Yellow engine warning light - Help !

[kowsmou]

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[rally-chris]

Could be something like a post cat lambda sensor if the car is still running fine. You’ll need to plug in a diagnostic reader and read the fault code(s).

I just had this light after replacing the exhaust on my 3.0si. My mechanic replaced the affected sensor with a cheap non genuine part twice only for the light to come back on within about 15 miles each time. I now have a genuine sensor fitted so fingers crossed I won’t see the light again anytime soon!

Chris

 

[Paulr]

Have you filled up recently with supermarket fuel? This always happens on my 2.5, but goes once I have filled up with super-unleaded, or if it is a full tank I put some fuel /cat cleaner in and that cleared the light for me as well.

 

[kowsmou]

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[Mr Tidy]

I've never put supermarket fuel in my 3.0Si, but late last year I got an amber EML on!

My local BMW Indy read the codes and diagnosed it as having Cat fault codes. After two doses of Cataclean and filling up exclusively with branded Super-plus and codes cleared no more EML!

Then it happened again just over a month ago - fault codes P0420 and P0430. Yes, cats again! Codes were kindly cleared by a local forum member with a code reader and so far so good! :happyclap:

As has been said you really need to get the faults codes identified. There is a thread somewhere about who has Carly and where they are - probably a good idea to see if anyone is near you.

 

[kowsmou]

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[MACK]

Op when you say tesco's finest do you mean tesco momentum or the standard petrol

 

[bmwaddict]

Might be worth getting a cheap code reader/clearer. I got this one from the bay, around 4 quid including delivery! Got an engine light recently, just turned out to be a faulty lambda sensor. Nice to know immediately what the fault is though, and easy to use with a free app via Bluetooth (Torque lite). Here's the one I bought:
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELM327-V2-1-OBD2-II-Bluetooth-Car-Scanner-Android-Torque-Auto-DTCs-Scan-Tool-UK-/172279683345

 

[GuidoK]

^even cheaper:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ELM327-V2-1-OBD2-CAN-BUS-OBDII-Bluetooth-Car-Auto-Diagnostic-Interface-Scanner/332367768738

Something I always keep in the glovebox of all my cars.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

OK, thank you. From what I can gather so far it's something to do with emissions...

You can't gather anything without reading the codes, it could be a whole host of potential issues. Any suggestions are pure guesswork, buy a code reader for probably less than the cost of paying someone to read them and repost on here, most issues have cropped up before

 

[kowsmou]

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[kowsmou]

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[MACK]

Op when you say tesco's finest do you mean tesco momentum or the standard petrol

Yes, sorry - standard tesco fuel.

My advice would be give the tesco momentum a go if there's a local store to you. It's on a par with shell v power both in terms of additives and octane but a bit cheaper. A few tanks in (when the ecu has had a chance to adapt) you should find you have a smoother running/idling engine, more umph and slightly better fuel economy (enough to offset the extra cost of the fuel.)

 

[Monkeydonkeyratmagic]

^even cheaper:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ELM327-V2-1-OBD2-CAN-BUS-OBDII-Bluetooth-Car-Auto-Diagnostic-Interface-Scanner/332367768738

Something I always keep in the glovebox of all my cars.

Does this reset any warning light or just check engine? Does it do airbag etc too?

 

[kowsmou]

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[GuidoK]

Does this reset any warning light or just check engine? Does it do airbag etc too?

It resets engine related warning lights.
airbag probably not, airbag lights can be very difficult, even for inpa, depending on the fault.

But it does the same as that previous link, as they're both elm327.

 

[ph001]

Ok, so took it to my local garage today. Error that came out was P0420 which relates to cat performance but could be a number of causes. He reset it and it has so far stayed off. I got a flat on the way home so now have to fork out £200 for two new tyres !!

I'm picking up some cataclean tomorrow and will give that a go.

Over the last 400 miles I have noticed this weird burning smell coming into the cabin. It lasts a few seconds and goes away. I can't replicate it and it seemed to happen when stationary or in slow moving traffic. It's happened 3 times in all so often, just wondering if anyone might have any ideas what it could be? Rocker cover gasket has been replaced already.

You would think the most likely culprit for the burning smell would be oil dripping onto the exhaust manifold. Do a search for oil leak on here to get some ideas. A few people have had issues when replacing the rocker cover gasket, particularly on the corners. See here... http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=100116&p=1464159&hilit=“Oil+leak”#p1464159

 

[bluepain]

If your getting an oil smell and error code 420 check the vacuum oil pump at the rear of the engine .as a burming smell would indicate oil leak coupled with PO 420 which can be caused by vacuum loss which this pump generates. ..
These 2.0l engines are notorious for error code 420,..
Ive had it ,and get it occasionally when poodling around or stuck in traffic at low revs,no miss fire or rough running,
Just the lovely yellow engine light..
Welcome to the 2.0l club.
Sorry

 

[kowsmou]

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[kowsmou]

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