Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / BMW Cars / February 2007

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

96 318ti check engine

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
19831993ranger - 23 Feb 2007 19:56 GMT
i have 2 codes p0135..p1185

i put 2 new o2 sensors..and these codes flashed.

dme??...heater relay..eeprom.

who can help me.

alex
new jersey
Jeff Strickland - 23 Feb 2007 20:27 GMT
P0135
O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1)

P1186
O2 Sensor Heater Control Circuit (Bank 1 Sensor 2) (BMW)

(*) My OBD II list does not have P1185

Since both of these codes are the heaters that are internal to the sensors,
I'd start looking at something that is common.

Why did you replace the sensors?
What were the codes that prompted you to work on the sensors?
Did you reset the codes after replacing the sensors?
Did you install sensors that simply plugged in, or did you get the type of
sensors that require cutting and splicing wires?

The O2 Sensors have to come up to proper operating temp before they give
reliable data. They will eventually heat up as a result of the exhaust
stream that is flowing past them, but they have a heater that is built in to
heat them up faster. The report you have is that the heaters are not
working.
19831993ranger - 23 Feb 2007 21:40 GMT
hey thanks for the reply..

the first code i had was 0420.

catalyst system efficiency below threshold bank 1.
then i bought 2 o2 sensors, and replaced them, then i cleared the check
engine lite.

i stayed for about 2 hours then these new codes flashed.

but before i changed the o2 sensors i changed the exhaust system.

so what do you think
Jeff Strickland - 23 Feb 2007 23:46 GMT
> hey thanks for the reply..
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> so what do you think

I think you are spinning your wheels.

I would not have changed both sensors with the P0420 code, I would have only
replaced the one after the CAT. I have too much confidence in the CAT
because I think they seldom, if ever, actually fail. And, in the unlikely
event they do fail, they clog to the point that you experience drivability
problems.

But, it's water under the bridge.

I think -- and I didn't see you address my question earlier -- that you have
managed to bungle the wiring somehow, OR you actually have bad heaters in
both of your new O2 sensors. Did you get new sensors, or did you go to the
junk yard and harvest them from a wreck?
19831993ranger - 24 Feb 2007 00:12 GMT
hey man thanks again...i bought them brand new.
and i spliced the wires.

2 white wires
1 green
1 black
the white wires are for the heaters..thats what i was told. plus they
said that it doesnt matter which white one is spliced...
Jeff Strickland - 24 Feb 2007 00:36 GMT
I have no idea what the resistance is on those heaters, but I think you
haven't got the wires connected well.

A test that I would suggest is to devise load to mimic the heater, and
connect the load directly to the connector on the harness side. This should
shut the light off (more accurately, keep the light off after you reset the
computer) if the computer is still good. You can test the heater by ohming
the white wires.

Personally, I have to wonder if the white wires are really the ones you
want. In a typical wiring application, if two wires are the same color, they
have the same job -- like being ground. I can't say for certain that this is
the case for your car, but I could look in my Bentley manual to confirm, my
suspicion.

I'll report back ...

> hey man thanks again...i bought them brand new.
> and i spliced the wires.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the white wires are for the heaters..thats what i was told. plus they
> said that it doesnt matter which white one is spliced...
19831993ranger - 24 Feb 2007 01:00 GMT
thanks alot bro...i`ll take them off and try again
Jeff Strickland - 24 Feb 2007 01:08 GMT
According to my Bentley manual, the Engine Management for the '96 ~ '97 1.9L
engine has the O2 Sensors configured with BLK, YEL, BRN, & GRN wires. The
BLK wire is ground, and the ground on the front sensor is tied to the body
of the sensor, but on the rear sesnor the ground is isolated. (I suspect the
rear mount is not a qualified ground because it is part of the exhaust
system that is isolated from the block via a gasket and rust.) A problem
with this ground will affect the data that the sensor generates, it will not
affect the heaters.

In any case, the sensor wires are BLK & YEL on both. The BRN & GRN wires are
the heater wires. The pin outs are

1.  GRN
This wire is tied to hot (12vDC).

2.  BRN
This wire is Heater GND.

3.  BLK
This wire is Sensor GND

4.  YEL
This wire is the Sensor SIG

I can't suggest a static test, and you may need one because the wore colors
you reported are not the same as in my manual. Frankly, your engine isn't in
my manual either -- my book does not show a '96 318 ti. Assuming your ti is
the same as the 318, my source should be okay. (There are several references
that say, "except '97 318ti," but the O2 Sensors have not got that warning,
so they should be the same.)

My gut feeling is that you spliced incorrectly.
19831993ranger - 24 Feb 2007 01:41 GMT
hey man thanks alot for the info..but how do i tell what the colors are if
mine are different?

and do i disconnect the battery before i remove the o2 sensors
Jeff Strickland - 24 Feb 2007 02:05 GMT
I see no reason to disconnect the battery, the hot wire is only hot if the
key is on START or RUN. Just turn the key off and you'll be fine.

I'm not sure how you tell the wires apart, but I think that you have the
wires crossed. I NEVER buy the type of sensor that requires splicing. I get
the kind that are a direct replacement -- the kind that just plug into the
existing connector.

On EVERY instance where the shade-tree guy (you and I) replaced a universal
type of sensor, and there was a problem in a week or two, the problem has
always found its way back to the shade tree.

> hey man thanks alot for the info..but how do i tell what the colors are if
> mine are different?
>
> and do i disconnect the battery before i remove the o2 sensors
19831993ranger - 24 Feb 2007 02:13 GMT
were are you from jeff??

im in new jersey.

thanks for your help
Jeff Strickland - 24 Feb 2007 02:21 GMT
California. Just outside of San Diego.

You're welcome.

My computer is in the garage, so I gotta go in because it's getting really
cold -- it should drop below 55 soon.

> were are you from jeff??
>
> im in new jersey.
>
> thanks for your help
Jeff Strickland - 24 Feb 2007 02:32 GMT
It's colder than I thought. It's below 50 already. With the wind chill, it
feels below 50 too. I'll need a fire tonight ...

> California. Just outside of San Diego.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>>
>> thanks for your help
admin - 26 Feb 2007 15:27 GMT
> Personally, I have to wonder if the white wires are really the ones you
> want.

In this case he was told correctly. The whites are the heater wires.
Fred W - 24 Feb 2007 00:49 GMT
> hey man thanks again...i bought them brand new.
> and i spliced the wires.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>  the white wires are for the heaters..thats what i was told. plus they
> said that it doesnt matter which white one is spliced...

I wou;d bet that this is the source of your problems.  I think you have
criss-crossed the wires

Signature

-Fred W

admin - 26 Feb 2007 15:31 GMT
>> hey man thanks again...i bought them brand new.
>> and i spliced the wires.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> I wou;d bet that this is the source of your problems.  I think you have
> criss-crossed the wires

I wouldn't take that bet.

Whites are heater wires. BTDT back on my old 87 535i (and multiple
Volvos of various eras..)
Jeff Strickland - 23 Feb 2007 20:28 GMT
Here is the OBD II reference that I use
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm

>i have 2 codes p0135..p1185
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> alex
> new jersey
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.