Service Engine Soon light....

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Tchen811

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Just tonight on my way home from work, the SES light suddenly came one. I've heard how the gas cap might be the culprit, so I retighten it but still didn't fix the light. So I am taking it in to the dealer. Now, my question is I have a CAI installed. Should I put the stock airbox back before I take it to the dealer? Thanks.

btw the car drives fine.
 
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aNoodle

aNoodle

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Tchen811 said:
Just tonight on my way home from work, the SES light suddenly came one. I've heard how the gas cap might be the culprit, so I retighten it but still didn't fix the light. So I am taking it in to the dealer. Now, my question is I have a CAI installed. Should I put the stock airbox back before I take it to the dealer? Thanks.

btw the car drives fine.
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It's not uncommon for the light to come on and the engine to be running just fine. How old is your car? Mine came on in the first year and when I took it in, they had nothing to fix. But the light can be an indication of any number of faulty sensors in these modern engines (the german's love their sensors). So if you're under warranty, just take it in...but chances are there's nothing to worry about. That's why they changed the name of the light for later E46's from Service Engine to Service Engine Soon....meaning nothing is going to blow up....knock on wood.
 
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Tchen811

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My car is the 2004 year and it's approaching the 15K mile mark. I had just taken it to the dealer for the oil change at around 13,500 mile. It's good to know that it's probably nothing, but I am afraid that if I don't take off my CAI, they are going to blame it for the light or the problems that it may cause.
 
bmwrocks

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Tchen811 said:
My car is the 2004 year and it's approaching the 15K mile mark. I had just taken it to the dealer for the oil change at around 13,500 mile. It's good to know that it's probably nothing, but I am afraid that if I don't take off my CAI, they are going to blame it for the light or the problems that it may cause.
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I have to agree with your concern. If it is easy to put back the stock intake, do it. You seem worried enough that you will be way satisfied you did it, and kicking yourself if you don't take it off and they bring it up.
 
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future330owner

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Tchen811 said:
Just tonight on my way home from work, the SES light suddenly came one. I've heard how the gas cap might be the culprit, so I retighten it but still didn't fix the light. So I am taking it in to the dealer. Now, my question is I have a CAI installed. Should I put the stock airbox back before I take it to the dealer? Thanks.

btw the car drives fine.
Click to expand...
I would get an OBD II scanner to get the code causing the SES light on. I heard Kragen or Pepboys will do it for you for free..
 
bmwrocks

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If you have AutoZone out there, they will check the trouble code for you for free. Then you will at least know the general cause of the SES.
 
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Tchen811

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I just bought a OBDII code reader and it displayed the code P0171, which I looked up to be System too lean (Bank 1). What does this mean?
 
Bmw 325i 7803

Bmw 325i 7803

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Just remove the CAI, and take it to the dealer and let them sort it out. It shouldn't be too much trouble, and IMO it wasn't worth putting there in the first place. (I admit I am anti-new-car-modding) Why give yourself unneeded problems?
 
Kirby

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Basically it means that the engine was not getting enough fuel to some of the cylinders - the air/fuel mixture was not right. It can determine this using the oxygen sensor - it could be a bad sensor or it could be just a one time anomaly. I would reset the code and see if it throws the same code again before taking it to the dealer. A problem like this isn't a critical show stopper.
 
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drj9000

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My 04 330i had some surging at highway speed and the Service Engine Light came on. When I took it to the dealer they said the software in the DME? was a problem and had a bulletin about it - somehting about it not reading the o2 sensors properly. They just put the new software in and it's been fine ever since.
 
tripulldee

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My SES light turns on and off randomly. It usually turns off after a couple of days. As for your CAI, it doesn't void any part of your warranty, they just won't fix the problem if that's the cause of the problem. Best thing to do is put the stock airbox back in before going.
 
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JCinFW328i

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Mine just turned on this morning on the way to work, but my car seems to be running fine, in fact, I was egged on by a Prelude this morning on the highway and it responded as it always has. It just turned its 100k mile, and it's a '99, so hopefully it isnt something too intricate.
 
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DrivingTopless

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Mine has been intermittently going on and off for a while now. It could be on for as long as a couple days or for a few hours. I'll have them check codes next time I'm in for service. The car is running as normal and gas mileage is the same.
 
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