engine light on

nickle43 · 08-13-2008, 05:18 PM

so i installed an afe cold air intake a few weeks ago and haven't had any problems. then today my "service engine soon" light goes on. the dealer said it could either be fuel or exhaust related. is there any way my intake could have caused this problem?

nickle43 · 08-13-2008, 05:32 PM

can any one let me know right now?

tintivilus · 08-13-2008, 05:52 PM

Off hand I doubt changing the intake would cause a check-engine light but that doesn't mean you didn't bonk something while installing it. Collateral damage, if you will.

Tag · 08-13-2008, 05:54 PM

Highly doubt it...

E92_335 · 08-13-2008, 05:54 PM

who installed the intake for you? if you did yourself, give yourself a bonk on the head because most likely you didn't realize it but you hit something while installing or installed a component wrong

voltron1011 · 08-13-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickle43

can any one let me know right now?

I had the exact same problem with the AFE intake... I ended up returning it...

There are known issues with the AFE's design as far as where the MAF is located (in a turbulent zone in the intake)... The CEL you are getting is a 'lean fuel mixture' one...

nickle43 · 08-13-2008, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voltron1011

I had the exact same problem with the AFE intake... I ended up returning it...

There are known issues with the AFE's design as far as where the MAF is located (in a turbulent zone in the intake)... The CEL you are getting is a 'lean fuel mixture' one...

but what does the CAI have to do with fuel mixture? how would the location of the MAF affect something to do with fuel?

nickle43 · 08-13-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voltron1011

I had the exact same problem with the AFE intake... I ended up returning it...

There are known issues with the AFE's design as far as where the MAF is located (in a turbulent zone in the intake)... The CEL you are getting is a 'lean fuel mixture' one...

wait so are you saying that nothing is actually wrong but because of where the MAF is located the CEL is on when it shouldn't be?

voltron1011 · 08-13-2008, 08:22 PM

The MAF is getting staggered and inconsisent air readings, which in turn is telling the fuel injectors to lean out the fuel mixture. The CEL is going off because of the radical change in air readings.
IMO, this could lead to some serious engine damage due to prolonged lean fuel mixtures.

Ray · 08-13-2008, 08:28 PM

Wait... Does your light indicate check engine or service engine soon?

voltron1011 · 08-13-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

Wait... Does your light indicate check engine or service engine soon?

CEL: Check Engine Light

The design of the AFE intake tube where the OEM MAF has to be mounted is flawed.

nickle43 · 08-13-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voltron1011

CEL: Check Engine Light

The design of the AFE intake tube where the OEM MAF has to be mounted is flawed.

The light is actually the "service engine soon" light. it literally reads "service engine soon." i called the dealership and they said that this light goes on because of a fuel or exhaust problem. so i should take the afe intake out then? do you think i can get a refund from afe?

voltron1011 · 08-14-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickle43

The light is actually the "service engine soon" light. it literally reads "service engine soon." i called the dealership and they said that this light goes on because of a fuel or exhaust problem. so i should take the afe intake out then? do you think i can get a refund from afe?

This how it happened to me:
I purchased the AFE intake off of ebay. I installed it according to the directions. Two days later the CEL went off and I then uninstalled it and took my car to the dealership. They told me the CEL was from a 'lean fuel state'.. They cleared the CEL and the car has been fine ever since (with the OEM intake back on). After reading through numerous forums I found out that this is a very common problem with AFE. I contacted the Ebay seller and told him that I'd like a refund. They refunded my money without question.

Your car will be fine after you put the OEM intake back on... In fact, the CEL will clear on it's own after a certain amount of engine cycles.

bbelt88 · 08-15-2008, 07:34 PM

yes sir - your intake coule be to blame for your problem.

My last car was an E90 330i and put the AFE intake on that car. The check engine light would come on periodically and then go away after a while. So i reinstalled the factory airbox and the problem went away.
3 months ago before i traded my car in for my 335i, i put the intake back on cause i wanted the sound once again. This time though there was no problem watsoever - no engine light came on and everyhitng ran smoothly

08-13-2008, 05:18 PM	#1
nickle43 Private 5 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sedan Jet Black Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: USA & Canada iTrader: (0)	engine light on - need quick advice on so i installed an afe cold air intake a few weeks ago and haven't had any problems. then today my "service engine soon" light goes on. the dealer said it could either be fuel or exhaust related. is there any way my intake could have caused this problem?
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08-13-2008, 05:32 PM	#2
nickle43 Private 5 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sedan Jet Black Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: USA & Canada iTrader: (0)	can any one let me know right now?
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08-13-2008, 05:52 PM	#3
tintivilus Lieutenant Colonel 26 Rep 1,826 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lake County, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00] 2003 325i [0.00]	Off hand I doubt changing the intake would cause a check-engine light but that doesn't mean you didn't bonk something while installing it. Collateral damage, if you will.
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08-13-2008, 05:54 PM	#4
Tag this is the way 18151 Rep 8,527 Posts Drives: N-1 starfighter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)	Highly doubt it...
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08-13-2008, 05:54 PM	#5
E92_335 Colonel 156 Rep 2,863 Posts Drives: G20 330i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: CA iTrader: (7)	who installed the intake for you? if you did yourself, give yourself a bonk on the head because most likely you didn't realize it but you hit something while installing or installed a component wrong __________________
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08-13-2008, 08:22 PM	#9
voltron1011 Colonel 119 Rep 2,909 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, FJR-1300 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wiesbaden iTrader: (2)	The MAF is getting staggered and inconsisent air readings, which in turn is telling the fuel injectors to lean out the fuel mixture. The CEL is going off because of the radical change in air readings. IMO, this could lead to some serious engine damage due to prolonged lean fuel mixtures. __________________ '06 E90 325i (Delivered May '05) 6-spd manual, Nav, Xenons, 18' 162's, sport-suspension, 15mm RE spacers, NURBURGRING: http://www.e90post.com/forums/album.php?albumid=3270
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08-13-2008, 08:28 PM	#10
Ray Member 306 Rep 22,825 Posts Drives: three series Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sfCA iTrader: (0)	Wait... Does your light indicate check engine or service engine soon?
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08-15-2008, 07:34 PM	#14
bbelt88 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2008 E60 535i ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	yes sir - your intake coule be to blame for your problem. My last car was an E90 330i and put the AFE intake on that car. The check engine light would come on periodically and then go away after a while. So i reinstalled the factory airbox and the problem went away. 3 months ago before i traded my car in for my 335i, i put the intake back on cause i wanted the sound once again. This time though there was no problem watsoever - no engine light came on and everyhitng ran smoothly
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