Re: 88 90 engine light questions

[Steve Manning <stephenm@ix.netcom.com>]

At 03:29 PM 8/5/97 Dennis Ruffing wrote:
>Friends,
>
>Would anyone be able to enlighten me on what sensors/ situations will
>turn on my engine light while driving?
>
>To further explain my question, I would like to state that I am aware
>of the memory fault storage and diagnosis procedures.  When I "dump"
>the codes on my machine, I get every message in Mr. Bentley's (pretty
>much useless) book.  This can't be true, the car wouldn't run.  
>
>So, are there specific sensors (ox sensor, knock sensor, etc) that may
>cause the engine light to flicker ( and fully go on and off) while the
>car is being driven, or is the light simply an indication that there
>are errors stored in memory?
>
>48 state car- not the canadian or the californian model.
>
>Any thoughts or knowledge or experience appreciated.

The only reason the light flashes is to indicate a ignition/fuel injection
fault has just occurred.  Anytime the light flashes you have recorded a
fault in memory.  However, you can record a fault without flashing the light.

Are you sure you don't have the CA version?  The only way to be sure is to
physically check the part #'s on both the fuel injection and ignition
control units (D2-110-1 in Bentley).  I've never seen an '88 90q that
wasn't a 'California' version.

Presuming yours is a CA, use the procedure on D2-125-1 to erase the
permanent fault memory.  Be careful, however, because the procedure is
wrong - step 2 should be 'turn ignition *on*', and the last comment should
read 'if the fault warning lamp now staff *off*...'.  Drive the car until
the light flashes, then check the codes.  You should get the one that is
the problem.

Presuming you don't have a CA version, and you get all the codes, I don't
have a clue, unless there is a major problem with one of your computers, or
the computer(s) are getting no input because of a wiring problem.

Hope this helps....e-mail if you want more.......SLM


Steve Manning:  stephenm@ix.netcom.com (BMWCCA #93xxx)
...Physical home: Metro D.C. area, USA
.....Virtual home:  http://www.stationwagon.com