What To Check When Your BMW Check Engine Light Is On
When your check engine light comes on, a certain wave of panic sets in. What is wrong? Why is the light on? Is it the oil? Is it the coolant? Is it the heating system? A hundred questions run through your head and then comes the process of finding a trusted shop to take your BMW to.
There are a number of things that can cause your check engine light to come on. Sometimes it can be triggered by something as simple as a loosened gas cap. And then again at times it can be something more serious like the electrical system. The on board computer on your BMW, goes through its own self test as you drive the vehicle. If at any point on its list of tests a failure is detected, it will generate a code and illuminate the Check Engine Light. At this time, you need to contact a trusted local BMW shop. Driving around with your check engine light on, could cause serious damage to the engine of your BMW.
Make sure that you tell the technician exactly what you were doing when you noticed the light come on. Where were you driving, at what speeds and the traffic conditions. When you get your vehicle inspected, a fault code will be retrieved from the on board computer which tells the Technician which system is not operating properly. Once the fault is retrieved the Technician will perform the applicable test procedures to pin point where the cause lies. As the tech goes through the test procedure check list, if any test step fails, we will recommend replacement of the component causing the failure at that test step. Once the repair is performed, our qualified tech’s will continue the test procedure check list which may or may not have any further failures.
Our goal is to communicate to you what test we performed, and the repair’s that are needed to be done. Remember, the longer you drive the vehicle with the check engine light on, or neglect to repair needed items on your vehicle, the more complex the diagnosis can become. Not to mention, the more expensive the repairs can become.
