Yellow engine light came on

Batchads · Post by **Batchads** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 2:03 pm

Hi I had the yellow engine light come on. Brought a D900 code reader from ebay and it came up with P1553. Any ideas what this code is and how to fix? I've cleared the codes but only done a few miles since.

Z4 3.0 si sport 2009

simonlpearce · Post by **simonlpearce** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 2:35 pm

Google seems to point towards a vanos solenoid fault for that code, and that an oil change might help the situation.

swanicyouth · Post by **swanicyouth** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 3:30 pm

P1553 is an exhaust Vanos solenoid code. A lot of people have experienced fixes by simply removing the solenoid, cleaning it with compressed air, and then changing the oil.

However, the cause could possibly be a cam sensor as well. There are two vanos solenoids (exhaust lower / green arrow):

Apparently, they are the same. For diagnostic purposes, you could remove both, swap them - and see if the code changes banks.

Honestly, if it was me - I'd probably just replace the exhaust solenoid with a new one, change the oil, clear the code, and be done with it. The solenoids are about $125 USD.

DR-Z · Post by **DR-Z** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 5:28 pm

I had this issue and tried swapping the valves over - as said, they are the same. Went for a run and thought I was going to break down - kept stalling. I changed valves back and car was running OK again, but still with yellow light. I bought a new valve (about £70) and it cured the issue. Only a 15 minute job.

Batchads · Post by **Batchads** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 2:58 pm

Update

Pulled both valves out, cleaned and put back in with new seals. Also swapped valves round.

No engine lights or fault codes standing.

Batchads · Post by **Batchads** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 5:26 pm

Ended up changing the valve in the end as engine was not as smooth any more.

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