 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  10-17-2006, 06:32 AM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Ramon CA Posts: 18 |  Will Check Engine Light reset itself?
My sons 318TI just suffered a CEL warning. This coincided with a whirring noise and rough idle at start-up. I suspect it is the idle control regulator and or the secondary air pump.
It quieted back down today though, and idles fine again. If it keeps running fine, will the CEL light reset by itself? I still plan on cleaning the idle regulator valve, and testing,servicing if I can, the secondary air pump. This is a California car, if that makes a difference, and those are some very expensive parts!!
Any advice on what to look at, and if I will need to go to a dealer to have the CEL rest would be appreciated. We need to have the car smogged within the next few weeks for its license renewel...of course.
Thanks....Scott T. |  |  | | 10-17-2006, 06:36 AM | #2 | | That's not Millpoint Blue Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BNA Posts: 3,161 |
It depends on what the error was. I had a CEL from the cat being below efficiency threshold. It was lit for about a week and then went away, probably after some set number of "driving cycles." (the CEL returned again a week later.) So, yes... sometimes the CEL will go off on its own. __________________ Real men know how to SEARCH!
THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR
Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler
From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics." | | | | | 10-17-2006, 07:45 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne, Fl/Athens, AL Posts: 393 |
Don't quote me on it, but I believe that a CEL will be reset after around 10 cold starts. __________________ -Kenny
 | | | | | 10-17-2006, 01:27 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Variance  Don't quote me on it, but I believe that a CEL will be reset after around 10 cold starts. | Well, I am quoting you.  Like previously posted, the CEL may go off but they are generally stored. I had a 02 sensor cause my CEL to go on. It went off and stayed off for months. The code was still stored months later. __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 10-19-2006, 01:56 AM | #5 | | Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 37 |
Can the light be reset without going to a mechanic? Mine came on after I seafoamed the car and a vacuum line popped off. Once I hooked it back up there were no more problems, everything is as normal, but the CEL hasn't turned off yet, and its been like a month. | | | | | 10-19-2006, 02:01 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
Quote: Originally Posted by septimus Can the light be reset without going to a mechanic? Mine came on after I seafoamed the car and a vacuum line popped off. Once I hooked it back up there were no more problems, everything is as normal, but the CEL hasn't turned off yet, and its been like a month. | A fault code might still be stored. __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 10-19-2006, 03:18 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fl...tampa area Posts: 320 |
disconnect your battery for a few minutes. im pretty sure, not 100% positive, that it will resest it. something i learned years ago and havent had to do since so im not fully sure... | | | | |
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