Easiest way to cause a check engine light?

Stvee · 10-15-2014, 02:26 PM

My car has misfired a few times without throwing a check engine light and I just want to verify that my jb4 is not hiding all CEL's. I'm pretty sure I have this functionality turned off, but the newer documentation doesn't list the options to do it.

What is the easiest way to cause a check engine light without harming anything? On my old evo I know you could just disconnect the CPS and try to start it and it would throw one.

Dackelone · 10-15-2014, 02:54 PM

Leave the gas cap off and start the car. That will throw the ECL on. After a few hundred miles(or ignition key cycles) it should go out.

Stvee · 10-15-2014, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Leave the gas cap off and start the car. That will throw the ECL on. After a few hundred miles(or ignition key cycles) it should go out.

Thanks, I'll just clear it right after with JB4 if it throws one.

Stvee · 10-21-2014, 05:18 PM

Leaving the gas cap off and starting the car didn't cause a check engine light. Is there anything else I can do to easily cause one?

Also, the setting I'm using to disable autoclearing is speedo on 1, tach on 4. Is this right? I'm on the latest model of JB4.

I'm not sure why the steering wheel control guide doesn't list these options anymore.

edisapimp · 10-21-2014, 05:36 PM

You could use some BS gas in the car and dial up some boost and probably get a few detonations.. But then you're stuck with BS gas.

tehron · 10-21-2014, 05:44 PM

leave the gas cap loose. might take a few miles for it to kick in.

leaky gas cap CEL is fairly easy to trigger

Downeaster1 · 10-21-2014, 05:49 PM

Unplug the MAF. Instant SES light, and its easy to get to.

e36addict · 10-21-2014, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downeaster1

Unplug the MAF. Instant SES light, and its easy to get to.

That. Loosening the gas cap won't do anything. You would have to leave it loose for multiple drive cycles for it to trigger a code.

Stvee · 10-22-2014, 12:36 PM

Do I even have a MAF sensor? I was under the impression that the N54's only have MAP's.

Also, I'm definitely not going to trip the CEL by purposely causing knock...

10-15-2014, 02:26 PM	#1
Stvee Private First Class 21 Rep 157 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 135i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Harrisonburg, VA iTrader: (2)	Easiest way to cause a check engine light? My car has misfired a few times without throwing a check engine light and I just want to verify that my jb4 is not hiding all CEL's. I'm pretty sure I have this functionality turned off, but the newer documentation doesn't list the options to do it. What is the easiest way to cause a check engine light without harming anything? On my old evo I know you could just disconnect the CPS and try to start it and it would throw one.
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10-15-2014, 02:54 PM	#2
Dackelone European Editor 10528 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Leave the gas cap off and start the car. That will throw the ECL on. After a few hundred miles(or ignition key cycles) it should go out. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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10-21-2014, 05:18 PM	#4
Stvee Private First Class 21 Rep 157 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 135i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Harrisonburg, VA iTrader: (2)	Leaving the gas cap off and starting the car didn't cause a check engine light. Is there anything else I can do to easily cause one? Also, the setting I'm using to disable autoclearing is speedo on 1, tach on 4. Is this right? I'm on the latest model of JB4. I'm not sure why the steering wheel control guide doesn't list these options anymore.
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10-21-2014, 05:36 PM	#5
edisapimp Civil Rights Activist 115 Rep 949 Posts Drives: E46 Sedan, E88 Vert Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	You could use some BS gas in the car and dial up some boost and probably get a few detonations.. But then you're stuck with BS gas. __________________ E88 Crimson Red Vert MSport 6MT - Listing your mods in your signature is lame. BMS DCI/MHD E30 Flash!!/AA Sport FMIC/VRSF CP w Tial BOV/VRSF 3" DPs/550i clutch w SPEC SMFW/Apex EC-7s/Whiteline RSFB/E92 M3 FCAs/Bilstein B12 Pro Kit/VRSF inlets
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10-21-2014, 05:44 PM	#6
tehron Private First Class 13 Rep 152 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 135i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Orange County iTrader: (0)	leave the gas cap loose. might take a few miles for it to kick in. leaky gas cap CEL is fairly easy to trigger __________________ 2011 BMW 135i, 6MT, Jet Black - BMS Clutch Stop, Berk Street Exhaust, LCI Blackline Tails 2007 Mazda RX8, 6SP, Stormy Blue Mica - Sold
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10-21-2014, 05:49 PM	#7
Downeaster1 BMW Master Tech 587 Rep 850 Posts Drives: E30, E36, E82, E90, F10, F80 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Aston Martin V ... [0.00] 2010 Lamborghini LP ... [0.00] 1985 Alpina C2 2.7 [0.00] 2017 BMW M3 [0.00] 2008 BMW 128i [10.00] 2013 BMW 135is [0.00] 1992 BMW 325i [0.00]	Unplug the MAF. Instant SES light, and its easy to get to. __________________ 135is #502 of 586 BMW LED Performance Wheel \| OEM FULL Carbon Fiber \| E9X M3 Gauge Cluster \| E9X Exterior Mirrors \| E9X M3 Full Suspension \| E9X M3 Diff \| PT-CAN2 Enabled \| Bilstiens \| Michelin PSS's \| NBT Navigation Retrofit with Touch Pad
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10-22-2014, 12:36 PM	#9
Stvee Private First Class 21 Rep 157 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 135i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Harrisonburg, VA iTrader: (2)	Do I even have a MAF sensor? I was under the impression that the N54's only have MAP's. Also, I'm definitely not going to trip the CEL by purposely causing knock...
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