Exhaust gas values warning lamp
 

Driving home tonight, a warning lamp comes on. I have no clue what the hell the icon represents. There are no chimes, no warning triangle in the cluster and no messages in the nav screen. I go into idrive, but don't see the icon. All systems normal. I go through each and every one just in case and all is clear. I get home - only a 12 mile trip so I'm hoping I won't explode - and open the owners manual to warning lamps. I don't see it...:dunno: So I take a picture to post here.

I come upstairs and go to the online manual to take another look. I do not want to see a :rtfm: or be embarrassed if it's something simple. As I'm flipping through looking for the correct page number I come across it, totally by accident.

Exhaust gas values warning lamp....Now how difficult would it be to actually show the damn icon under warning lamps section of the manual :confused: ...

What does it mean? I will try tightening the gas cap as suggested in the manual tomorrow. It says something about misfiring engine. I thought I noticed excessive exhaust lately but chalked it up to the cold weather. She's been running OK otherwise.

Thoughts?

Thanks guys :)

I am assuming this is the light that looks like an engine? Are you in Canada?

The only way to know for sure is to have the codes read by an OBD-II code reader. Some auto parts places, such as AutoZone, will read the codes for free.

Otherwise, it needs to go to the dealer for warranty service.

If it is not flashing, you could wait a couple of days to see if it was just a loose fuel cap warning, but if it is flashing, it means there is a misfire and you should get it to the dealer ASAP or the catalytic converter could overheat and be damaged.

Up to you as to whether you think it might have been a loose fuel cap and want to wait to see if it goes away.

I am really surprised that BMW still lumps the loose fuel cap warning in with all the other emissions warnings. Most other makes, such as Ford, have a separate warning light so that a simple loose fuel cap doesn't get confused with more serious warnings.

sounds like an emissions sensor gone batty. What does the check control in iDrive say, that usually gives some details...

Penguin - it's not flashing. I'll just pass by the dealer tomorrow and have them take a look. The dealer is pretty close and they'll take care of me without an appointment. I was concerned about driving home with it and whether I could drive it back in tomorrow. Thanks for the info.

btw - I'm in the states - NY/NJ

Meiac - The idrive says not a fookin thing. Shows all systems OK. :dunno:

leave early (if the traffic is really that bad at 4 AM:stickpoke ) and give her a flogging tomorrow morning. knock some sense into'er

> btw - I'm in the states - NY/NJ


Odd, according to the manual, the light should say in letters "service Engine Soon" on U.S. models, and only have the symbol in Canadian models.

:throw: I WAKE UP the birds, I don't leave with the birds. :p: It takes me about 20 minutes for my 12 mile commute. *fingers crossed*
You got me :dunno: The icon in the manual is definitely the one that's lit up.

Stay tuned

The diagnosis is....
 

Moisture or water in the gas tank. Problem fixed. SA said I didn't get a message on my idrive screen and it showed all systems normal because it was not a drivability issue. (is that a word).

Question - did they do anything to fix it? or just let it run its course?

Whatever they did, didn't work. The light came on again last night.

Are you on the same tank of gas as when it first appeared? If the problem was moisture in the gas then it's still there. Run down the tank as much as possible before refilling.

I filled up again Sunday. I didn't even think of running the tank down. I have this disease....I fill up as soon as I dip below 1/2 tank.

Hmmm, is the moisture there from the previous tank or is it the gas station? I always go to the same Shell station.

> If the problem was moisture in the gas


Frankly, that explanation sounds like a bunch of BS to me. It would be interesting to see what the OBD-II code actually was. I hate to say it, but I get the feeling the mechanic probably just reset the code and sent it out with a "must of been moisture in the gas" rationale.

It will probably keep coming back and eventually the dealer will fix it.

!!! I would never let that happen... it always has to reach the 30mi range left or less before I even consider it... that damn warning bugs me and won't go away. ;) I have once let it go past 0mi, but only because I wanted to go to a specific station but there are stations at every other corner just in case. It didn't die even past 0mi for a couple miles more.

The code it threw was faulty ambient temp sensor DME F/C 2BCO. Replaced ambient temp sensor as per diag code D6581 00000000 01 001. The SA said the exhaust I was noticing and the hesitation/puter on the way to work that morning was probably due to moisture in the tank. I guess I should give better details next time.

Must be a guy thing. My ex used to take it to the limit all the time. It was like a challange to see how low he could go without running out of gas. IT MADE ME NUTS!

> The SA said the exhaust I was noticing and the hesitation/puter on the way to work that morning was probably due to moisture in the tank.


Frankly, I don't see how moisture in the tank would cause such a change in exhaust. More likely you are getting some moisture condensation in the exhaust system/muffler, which turns to steam as the vehicle warms up and makes the exhaust more noticeable. Depending upon which ambient air temperature sensor it was, it could potentially cause the hesitation and exhaust, as the engine computer uses ambient/intake air temperature as part of the engine management map.

If there is moisture in the fuel tank, you should remove it buy using a Red bottle of HEET deicer additive. This is isopropyl alcohol and will help burn the moisture out of the tank. Do not use the cheaper Yellow bottle of HEET, as that is methyl alcohol, which is not as effective and not as compatible as the isopropyl alcohol.

She might already have too much alcohol in her fuel. I think it could trip the same light as too much water in her fuel. The dealer can test a fuel sample and tell you if there is too much water/alcohol in the fuel. They might have to drain your tank. If so, you should have the service station pick up the bill.

Let us know what they come up with...

Craig

> I think it could trip the same light as too much water in her fuel.


How? Could you please describe the mechanism by which alcohol would result in an error code for an ambient air temperature sensor? Or another error code?

Too much alcohol in gasoline is quite rare, since Alcohol is more expensive than gasoline. It is mostly an urban myth.

P.S. Adding a bottle of HEET to the fuel tank will be about 1/2 percent isopropyl alcohol... insignificant in terms of engine operation.

I have a freind who is a local BMW mechanic. They've had two cars in the last few weeks with too much alcohol in the fuel. In MO, they can put up to 10% alcohol in our gasoline. He told me, the only way to tell is to take a fuel sample. It sounds like she has water in her fuel. Ask the dealer to take a fuel sample.

Let us know what they come up with...

Craig

> It sounds like she has water in her fuel

No, it doesn't.

Sorry, but I am a former mechanic and that does not sound like water in the fuel. And if it were, simply adding a bottle of red HEET while filling the tank with fresh gasoline would fix it in one tank of fuel, unless there was an enormous amount of water in the fuel.

Been there, done that.

I am not trying to be rude, but you are sending her on a wild goose chase which will waste her time, and, I might add, if it is water in the fuel, it will not be covered by warranty and will go into the permanent record of the vehicle, giving BMW an excuse in the future for eny engine problems. Far better to try a bottle or red HEET first.

I won't be able to get to the dealer until tomorrow earliest. She be sitting in the snow today. I have to go to a conference in lower upstate NY :tsk: I'll be taking dad's Touareg. I didn't want to take a chance getting stuck.

Thanks guys.

that's My best guess to by the $teeler... :bustingup U R still under the Warranty...:cool:

Hey CMyX5 go...check out another thread on here about how an X5 goes in the snow!! Why take your dad's Touareg??:dunno: :rofl:

Ummmm, because of the check engine light. :confused: I don't know what's triggering it. Would you take a road trip with the check engine light lit?

Was just having a little fun with you and the Tourag!! ;)

I considered taking the X, but figured with my sh*t luck I'd seize the engine or something. I hate driving a car I'm not familiar with, especially in bad weather. The Treg did real good though. I left my house at 5:30 am. The roads were terrible.

I started up the X this morning and the warning light is gone.

engine light stays on
 

I fueled up my car the other day (used the middle grade premium gas) and did not close the gas cap door until I arrived home (didn't realize it will only close when the car is unlocked). The next day the engine ICON light along with a warning on my iDrive (Tighten gas cap) showed up then went away. Today (two days later) the light and warning came on again so I pulled over, opened the door and re tightened everything. The warning (words went away) but now the engine ICON light stays on. Question: Will it take several starts (this use to happen with our previous car, Lexus GX470) for the light to go off or do I need to go back to the dealership (I hope not) to have them rest this? Also, is the gas cap very tempermental and is there a correct way to tighten it so that this will not keep happening (have only had car for a month).

Vehicles typically can take a while to clear a loose fuel cap fault since the test is typically done during start-ups. As long as it is not flashing, I would give it a few days to clear itself before taking it to the dealer.

If it doesn't clear, there could be a small leak in the fuel vapor recovery system.


I occasionally got this on my Z4, but tightening the cap a couple of times helps. Also, you can check the gasket around fuel cap and make sure it ,\\, and the mating surface on the fuel filler neck, are clean.