Won't accelerate uphill check engine light on

Kraz43series · 07-15-2016, 12:22 AM

Hello

Today I was driving back home with a friend on the highway and I noticed a slight hesitation on the highway. The car wouldn't accelerate uphill and then for the first time since I've had my 2006 325xi the check engine light came on. It was a scary drive home but we made it. Had about an hour drive on the highway late at night so I stayed in the right lane and when it got hilly I had the pedal floored and nothing. Was doing about 40 to 50 with the hazards on. Then when a downhill came on the highway I coasted to 80 and kept it there to gain momentum for the next uphill. Sweating and nervous I made it home. The whole trip was nerve wracking. Luckily I just moved so no more hills. Finally made it to my complex and shut the car off. Turned it back on and drove around my complex and it seemed fine and no engine light came on. Went to a little hill stopped the car there and it drove fine. Any ideas what this could be? This was by far the most scariest drive back home. I kept thinking like man this is unsafe but luckily there weren't many cars on the highway. It's just funny how we made it home. Any time a downhill came I just gained momentum and prayed until the next incline came on the highway I would have enough umph to get her for thr next downhill. Please help

mjn77 · 07-15-2016, 01:12 AM

Need to get the codes read, otherwise you're just guessing.

Brian_C · 07-15-2016, 05:56 AM

Definitely agree need to get codes read to see if the ecu logged an error which it should since the check engine light came on, this happened me on a previous car (Saab 93) same symptoms etc. And it turned out to be a split intercooler hose and under heavy load the air fuel mixture was off so cut power and check engine light appeared

Kraz43series · 07-16-2016, 12:57 PM

So this morning started the car and now the check engine light isn't there anymore. Drove around for awhile up to 60 mph and didn't feel any loss of power or deceleration. What the hell?

tdavis42 · 07-16-2016, 12:58 PM

I bet its the vanos solenoids but I am just GUESSING. Pull the codes first.

tshoww · 07-16-2016, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdavis42

I bet its the vanos solenoids but I am just GUESSING. Pull the codes first.

That would be my guess too

chris7520 · 07-17-2016, 07:48 PM

I had my 330i did that at 127k, thought it was the Vanos but the car said otherwise, it turned out that it was the Valvetronic motor. super easy fix but not a cheep one even from the aftermarket online guys. I suggest always getting the BMW part much better warranty two years unlimited milage. you don't have to get the part at the dealership either or have them install it for the warranty to be valid. I got that info from the dealership.

STRMTRPR · 07-19-2016, 01:12 PM

Check your spark plugs and coils.

Vincent_E90 · 07-19-2016, 01:23 PM

Trouble shooting on forums without posting codes is like asking a doctor to diagnose over emails.

tdavis42 · 07-19-2016, 01:31 PM

I like to think of it like asking a proctologist to look at your teeth. Just because s#it spews out occasionally it doesn't mean he knows whats wrong.

07-15-2016, 12:22 AM	#1
Kraz43series New Member 1 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Won't accelerate uphill check engine light on Hello Today I was driving back home with a friend on the highway and I noticed a slight hesitation on the highway. The car wouldn't accelerate uphill and then for the first time since I've had my 2006 325xi the check engine light came on. It was a scary drive home but we made it. Had about an hour drive on the highway late at night so I stayed in the right lane and when it got hilly I had the pedal floored and nothing. Was doing about 40 to 50 with the hazards on. Then when a downhill came on the highway I coasted to 80 and kept it there to gain momentum for the next uphill. Sweating and nervous I made it home. The whole trip was nerve wracking. Luckily I just moved so no more hills. Finally made it to my complex and shut the car off. Turned it back on and drove around my complex and it seemed fine and no engine light came on. Went to a little hill stopped the car there and it drove fine. Any ideas what this could be? This was by far the most scariest drive back home. I kept thinking like man this is unsafe but luckily there weren't many cars on the highway. It's just funny how we made it home. Any time a downhill came I just gained momentum and prayed until the next incline came on the highway I would have enough umph to get her for thr next downhill. Please help
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07-15-2016, 01:12 AM	#2
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1073 Rep 1,957 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Need to get the codes read, otherwise you're just guessing.
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07-15-2016, 05:56 AM	#3
Brian_C Private First Class 21 Rep 117 Posts Drives: E91 335D Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	Definitely agree need to get codes read to see if the ecu logged an error which it should since the check engine light came on, this happened me on a previous car (Saab 93) same symptoms etc. And it turned out to be a split intercooler hose and under heavy load the air fuel mixture was off so cut power and check engine light appeared
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07-16-2016, 12:57 PM	#4
Kraz43series New Member 1 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	So this morning started the car and now the check engine light isn't there anymore. Drove around for awhile up to 60 mph and didn't feel any loss of power or deceleration. What the hell?
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07-16-2016, 12:58 PM	#5
tdavis42 Captain 181 Rep 657 Posts Drives: 08 E90 328i ZSP AT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	I bet its the vanos solenoids but I am just GUESSING. Pull the codes first.
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07-17-2016, 07:48 PM	#7
chris7520 New Member 5 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2006 330i sport Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I had my 330i did that at 127k, thought it was the Vanos but the car said otherwise, it turned out that it was the Valvetronic motor. super easy fix but not a cheep one even from the aftermarket online guys. I suggest always getting the BMW part much better warranty two years unlimited milage. you don't have to get the part at the dealership either or have them install it for the warranty to be valid. I got that info from the dealership.
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07-19-2016, 01:12 PM	#8
STRMTRPR Second Lieutenant 74 Rep 295 Posts Drives: 13 E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Death Star iTrader: (0)	Check your spark plugs and coils.
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07-19-2016, 01:23 PM	#9
Vincent_E90 Second Lieutenant 81 Rep 241 Posts Drives: N54 E90 335i 6MT BSM Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: North Lake Tahoe, CA iTrader: (1)	Trouble shooting on forums without posting codes is like asking a doctor to diagnose over emails. __________________ Mine - 2008 E90 335i Black Sapphire Metallic 6MT \| New OEM Turbos @ 111k\| Cobb Stage 2 LT Sport \| Full Stainless Steel Akrapovic Exhaust \| 5'' Stepped FMIC \| VRSF Catless Downpipes\| 19in BBS CH-R Matte Black \| aFe Stage 2 Air Intake and air scoops\| Mishimoto OCC\| M-Tech Front Bumper
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07-19-2016, 01:31 PM	#10
tdavis42 Captain 181 Rep 657 Posts Drives: 08 E90 328i ZSP AT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	I like to think of it like asking a proctologist to look at your teeth. Just because s#it spews out occasionally it doesn't mean he knows whats wrong.
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