Tuesday, April 28, 2009

14. DIY - Service indicator reset


If you change your own oil, you may wonder, "How do I extinguish that annoying OIL SERVICE light?" It is a simple matter of sticking a piece of wire under your hood for 4 seconds. Well maybe it's not that simple, but that is the basic principle. No need to go to the dealer and pay them $75 for 4 seconds of work.

First, pop your hood and find the diagnostic data port. It is located on the side of the engine bay near the strut tower.



Unscrew the cap. You will see a big Pac-Man shaped hole and twenty little round holes. WTF is a Pac-Man? Never mind. We are only concerned with pin 7 and pin 19 (note: the words "pin" and "hole" are used interchangeably in this text). Refer to the picture below to find pins 7 and 19.


What we will be doing in this exercise is connecting pins 7 and 19 with a paperclip for four seconds. This will reset the oil service light. Simple, no?

Bend your paperclip it so it looks like this.



Well it doesn't have to look exactly like this, but you get the idea. Use pliers if you have to. We want those little loops at the end to maximize the contact with the conductors in the holes of the data port. If you can't make those little loops at the ends, that's okay. Just don't go running around with sharp objects.

Note: you probably will not be able to recover the original shape of the paperclip, so please don't use paperclips you can't afford to lose




Turn the ignition key to position II, but don't start the car. Get out of the car and go to the data port. Always connect pin 7 first. Once you've inserted one end into pin 7, insert the other end into pin 19 and hold it there for 4 seconds. Then remove the paperclip. Check the dash and the oil inspection lights should be reset. The reset occurs upon removal of the clip. DO NOT HOLD IT THERE FOR LONGER THAN 10 SECONDS or you may inadvertently reset your inspection I/II interval.
Pin Terminal Description
  1. TD - TD Signal
  2. Not occupied
  3. Not occupied
  4. Not occupied
  5. Not occupied
  6. Not occupied
  7. SI - Service Interval Reset
  8. Not occupied
  9. Not occupied
  10. Not occupied
  11. Not occupied
  12. 61 (D+) - Generator Charge Indicator
  13. Not occupied
  14. 30 Voltage - Hot at all times
  15. RXD - Diagnostic Data Link
  16. 15S Voltage - Ignition Switch in Run
  17. Not occupied
  18. PGSP - Programming Line
  19. 31 - Ground
  20. TXD - Diagnostic Data Link
This is a Copy/Paste from: Here!

Ah yes, If you want to do this in a safer way, check out this:
Some tools that can ease the process...



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59 comments:

  1. Worked just as described!! Awesome!!!! I had to hold it in there for 5 or 6 seconds before it reset, but other than that, perfect!! THANKS!!!!!!

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  2. the service reset was so easy.
    is there a way you can cancell fauld codes,etc.
    without using expensive diagnostic software,etc

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  3. I found some info about the Fault codes. You can check this article:

    http://e36-drift.blogspot.com/2009/09/42-bmw-e36-and-e30-fault-codes-how-to.html

    I hope this helps. If not, tell me your car model/year/engine, and I'll try to find some more data.

    P.S.
    I found some BMW diagnostic tools for less than 200€...

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  4. It did not work with a paper clip, but I read someone did it with a bent piece of coat hanger and that worked for me. I guess the paper clip did not get a good contact. For me I also had to count to about 7-mississippi before it worked.

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  5. Glad to hear, that you managed to reset the indicator. I also had to wait a little longer than 4 seconds, and I used an old wire from my parts car instead of the paper clip :)

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  6. Hi Marin i tried the process 4 or 5 times and in the end oil service and inspection have dissapeared. I now have the row of green lights suggesting all has been reset. Does not bothat me as i do all maintenance and services myself. Is the full row of green lights all normal?

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  7. Hi,

    The row of green lights is normal. As you'll drive your car, the lights will slowly start to disappear, one by one, and when all green lights disappear, the yellow and red lights will appear.

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  8. hi there, i tray these metode, but my car can not start, and nothing happen with the light indicator to, plz help me

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  9. Are you sure you connected the right pins?
    What happens when you try to start your car? What model and year is it?

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  10. serviced it myself and the reset you suggest worked perfect! thanks!

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  11. Tried it on my 1998 BMW 316i but did not work!

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  12. @Vinster:

    Sorry to hear that... It should work with all BMW models up to 2001...

    I did try this on a 1997 316i, and it worked...

    Maybe you should try it again, I really don't know what could be wrong.

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  13. Hi. Rubbed down the inside of both 7 and 19 with a very small screw driver and then tryed and guess what???? Tryed again and it worked so thanks very much. Your a legend! ;)

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  14. That's some good thinking!

    Great to hear that! :)

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  15. is this the same port on which I can plug the diagnostic laptop? I have a 1.6 BMW 316i Compact and can't find the port that is said to be in the car just above the foot controlls.

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    Replies
    1. Your diagnostic plug should be under the bonnet it's a black circular piece of plastic and the top of it unscrews underneath will be the pins

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  16. Worked perfectly on my E36 318is!! thank you!

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  17. @Anonymous: Um, there are two types of diagnostics for E36s.
    OBD I and OBD II.
    What year is your 1.6?

    @Mr_Squishington: You're welcome. :)

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  18. I tried in a 316 1997 and a clock image dissapear but the yellow light not dissapear and was expecting a row of green ligth but nothing happened

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  19. Hi!

    Well, you're right - there should be a row of green lights on the dashboard after the reset.

    Since you did get some effect with the reset, I would recommend that you try this again, and that you hold the clip for a longer time. You sure that you have the 'oil' indicator light? If it's Inspection (I or II) - you should do the same procedure, and keep the pin for more than 10 seconds...

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  20. Thank for your quick answer! No I don´t had oil indicador light, just 1 yellow light on. I did the same procedure longer and I have now a row of yellow light, but i dont know if i have to hold for longer time in orden to change to green or just keep as a row of yellow light.

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  21. Do you have 5 yellow lights on the left side of the display? If so, then you probably have yellow lights in place of the green. I've never heard about full row of yellow lights... Probably someone changed the color in the instrument cluster...
    First five lights should be green. 6th should be yellow, and the last one, 7th, red.
    Red is always on together with yellow...

    ...
    Try holding it a bit longer. But i doubt that the lights will change to green... Let me know when you find out anything new.

    Cheers,
    Marin

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  22. Does this work on obd1 cars?

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  23. Worked on my 2000 316i Compact!!! Thanks!!!!

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  24. Dude you are a diamond! Worked like a charm on my e36 316i

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  25. nice men its work fine

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  26. Worked very well for me on my 316i Compact Pack Model 1995.

    One thing i read about is that conneting pin 7 and 19 for a short periood (4 secs or so) will reset the regular/minor service lights and a longer period is required to reset the major service lights (6 seconds or so). I hope this helps.

    Thanks!

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  27. Just did it, this worked!

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  28. hey guys thanks alot every thing all goods.

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  29. worked on my n reg 320i coupe, had to clean the terminals for it to work tho :)

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  30. the above worked 1st time for my 1996 316 auto.
    make sure connectors are clean and i only needed 8 secondz.. total legend !!!thanx bros

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  31. Thanks so much! Worked great on my 2000 318ti. The comments are helpful. Initially it didn't work but hold it on a little longer and clean the contacts a bit.... bingo!

    I held it on as long as I dared before the 10sec mark and it worked on the 5th try or so.

    Cheers!

    I love the internet for this stuff... but mostly thanks to the people who take the time to post with photos and details.... I must pay it forward some day!!!! :)

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  32. used a piece of solder wire ,worked a treat on my 318tds compact 1995,many many thanks

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  33. Just did this on my 318ti 1999 e36 worked perfect. Cheers this saved me buying the reset tool. Used a large paper clip

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  34. so how much money do you make on affiliate fees from sale of scan tools? i'm guessing based on the success of your technique, not much ...

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  35. @Anonymous: HA HA :) You're right - No sales at all! :) Actually, I never made any sales from this blog. Well, I don't mind. Getting such great comments is rewarding enough. Thanks for visiting and commenting! :) Cheers!

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  36. Tried it on my bmw 3231 e36 1998 coupe. Held clip for about 6 sec and it worked....thanks

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  37. I just performed the reset on my '95 325i, and it worked perfectly! Thanks a ton!!

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  38. Hi all, it worked in my 316i 1998, however the indicator is always green. Despite I know the oil needs to be changed, the green lights never go off. Any idea?

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  39. Worked perfect... Thanks..!!!!

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  40. Lol, I have the same M3 as the pics (Daytona Violet) awesome post very helpful

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  41. legend, garage was trying to take me for £70 to reset this, cheers worked mint

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  42. Most comment talks about this working on pre 2002 cars. The tools too say "YYYY-2001". My Z3 is an 02 plate with an overdue "Oil Service" lit up. The connector looks the same but I've had no success with the paperclip.......

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  43. Make sure you put the cap back on the diagnostic port before you start the car, one time I reset it and didn't screw the cap on and the car didn't start. Also, those yellow lights are just faded from green, same with my car too.

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  44. Absolutely perfect - thanks.

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  45. Sorry, should have said this was on my E36 325TDS

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  46. Hi Tony is the name

    I have a M3 Evo 1997 now my car has started ticking over really roughly once it get to runnig temp.

    I have unplugged both Lambda sensors as i though this could be the problem but it made no difference.

    I have just bought a diag tool from E Bay but have no idea where this will plug in.

    Has any body got any ideas.
    E Mai is tfm1959@hotmail.com if you can help

    Thanks

    Tony

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  47. After realising you have to put it quite far in, (duh) this worked like a charm.
    Properly, properly happy! Thanks!

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  48. Also, my pin set up was a little different to the picture, but they are numbered up on it

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  49. Thanks mate worked perfect for my car 1997 318i e36
    sleeping cat.

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  50. Will this reset airbag light for '99 e36 m3?

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    Replies
    1. No, unfortunately not. To reset the airbag warning light, I had to hook up to a computer with the appropriate software.

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  51. Will this work on check eng lights and o2 codes?

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