you with a myriad of problems. Airbag modules are also a bit of a pain especially if they get water intrusion and there are three modules to contend with.
If you pm me with your phone number I can add you in to the Zedshed Cymru Whats App group, currently we have 34 members spread across the Region who participate, mixture of Z3's and Z4's.
Concur with the Facebook observations lots on there just guessing at peoples problems, more in depth knowledge on the Forums.

 

[enuff_zed]

Well that’s a good result so far

 

[Goshawk01]

I can't work out if I reply to each message individually or not, so I will put all info in this reply. The battery is brand new, one month ago. I do have a very old code reader I bought many years ago, but slung it in the cupboard thinking it was rubbish as it would not scan my Mitsubishi. I dug it out and its found no codes, but that just confirms for me the reader is rubbish! If I am to keep this car alive in the long term I will need one. I'm just outside Abergavenny, so not far from Newport. 'colb' I will try and PM my number but not sure I am permitted PM's yet?

 

[Goshawk01]

I can't work out if I reply to each message individually or not, so I will put all info in this reply. The battery is brand new, one month ago. I do have a very old code reader I bought many years ago, but slung it in the cupboard thinking it was rubbish as it would not scan my Mitsubishi. I dug it out and its found no codes, but that just confirms for me the reader is rubbish! If I am to keep this car alive in the long term I will need one. I'm just outside Abergavenny, so not far from Newport. 'colb' I will try and PM my number but not sure I am permitted PM's yet?

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]Goshawk01[/ref], always easiest to reply on one hit so we don't miss anything.
Now you have 3 posts so if you go to colb's name in the bar on the left and click on it you will get the option to PM him.
Once you do that it should become obvious what to do next.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome to the forum anyway, and good luck getting your problems solved.

But now "colb" is on the case you should be OK!

 

[Goshawk01]

Thank you for the welcome. and fingers crossed she gets fixed. She is too young too die. only 19 years.

 

[enuff_zed]

Thank you for the welcome. and fingers crossed she gets fixed. She is too young too die. only 19 years.

Pretty sure it’s fixable once you trace the issue

 

[Goshawk01]

Hi everyone, not sure to continue hear or move this post elsewhere. But here we go With an update. when I first posted on Facebook a number of people said to check the battery. I checked, it was 12.7 on the multi-meter yesterday and only 3 months old. but this morning it was 11v and would not charge. Took the battery back to Halford, they said it had a bad cell. I got a new one. all the faults on the car persist but keep changing. e.g.. roof still does not work, but no LED at all. But the headlights work again, but the indicator repeater on the dash randomly flashes right.

Plugged in my new Autophix 5900 and got the codes - as I have never read them before I don't know if they are new or have been on the car for a while.

First question should I clear all codes and start again, too make sure they are all new codes?

 

[Chippie]

First question should I clear all codes and start again, too make sure they are all new codes?

I’d say make a note of the codes you have then clear them. scan it again without touching anything and noting the faults down, then start the car and try everything and rescan again.

 

[enuff_zed]

First question should I clear all codes and start again, too make sure they are all new codes?

I’d say make a note of the codes you have then clear them. scan it again without touching anything and noting the faults down, then start the car and try everything and rescan again.

Agreed as you have no idea what is relevant and what is just historic.
However, it is possible that the weak battery has upset something else, so post up the remaining codes and let's see what you've got.

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]Goshawk01[/ref], just had a thought about the roof. It may not know the state of the windows as they can lose their memory after a battery disconnect.
Sit in the car with doors closed.
Using the drivers door switches, wind one window fully down.
When it reaches the bottom press and release the switch down four times within ten seconds.
Wind the window up and repeat the switch press procedure only up this time.
Repeat the whole sequence for the other window.
Now when you open the doors the window should drop a few mm.
Now try the roof. Fingers crossed.

 

[Goshawk01]

I cleared all the codes. Switch off the ignition and then back on ( but did not start) I read the codes and there are 3 codes:

INSTR Instrument Cluster 3

Code 1: 87 K bus
Code 2: 2B020220 _ The Fault code is not found in the database. Please contact us to confirm.
Code 3: BE Data-filing different to central light module

I then cleared these codes, switched off the ignition. Then I started the car. Then switched off. Then switched on the ignition but did not start the car and rescanned. The same code came back.

Where to start??

 

[enuff_zed]

I cleared all the codes. Switch off the ignition and then back on ( but did not start) I read the codes and there are 3 codes:

INSTR Instrument Cluster 3

Code 1: 87 K bus
Code 2: 2B020220 _ The Fault code is not found in the database. Please contact us to confirm.
Code 3: BE Data-filing different to central light module

I then cleared these codes, switched off the ignition. Then I started the car. Then switched off. Then switched on the ignition but did not start the car and rescanned. The same code came back.

Where to start??

As a double check can you individually check each module rather than a full system scan. Just to see if there are any modules that the scanner can't communicate with. That would lead us further towards a K-Bus issue.
Have you had a chance to speak to colb yet?
I used Scanner 1.4 on mine and it showed lots of modules it couldn't see, which eventually led to the K-Bus issue.

Check this thread
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2002745

Seems I had the same codes you did.
Turned out to be some kind of sugary drink that had been balanced on the open storage lid and spilt down into the airbag module.

 

[Goshawk01]

I tried posting, thought I had but cant find it now??

I may be repeating myself but the codes are

INSTR Instrument Cluster 3 codes

Code 1: 87 K bus
Code 2: 2B020220 - The fault is not found in the database. Please contact us to confirm
Code 3: BE Data-filing different to central light module.


where to start???