skeeter

If you clear a code on a car, you have to put at least 100 miles on it for the computer to register...If you go in without putting miles on it, you'll fail! The computer won't have any memory or log so you must drive the car first for it to be restored!

E60I

That's a fact, I cleared the code and drove less than 80 miles and failed. It has been almost 48 hours and so far so good, no SES on my dashboard.

For anyone who does not know, the retest at the Smog Test Station is free the second time. The 3rd test will be charged. :-(

Also, to deactivate the DTC to do a dyno test, you must "hold" the DTC button for a "for few seconds".

E60I

I started the car this morning at 6:09 a.m. While waiting for the idle to drop down to 600 RPM, the service engine light came on again. The same code pops up. It shows Misfire detection cyinder 4 in 3; Ignition sequence.

The spark plugs and new coils are already replaced for cylinder 4 and 3. Should I clean the MAF? Or is the fuel injections bad? And according to the Smog Test Inspection Report, Carb/Fuel Injection resulted as "PASS".

Keep in mind, ths SES only shows up "at start up" and remains constantly off while I drive the car after I reset it.

Please help! I need your recommendations before I throw in the gloves and take it to the shop.

Thank you in advance.

E60I

I took my car to Soley Bimmer Repair Shop today, paid $150 for the following:

1. Check misfire #4. Diagnosis Time
2. Check and recode DME and fuel pump.

As far as "mechanical work", they tightened and "torqued" six spark plugs and swapped ignition coil #4 with ignition coil #1. By today's personal observations, I really think my minor misfire and SES was the main cause of me not tighten and "TORQUE" the spark plugs properly (I did not use a torque wrench when put in new spark plugs!).

Upon completion of the aforementioned, I drove the car for about 60 miles at constant speed of 62 mph on the freeway. After I came back from the 60 miles drive, they checked for readiness and no alertS came up. I then took the car for the smog test and passed (another $59 on top of the $45 I already paid to the other smog test station here I failed ).


Here is what bothers me:

I asked them to do cylinders firing balance test. Of the six cylinders, cylinder #4 still appears to be out of range of -200 and 200. As soon as they turn the ignition key, cylinder #4 jumped over 530 (out of acceptable range of -200 and 200). While the car is idling or when he steps on the gas, cylinder #4 still appears to be bouncing around -240. With the exception of cylinder #4, all 5 other cylinders appears to be moving with the acceptable -200 and 200 range. In case if you are wondering, they used the Logistic portable Computer (it's about 12x12 in shape).


In any case, I hope they really fixed the problem. Like I told them many times, SES only pop up at random start up; engine appears to idle and run smoothly under all driving and non-driving conditions.

In the meanwhile, I will be keeping my eyes for any SES upon all initial start ups. My inquiry mind really wonder whether the problem could have been prevented had I TORQUED THE SPARK PLUGS WHEN I REPLACED THEM.

Special thanks to Allen (HealthServices) and Achtunge60 for a lot of useful info! And a few others who I might forget to mention...

Cheers!