Service Engine Soon??
 

Hi everyone.Today was very wierd. My X5 has been working great. I was washing it at home and after I finished drying it, I needed to go pickup something for dinner. Well, the Service Engine Soon light came on.

Is there any way to know what this is all about without taking it to the dealership? I am also curious as to how you tell when the oil needs to be changed on this thing? Does it have some kind of indicator for service as my 2000 3 series has? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Did you spray any water under the hood? If so, that may explain the service engine soon light. Unless it dries off and fixes it itself, it means a trip to the dealer. If you didn't spray water under the hood, did you refuel? The most common reason for the light is the gas cap not sealing. If you think that may be it, tighten the gas cap and wait a day, it will go off by itself.

The oil change is indicated by the five green lights on the dash. When you are down to a single light, start planning for an oil change.

Must be the season as this happened to me on Thursday. I reset my gas cap because that's the last thing I could think was done. The light was out all day Saturday until I was driving home in the evening, then the light came on again.

The car seems to be stalling too ... it's a 5-spd. Oy! These OBD-IIs are so sensitive!

I have had two gas caps go bad on me which will throw the "Service Engine Soon" light. The first one I paid the dealer $140 to diagnose and install a new cap. The second one I paid $14 for and installed myself and the light went away. Both caps failed right after I had my annual emmissions test which includes testing the cap to see if it seals properly - essentially their test makes it not work correctly - at least it passes the test!!

Note - if you install a new gas cap, it might take a few days for the SES light to reset itself.

If you are ever running low on oil, you will first get an oil light when you shut the vehicle off - this tells you you need to put about a quart in as soon as you can. If you have the same oil light come on while you are driving or the vehicle is on, it is basically telling you to pull over and add oil immediately. This is all explained in your manual.

Good Luck!!

Ses!
 

You might want to check out this thread:

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...oon-light.html

LOL, me too! I went two weeks ago -- and I was already 3 months late. Shame on me. :) Thankfully whatever decided to wait -- but MAYBE, just MAYBE .... do they pressurize your gas caps out there in GA? They do in Jersey and maybe they use too much pressure or the caps weren't up to snuff.

Thanks for the info guys. I did fill up a day prior to the light comin on. I just reseated my gas cap. I will take a look to see if it clears and if not I will buy a new gas cap.

By the way JCL....I did not spray down the engine. With regards to the oil chnage lights....I know where they should show up but nothing shows up there. There are no green lights what so ever. I think I am going to have to take it in.

Yes

lol here in MD, if your car is '96 or newer, they just plug their computer into the OBD of the vehicle. Emissions was a 1 minute job in the X3 :nanana:

They do that here too.