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Bulb out warning light.

chanlon1

chanlon1

Active member
Belfast
Every once in a while, I get a bulb out warning light on the dash.
I’ve narrowed it down to the indicators on the passenger side.
If I put them on, the green arrow light and sound inside the car are very quick and rapid. Standard for a bulb out. However, after a second or so, everything goes back to normal.
Haven’t gotten round to changing any bulbs yet in case one is on its way out but wondering about coding out the checks.
I’ve heard of hot and cold checks and wondering if anyone can explain the difference?

Thanks.
 
I kept getting warnings that were spurious- both with and without LED bulbs

I used Carly to code the warnings out.
 
bigwinn said:
I kept getting warnings that were spurious- both with and without LED bulbs

I used Carly to code the warnings out.
Click to expand...

So what was coded out? Hot or cold checks?
 
I don’t think there is a way to differentiate between hot and cold checks when coding out
 
bigwinn said:
I don’t think there is a way to differentiate between hot and cold checks when coding out
Click to expand...
I thought there was, must plug Carly in and take another look.
 
It'll be one bulb that its not happy with - BMW scanner 1.4 will log which bulb is turning the light on.
 
Recently did a facelift where it was the rear left led side lights causing the problem. They were all working but caused a bulb warning and the left indicators to double speed flash.
I coded out the checks to the left rear side light and the indicators worked properly again.
 
chanlon1 said:
I’ve heard of hot and cold checks and wondering if anyone can explain the difference?
Click to expand...
The cold check briefly pulses the bulbs to check them when the IGN is first powered on. If you have LED bulbs you can see the check as a rapid, dim flashing. It isn't enough to light an incandescent bulb.

Hot checks are measured when the bulb is in use.

If you want to code out bulb checks then turn off hot, cold and check control for the lamp you want.
 
I have BMW scanner 1.4, but it’s not happening all the time so could be a pain to have to go back into the house to get the laptop when it happens. Knowing my luck it’ll not happen when I switch the engine back on again.
Would scanner 1.4 pick up a stored value from before?
 
Plugged Scanner 1.4 into the car this morning and the light module had stored a Faulty Fog light error. Reset all the errors and for the remaining time I was in the car, no more appeared.
I have two choices:
1. Look at replacing the fog light bulb - its working, but could well be on its way out...
2. Code out the Cold check for the bulb.
The below is a picture of what Scanner was showing me:
IMG_1882.jpeg
I presume that if I untick the Cold Check for rear left fog light, then the dash light wouldn't light up?
Then again, if I have a spare fog bulb kicking around, I may look at putting it in.

Does anyone know what BC Message is in the picture?
 
chanlon1 said:
Code out the Cold check for the bulb.
Click to expand...
IMHO if you're going to code out the checks just do all three; hot, cold and cc (bc). Then start regularly checking your bulbs (like in the old days :lol:).

chanlon1 said:
presume that if I untick the Cold Check for rear left fog light, then the dash light wouldn't light up?
Click to expand...
This just masks any bulbs that are on their way out. You'd then only get the error when you go to turn them on and they fail/have failed.
 
U less you want to put LEDs in a not have to change them again. If you do, use a decent brand like Osram or Philips. Don’t use “canbus compatible” as they just use resistors which burn out and give short service life. Don’t by cheap junk off eBay.
 
Rockhopper said:
Just change the bulb, there is something up with it that the computer isn't happy with.
Click to expand...
The one I did had an issue with the LED strip. Not quite so simple. But it was working correctly so coding it out worked for that
 
enuff_zed said:
Rockhopper said:
Just change the bulb, there is something up with it that the computer isn't happy with.
Click to expand...
The one I did had an issue with the LED strip. Not quite so simple. But it was working correctly so coding it out worked for that
Click to expand...
Fairly sure my rear led lights in the cluster are okay, but will check later if the temperature rises!
 
chanlon1 said:
enuff_zed said:
Rockhopper said:
Just change the bulb, there is something up with it that the computer isn't happy with.
Click to expand...
The one I did had an issue with the LED strip. Not quite so simple. But it was working correctly so coding it out worked for that
Click to expand...
Fairly sure my rear led lights in the cluster are okay, but will check later if the temperature rises!
Click to expand...
You may have missed my point?
In the one I had issues with (belonging to [ref]Jock156[/ref]), the LEDs were all ok. But when I did a code check it said there was an issue with the rear left. So it must just be creating a slightly higher than expected resistance when it is checked. Coding out the checks to it got the indicators working properly again.
 
Rockhopper said:
Ah yes, LED rear lights are a different kettle of worms, I'd assumed we were talking about an E85.
Click to expand...
We are. Well facelift and E86.
Facelift rear light sidelights are the LED strip across the top.
 
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