How To Reset Fault Codes On A BMW E46?

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The transmission warning light had been on for some time and wouldn’t go out even after the car had been turned off. When I took it to BMW, they diagnosed the problem as an internal Tranny problem and replaced it for $5000 in parts and labor. It does hurt.

Anyway, a few weeks after receiving it back and beginning to drive, the light turns on once more. Bring it back to BMW, and they will claim that the aftermarket sound system in the vehicle is to blame for the electrical commotion. The error codes were cleared, the system was unplugged, and they drove the vehicle for 70 kilometers without the light coming on.

The system is now turned back on, but the light is still off. If the problem reappears, the transmission control unit will need to be replaced, which would cost $3500 plus likely $500 in labor. This is obviously absurd, and even though they claim that each time the fault codes were different (do they keep track of them so that I can look at them), I have a suspicion that initially there was nothing wrong with the Tranny.

So, in order to avoid spending an additional $4000 to fix the car, I’m finally looking to see if I can remove the fault code on my own. The sound system cannot be turned off.

Fault Code Reset

I neglected to plug the air flow meter back in after cleaning my air filter today, thus the engine ran poorly and the Check Engine light illuminated.

When I restarted the car after plugging the AFM back in, it continued to run poorly, as if it were still unplugged.

For fun, I performed the stomp test, and the code returned as 1215, as it should. I was pleased that I could obtain the engine codes.

To get the engine to work properly, I had to reset the light by unplugging the battery and clear the DME’s code.

I found it a little odd that even though the issue had been resolved by reattaching the AFM electronics, the DME kept acting as though it hadn’t.

Does everyone else have similar experiences?

Is there an alternative to unplugging the battery to reset the DME?

I don’t believe there one because the wiring diagram demonstrates that it is connected without a fuse directly to the battery.

If you check Pelican, I think the codes can be cleared by keeping the pedal depressed for 10 seconds after all of the codes have been read. Check out the website; I might be off.

“You may reset the computer and erase every code once you’ve finished reading them. Ensure that the last code (1000) has appeared, then depress the gas pedal for a period of time greater than 10 seconds. The DME’s memory should be cleared as a result. If the fault code reading procedure is repeated, the computer should produce code 1444, which denotes the absence of any errors.”

On a BMW E46, how do you restart the computer?

Your BMW E46 ECU can be reset in one of two ways: Your negative battery cable should be disconnected for 10 to 15 minutes before being reconnected. Both battery wires should be unplugged before letting them touch for 5 to 10 seconds. Recharge your battery

How can my BMW 3 Series be reset?

The mechanic will reset the computer in your BMW after the service is complete so it can record your mileage and let you know when the car will need maintenance again in the future. However, the techniques listed below can help you if you maintain your own car but are unclear of how to reset the computer system.

  • With the engine off, turn the key to the ON position.
  • For TEN seconds, press and HOLD the ODOMETER button. It can be found at the Instrument Cluster’s extreme bottom LEFT corner.
  • The dash screen will display FGSTNR along with a number. Your chassis number is this (See image example).
  • The LAST FOUR numerals are added. Ex: 3+4+5+6= 18 (taken from the image above). Your UNLOCK CODE is going to be 18.
  • Press and hold the ODOMETER button one more until the FGSTNR clearing area appears (you will still see numbers in the top section).
  • Press the odometer button until the upper Menu area (entering code menu) reaches 19 after the bottom area has cleared; When you do, the text will appear at the bottom: Press the odometer button to enter your unlock code after turning the lock on (from the example above) This is seen in the bottom portion.
  • The screen will appear as in the image above after a little period, at which point the menu will once again appear at the top. To access the number 21 menu, press the odometer button (also theentering code menu).
  • On the screen’s bottom, it will say: RESET? To complete the reset, press the odometer button.

Your BMW’s computer has been restarted! The existing settings must now be added again, or new ones must be added.

**NOTE: Slowly repeat the procedures if you are unable to reset the BMW computer on your first attempt. If you’re still having trouble, ask the dealership for help or refer to your car’s owner’s manual.

How do I reset the engine warning light on my BMW?

Yesterday when I took my automobile to the mechanic, his new employee handled the most of the work. He did an excellent job, but neglected to turn off my service light. How can I turn off the BMW’s service engine warning?

In less than two minutes, find out if your auto insurance is being overcharged.

Our cars’ service lights frequently stay on because the mechanic forgot to reset them. But occasionally, it can be necessary to address a root problem. Make sure your automobile is in good shape before you reset a BMW service engine light (just to be safe).

By following these procedures, you can turn off the service engine light on your BMW if you’re satisfied it doesn’t require any other repairs:

  • Start the ignition, but do not drive. Press the START button if your BMW has one without depressing the brake pedal.
  • Hold down the tiny odometer button until a maintenance warning light comes on.
  • Press it once more until a reset prompt appears.
  • Once more, press and hold it until the message appears. Reset effective.
  • To confirm that it was successful, start the car again and again.

You may drive more at ease knowing that your automobile is in top shape now that the service engine light has been reset. Your auto insurance, meanwhile, can be a different matter. There is no warning light that will let you know if you are significantly overpaying or underinsured. To find out for sure and to save hundreds, check out the Jerry app.

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Will a BMW check engine light automatically reset?

Since the Condition-Based Servicing system is used by the majority of BMW models, your check engine light ought to automatically turn off after the problematic issue has been fixed.

What should you do if your BMW check engine light illuminates?

The check engine light never goes off: The onboard diagnostic system in your car has found a problem that has to be rectified. Even if your car may appear to be running smoothly, it’s recommended to have it serviced as soon as possible to avoid more problems.

Without a scanner, how do you read BMW error codes?

While turning the ignition key ON, press the Trip and Reset buttons on the odometer. Release the odometer Reset and Trip buttons after turning the key to the ON position to see if the Diagnostic Trouble Code, or DTC, shows up on the odometer display.

You’ve generated a diagnostic trouble code without a code scanner if the error code appears. Make a note of each fault code and look up the DTC definitions in your manual.

Can I operate a BMW with the check engine light on?

A constant glow normally denotes something less serious, but a check engine light that flashes suggests your car’s engine is seriously damaged and needs quick repair. We strongly advise not operating your BMW while the check engine light is flashing and setting up BMW servicing right away.

How far must you travel to turn the check engine light off?

Most likely, the problem with your check engine light has been resolved, but it’s still on. And you’re growing annoyed by it. Maybe you spent a fortune on it.

You probably don’t know this, but you need to drive for 50 to 100 miles after clearing the car’s computer.

The computer in your car will keep track of all the sensors’ readings while you drive and record them.

Details are as follows:

After resetting the codes, your automobile hasn’t been driven for enough time. Solution: Continue driving until the system flashes READY.

But wait, there are still some very crucial items to consider. So let’s look more closely.

What happens when the automobile computer is reset?

Before taking the bother to fix this part on your car, you might want to know what a reset can help with. It is a lot of effort, after all. All of these might not be necessary if you don’t need to reset. You might even put your car in danger.

  • enabling you to start the engine of your car
  • remove the check engine light
  • resolving any irregular engine activity
  • Eliminate any strange burning odors or odours

Fixing this device will help all of these. It is crucial to know how to reset the computer in your car for this reason.

Make sure to examine the car’s computer if you experience any of these issues. You’ll probably benefit from a complete reset rather than having to pay a hefty sum to a mechanic who might or might not be able to solve the issue. We shall then begin the reset procedure. There are two primary approaches.

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Without a scanner, how can I turn off my check engine light?

Using a Scanner to Reset a Check Engine Light. Without a scanner, unplug the negative battery cable from the engine and wait a few seconds to restart the check engine light. Your car’s diagnostic system will be reset as a result, and if the underlying problem has been fixed, the light should go off right away.

How do I detach the proper battery cable to reset the engine light?

  • OFFSET the ignition.
  • Determine which battery terminal is the negative one; it is typically identified by a black cap and the negative (-) sign.
  • After removing the negative terminal bolt with a wrench, remove the negative cable and set it aside.