Amazing what a new intake boot does

[Flametail]

I finally got around to ordering a new intake boot for my car after ripping the old one back in august (I know, long time but I hadn't thought about it). Got it on and now the engine is much quieter. I wish I would have spent the money earlier to fix it.

Another issue though is i'm now getting fault code 1215, which according to Pelican is:

Mass Air Flow Sensor Fault - The mass air flow sensor measures the amount of air that is currently being drawn into the engine. A big hole in one of your fuel injection intake boots may cause the car to stall and generate this code.

Anyone got any suggestions?

[Philly]

clear the fault, then if it comes back = new maf

i just happened to have one for sale.

[Flametail]

I'm pretty sure it means new MAF because I left the car overnight without the battery hooked up and it comes back.

[cooljess76]

Disconnecting the battery won't do anything. Listen to Philly and clear the codes.

[Flametail]

How? I have never had to do that.

[cooljess76]

You need to buy/rent/borrow a scantool. If your car is a '95, you'll need an OBD1 scantool. '96 or newer, you'll need an OBD2 scantool. How are you reading the codes in the first place? Do you already have a scantool or are you using the stomp trick(only works on '95)? There's a OBD port located in the driver's side footwell under the dash. If you're using a Peak Research tool, it plugs into the diagnostic port in the engine bay.

[Flametail]

stomp trick

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

There's a OBD port located in the driver's side footwell under the dash.

on a 95? I've never noticed one on mine in all the times I've worked under my dash

[Flametail]

I, too, thought the only port was the on under the hood.

[Maverix]

Looks something like this:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...OBDII/pic1.jpg

You have to really get under to see it. Use a quarter to open the flap. And the plug will be exposed.

I'm surprised I didn't notice earlier until I got the SRS light after I switched out my seats.

[tiFreak]

all OBDII cars have it under the dash, but me and flametail both have OBDI, hence the confusion

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

on a 95? I've never noticed one on mine in all the times I've worked under my dash

Oh really? Wow, I didn't know that. Thought '95's had a port under the dash as well. I learn something new every day

[MPWR]

For 95 (OBDI) ti, you will need a BMW specific code reader like the Peake tool. There was no generic code reader that worked on all cars before OBDII (96). BMW included the round socket under the hood for all cars before 2000- so the 'beer can' style Peake code reader will work on all E36s, regardless of manufacture date. It will of course read and clear codes (and the oil/service indicator). If you have an E36, get one. It's like the Bentley guide and Pelican 101 projects book- must have (or at least you need a friend with one).

You do need to clear the code first, and go drive for a bit to see if it comes back. If it doesn't (even money is that it won't), great. If it does, a new/used MAF will do the trick. But if you do the MAF first, it will not clear the check engine code- you still need to use a reset tool.

[Flametail]

I'm gonna try and get one of those code readers cause I don't know anyone who has one but it will be a bit before I can get one.