[fl335i]

Alright guys. I've had my 335i for a few months now, I only drive it on the weekends. So not a lot of use so far. Few weeks back it threw a chk engine light. I hit up Advance and had the code read. P0456 Evap code. Reset it. Drove the car around a few weekends and this past weekend it came back on, had it read... same evap code. Gas cap seems fine. Seal looks good etc. The only mod I have on my car is the Golf Tee mod, which all I did was un-hook the connector in the tail light area. I never actually removed any hosing. My car is a '07 with 39k miles and is a CPO. So I am taking it in this Friday. My question is can the golf tee mod cause a Chk engine light? If not, what do you guys think it is?

[fl335i]

Nobody?? Guess I'm the only one with this problem.

[fdriller9]

No the golf tee mod throws a hidden fault...not the SES light.

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0456

P codes are universal across all us-spec cars. Look at the causes there.

Your dealer is going to have to run a smoke test. I bet one of your seals is bad or there is a hole somewhere.

There is a TSB for codes 2A15 and 2A16 but they cause "fine and finest leakage," respectively.

[fdriller9]

Btw, anywork done around the rear sub frame?

The valve they mention is located somewhere near the airbox...idk it's exact location.

[fl335i]

Thanks. Do you think I should plug the connector back in before I take it in for service? Not sure how finiky bimmer dealers are about stuff like that... I personally don't like anyone working on my car. But for this I have to take it in.

[fdriller9]

I would just to be safe. How did you do the golf tee mod?

By clamping the hose or unplugging the connector inside the trunk? Clamping the hose shouldn't throw an error.

The EVAP system is mainly located under the passenger side rear of the car....right under the battery. It is fairly simple to remove the one panel underneath and get access to the carbon canister, DMTL pump, vent hose, etc.

Here's a diagram:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...19&hg=16&fg=10

That whole system is under the rear passenger side....pulling wheel well felt liner will give access to the filler hose and the fuel tank should be exposed already.

You can visually inspect that area. Inspect the hoses coming from the carbon canister to the fuel tank. They will travel through the rear axle carrier. Check the lines from the fuel tank up to the fuel cap. Try wiggling the connections around....they should be snug but loose to turn side to side.

You can also check in the engine bay, near the intake. Like I said, I'm not sure where it is but there should be a hose and a valve that opens letting fumes into the engine for burning off.

[fdriller9]

Ohh btw after clearing the code... Did the error come back right away? Usually the car goes through a series of test for about 250 miles before the SES light trips.

If it comes back right away it maybe your vent valve because that is monitored a different way.

[fl335i]

Car is bone stock. I just unplugged the electrical connector for the Golf Tee mod. Never monkeyed around with anything else other than a Oil change and detail and Magnetic diff plug.

I have an appt at the dealer this Fri AM. I told the service advisor the code and what it pertains to and they told me "we don't do emission work/testing here". lol. Wow. Someone is a STEP grad. Not.

[fdriller9]

Go to an Indy shop then....or any garage really. The evap system is mandatory in all us cars so it's more or less the same. However as the leak gets small, finer, it will throw BMW specific codes, such 2A15 or 6.

Btw last time I had my car smoked at the dealer (Greenwich BMW service center) the SA tried charging me a $500+ diagnostic fee and claimed the smoke machine took an hour to prep and they removed panels without consent.

I fixed my vent hose leak with a union joint and 2 screw clamps from home depot....$6 compared to the 14+ hours and $1700 quote i got from Norbert....a hole.

[MusclezMarinara]

check the gas cap same issue i had on my 328 dealer did a full investigation couldn't figure it out but cleared code

[fl335i]

Gas cap looks good. I just can't believe the SA didn't know what an Evaporative emssions system was. Tells me this person is nothing more than a sales gimic.

[John 070]

btw, with my Nissan I got a service engine around 65k, EVAP cannister purge valve. I got in the habit of resetting, and it would come back every 2 mos. Eventually, it would come back right after a reset. I tried to follow forum instructions for cleaning a purge valve, it didn't work, and so I took it to the dealership. They robbed me for $350 (or did they?--saw the same prodecure on this forum was north of $1000). But, 140k later, it never came back, so worth it. Point is parts needed replacement, the ecu couldn't be simply reset, and the valve could not be cleaned at least in my case. It was under the rear left wheel well on the nissan.

[fdriller9]

Service ADVISORS should be aware of the EVAP system....knowing about it in depth like I do, is not so likely.

Like I said there is an EVAP system in every US car.....so that SA is not competent and should not be working in the auto industry.

A sales ASSOCIATE however is understandable.....my experience is they don't know anything about the cars they sell unless they drive one themselves....even then most don't know.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by John 070

btw, with my Nissan I got a service engine around 65k, EVAP cannister purge valve. I got in the habit of resetting, and it would come back every 2 mos. Eventually, it would come back right after a reset. I tried to follow forum instructions for cleaning a purge valve, it didn't work, and so I took it to the dealership. They robbed me for $350 (or did they?--saw the same prodecure on this forum was north of $1000). But, 140k later, it never came back, so worth it. Point is parts needed replacement, the ecu couldn't be simply reset, and the valve could not be cleaned at least in my case. It was under the rear left wheel well on the nissan.

Vent valve is near the intake on our cars.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by *********

Service ADVISORS should be aware of the EVAP system....knowing about it in depth like I do, is not so likely.

Like I said there is an EVAP system in every US car.....so that SA is not competent and should not be working in the auto industry.

A sales ASSOCIATE however is understandable.....my experience is they don't know anything about the cars they sell unless they drive one themselves....even then most don't know.

Sometimes places like Midas wont get into it (emissions faults, and they do exhaust), they say go to the dealership. It happened to some guy with a Honda when I was getting my Nissan inspected.

[fdriller9]

The reason is because these leaks can be so small and frustrating to find that most shops don't want to deal with them.

You have to smoke the EVAP system, which consists of burning baby oil (or similar) and forcing it into the hoses. You then use a bright light to inspect for leaks.....idk why EVAP systems have to be so sensitive.

I had P code P0442 (small leak). Patched that with the union joint/screw clamps. Then I got 2A15 (fine leak) throwing my SES light. I tightened the clamps some more. Now my car is throwing 2A16 (finest leakage).

I'm waiting for the 2A17 (super fine leakage) lol

BTW, 2A17 is not a really a code (at least I don't think it is)....I'm just fed up with this BS.

[fl335i]

Ok, dealer fixed my car for free today I didn't even plug the Golf tee mod back in, nor did they say antyhing about it. Paper work states they re-programmed the thing. Code 2A16. Programmed car with CAS. 41222. Whatever that jiberish means. Also states they tested for leaks and none were found. So far so good... Gotta say BMW dealer hire good people all around. Go to some other dealers like Ford and nobody within 1,000' of the service desks know anything about cars.

[mskvarenina]

Originally Posted by *********

Ohh btw after clearing the code... Did the error come back right away? Usually the car goes through a series of test for about 250 miles before the SES light trips.

If it comes back right away it maybe your vent valve because that is monitored a different way.

How does one "clear" the code? And will the code go away by itself if I inspect and find a leak in the system?

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by mskvarenina

How does one "clear" the code? And will the code go away by itself if I inspect and find a leak in the system?

Over time if the leak is fixed and the system goes through a couple cycles it will clear itself. But to clear it manually, you need a scan tool.

[fl335i]

It's been about exactly one year. NO problems

[mskvarenina]

Where exactly on the passenger side is the Evap system?

Someone said its right under the battery but I removed the battery and found only the metal frame of the car.

I removed the trunk lining and saw many wires. If I pull back the insulation like material I see one black hose which looks well connected but not anything that looks like the items described in the diagram a few posts up from here.

And under the hood, where are the lines coming from the rear of the car? I'd like to check that out too.

[JamesM3M5]

I would recommend getting a Bentley manual for the E9x and study. The EVAP system isn't something that is easy to explain on an internet forum. The reason others have posted their frustrations with other "shops" trying to diagnose EVAP codes is that it takes good, trained, experienced mechanics/techs to find and repair these leaks. Your average DIY mechanic or corner gas station grease monkey doesn't have enough experience to accurately diagnose and repair these problems. Hell, my smoke machine alone was $1000 on sale! Snap On and others sell them for $1500-2500 depending on features.