Anyone with engine start button problems?

pbat · 12-18-2008, 06:42 PM

I went for a short drive today in my 128i and parked the car to go into a store. Upon coming out and starting my drive home, I inserted my key and all of a sudden the backlight which lights up the "start/stop" engine button started to flicker. I though this was strange but started the car and continued my drive home. Once I arrived, the dashboard showed an icon of the car on a lift (in red) and the flickering continued. Engine still seems to start fine but I'll give the dealership a call tomorrow am. It's cold here in the NE, so I'm wondering if the cold temps are causing problems with the ignition system.

Anyone else experience this?

pbat · 12-26-2008, 04:32 PM

Turned out that the Service Mode was triggered somehow. The light reset itself after 1 day of driving. The dealer also could not find any faults. Better safe than sorry

pbat · 12-28-2008, 07:13 AM

The next day, the service mode light is back on. I noticed a pattern, both times the light has come one, I've was using my fog lights (I usually don't turn them on). This leads me to believe that there maybe something related to the fog lights being turned on and the false service mode trip. Back to the dealership I go...

adrean8j · 12-28-2008, 08:22 AM

Subscribed...

pbat · 02-10-2009, 07:43 PM

Alrighty, I think we got somewhere today. I had my car in for another service today because again Start/Stop button started to flicker. This time was even worse though because I could not stop the engine of the car, pressing the button did not stop the engine. The dealership ran some diags and they found that the ribbon cable going from the key holder to the computer was faulty. They replaced the ribbon cable (P/N 1 61-12-6-960-259) and things are working just fine for now. I'll update if there is a recurrence of the issue. For now, I'm happy the issue seems resolved

Monaco35Dream · 02-10-2009, 09:18 PM

Very strange?? Glad to hear things are ok...

miro2296 · 02-11-2009, 12:58 PM

First time i heard this happening. Thanks for the information! Good to know!

BlackjackMulligan · 02-11-2009, 01:25 PM

wow weird. Glad it all worked out!

jmcgraw013 · 02-11-2009, 01:40 PM

Last weekend I tried unsuccessfully to start my car using both of my keys - 8 or 10 tries- the dash would light up and all of the power items worked, but nothing would happen when pressing the Start/Stop button - just a click. It worked perfectly the night before. I waited awhile and then tried it again - it finally started - I think I didn't have the brake fully depressed - I haven't had the problem since. Weird. Maybe the switch from the brake pedal is funky. I'm taking it in my dealer shortly when I pick up my new plates (I've only had it two weeks).

pbat · 02-11-2009, 04:56 PM

jmcgraw013, was the start/stop button flickering? You see the amber backlight behind the button flash very rapidly. It's easiest to see at night of course.

jmcgraw013 · 02-11-2009, 06:13 PM

I don't recall if the start/stop light was flickering or not. I remember seeing a yellow warning light finally come up in the square that looking like a foot on the brake petal. I know I had my foot on the brake pedal when I had trouble starting it - I've even tried it since with my foot barely on the brake and it still starts.

ugarte · 02-11-2009, 08:46 PM

delete

Mad Dragon · 02-11-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbat

Turned out that the Service Mode was triggered somehow. The light reset itself after 1 day of driving. The dealer also could not find any faults. Better safe than sorry

Service mode? I've never heard of that.

pbat · 02-12-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Dragon

Service mode? I've never heard of that.

Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology. By "Service Mode" I mean that a red indicator showing a car on a lift showed in on the instrumentation cluster. I believe this indicates some sort of electrical issue as per the owner's manual.

SaNGRia · 08-05-2015, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmcgraw013

I don't recall if the start/stop light was flickering or not. I remember seeing a yellow warning light finally come up in the square that looking like a foot on the brake petal. I know I had my foot on the brake pedal when I had trouble starting it - I've even tried it since with my foot barely on the brake and it still starts.

So what was the reason of this issue?

Check out my topic :
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1142234

12-18-2008, 06:42 PM	#1
pbat BMW Newbie 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	Anyone with engine start button problems? I went for a short drive today in my 128i and parked the car to go into a store. Upon coming out and starting my drive home, I inserted my key and all of a sudden the backlight which lights up the "start/stop" engine button started to flicker. I though this was strange but started the car and continued my drive home. Once I arrived, the dashboard showed an icon of the car on a lift (in red) and the flickering continued. Engine still seems to start fine but I'll give the dealership a call tomorrow am. It's cold here in the NE, so I'm wondering if the cold temps are causing problems with the ignition system. Anyone else experience this?
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12-26-2008, 04:32 PM	#2
pbat BMW Newbie 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	Turned out that the Service Mode was triggered somehow. The light reset itself after 1 day of driving. The dealer also could not find any faults. Better safe than sorry
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12-28-2008, 07:13 AM	#3
pbat BMW Newbie 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	The next day, the service mode light is back on. I noticed a pattern, both times the light has come one, I've was using my fog lights (I usually don't turn them on). This leads me to believe that there maybe something related to the fog lights being turned on and the false service mode trip. Back to the dealership I go...
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02-10-2009, 07:43 PM	#5
pbat BMW Newbie 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	Alrighty, I think we got somewhere today. I had my car in for another service today because again Start/Stop button started to flicker. This time was even worse though because I could not stop the engine of the car, pressing the button did not stop the engine. The dealership ran some diags and they found that the ribbon cable going from the key holder to the computer was faulty. They replaced the ribbon cable (P/N 1 61-12-6-960-259) and things are working just fine for now. I'll update if there is a recurrence of the issue. For now, I'm happy the issue seems resolved
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02-10-2009, 09:18 PM	#6
Monaco35Dream Captain 44 Rep 647 Posts Drives: 08' 135i, 96' Talon Tsi AWD Join Date: May 2008 Location: Santa Maria, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 135i [0.00]	Very strange?? Glad to hear things are ok...
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02-11-2009, 12:58 PM	#7
miro2296 Colonel 57 Rep 2,251 Posts Drives: '08 Montego Blue BMW 135i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Round Rock, TX iTrader: (1)	First time i heard this happening. Thanks for the information! Good to know! __________________ ------------------------------------- BMW 135i/6 Speed/Montego Blue/Formula One Ceramic Tint/JB4 G4/AA Sport Intercooler/19 inch Iconz 880Z(19X8.5 & 19X10)/PSS 225/35 & 265/30/E93 M3 front sway bar/TRW front and rear Control Arms/BMS Drop In Filter/Dinan Exhaust/BlackLines/Upgraded \\\M RSFB
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02-11-2009, 01:25 PM	#8
BlackjackMulligan Most interesting Roadster 69 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: '01 Z3.0 Roady;'10 C300 Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Boston 'burbs iTrader: (5) Garage List 2010 Mercedes-Benz ... [0.00] 2001 BMW Z3 3.0 Roa ... [0.00]	wow weird. Glad it all worked out! __________________ I can't complain, but sometimes I still do........Life's been good to me so far. - Joe Walsh
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02-11-2009, 01:40 PM	#9
jmcgraw013 Private First Class 9 Rep 117 Posts Drives: '11 135i Cv Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern Virginia iTrader: (1)	Last weekend I tried unsuccessfully to start my car using both of my keys - 8 or 10 tries- the dash would light up and all of the power items worked, but nothing would happen when pressing the Start/Stop button - just a click. It worked perfectly the night before. I waited awhile and then tried it again - it finally started - I think I didn't have the brake fully depressed - I haven't had the problem since. Weird. Maybe the switch from the brake pedal is funky. I'm taking it in my dealer shortly when I pick up my new plates (I've only had it two weeks). __________________ '11 135i Cabriolet Crimson Red, CPO, Savanna Beige Lthr, High Gloss, Shadowline DCT, Prem Pkg, Sp Pkg, Value Pkg, Sirius, Alarm, CA, 264's
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02-11-2009, 04:56 PM	#10
pbat BMW Newbie 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	jmcgraw013, was the start/stop button flickering? You see the amber backlight behind the button flash very rapidly. It's easiest to see at night of course.
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02-11-2009, 06:13 PM	#11
jmcgraw013 Private First Class 9 Rep 117 Posts Drives: '11 135i Cv Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern Virginia iTrader: (1)	I don't recall if the start/stop light was flickering or not. I remember seeing a yellow warning light finally come up in the square that looking like a foot on the brake petal. I know I had my foot on the brake pedal when I had trouble starting it - I've even tried it since with my foot barely on the brake and it still starts. __________________ '11 135i Cabriolet Crimson Red, CPO, Savanna Beige Lthr, High Gloss, Shadowline DCT, Prem Pkg, Sp Pkg, Value Pkg, Sirius, Alarm, CA, 264's
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02-11-2009, 08:46 PM	#12
ugarte New Member 1 Rep 16 Posts Drives: delete Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: delete iTrader: (0)	delete Last edited by ugarte; 10-27-2009 at 03:42 PM..
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