Re: Been there lately.. long (archive)

Mark and Stan,
I feel better reading that a professional engine mechanic like you Mark are having the same problems and having to go to a dealer yourself to make use of the machine, but finding out that the supposed specialist don't possess any more talent than you in their diagnostic skills is both good and bad, honest that they admit it but frustrating that no one seems to truly know the car in most areas of the US.

You must truly feel the same frustration as the rest of us when all you need is a little good and solid information and bam you could fix it. But where do you get that good and solid information, hell your good independent BMW mechanic didn't even know, but at least he spent some time and he didn't try to say that it was something it wasn't. I still don't know where the DK motor is located, I think it's up front on each bank on either side?? There must be a test other than a diagnostic machine to see if they are working or not??

Stan,
Where are these Cam position Pulse sensors located? Do you need a diagnostic machine to tell if one's bad or if you need one?? And even if you have a diagnostic machine, dealer or otherwise, it doesn't sound like it really helps all that much. From what most of the guys on here have said at moments like these is that the dealer usually says it's one thing and when replaced the problem is still usually there. In this case it looks like you lucked out.

Also,at the moment it sound like when the car goes into limp home mode a guy should just automatically replace the sensors (cheapest) and then the DK motors. Unless there are other things that also cause the same limp home result?? Man, my kingdom for an honest, good, experienced, knowledgable, interested and good natured 8 mechanic thats been around for 10 yrs on these cars. I would gladly attend his seminar.
Until then if my car goes into limp mode, I'm just immediately going to replace both sensors and then if it doesn't fix it then both DK motors because at least that is fast and at least then I will know what is not causing it.
Thanks to you both, Kurt

Mark,
Once again, besides DK's, I'd check sensors. Your symptions sound similar to my problems with the cam position sensors (pulse sensors). First time it happened - cold start, one bank only. Warm up the car, restart it and everything was fine. Replaced one sensor and cleared it up. 4 months later, car goes into Transmission Fail Safe mode and after a lot of troubleshooting, it turned out to be the sensor on the other bank. We got multiple error codes so things were confused for a while. The electronics are so integrated, that a failure in one sensor can trigger fail safes in other systems (e.g. engine sensor triggering trans fail safe). The sensor was $125.

Stan C.

Follow Ups:

Re: Electrical Stuff Stan C. 10:11 11/07/2000 (1)
- Thanks Stan & Steve, so much to learn Kurt.G 13:11 11/07/2000 (0)
Don't forget the ........... Steve Cohen 02:41 11/07/2000 (0)

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