Service Light Reset - Success and Failure - Any ideas?

Zed Carer · Post by **Zed Carer** » Mon 17 May, 2010 17:44

Background:

I've had the Z3 2yr 1m, done 10,700 miles, not used a drop of oil and still had 2 green lights showing. Last year it was due a brake fluid change and the clock came up - I changed the brake fluid when I fitted the new discs and pads last August.

Yesterday I serviced the Z3, oil + filter, checked the air box, checked the calipers / pads, etc. Last night I searched and found the instructions for resetting the service lights. So this evening I found a suitable piece of wire, turned the ignition to II and shorted out Pin 7 for 5 secs - turned the ignitions off and on again- still had 2 green lights. Waited 10 mins and did it all again - same result. OK 3rd time lucky

and the result:

Still got 2 green lights showing

but

The brake fluid clock has reset and isn't showing now

'

Anybody got any ideas

estocks · Post by **estocks** » Mon 17 May, 2010 18:01

I think the fluid light turns off when you reset for <10seconds. Try using a running stopwatch to ensure your timing is correct.

indizee · Post by **indizee** » Mon 17 May, 2010 18:11

Im having the same problem with resetting my Oil Service light. No matter how many different timings I use under 10 seconds, it wont reset.

I understand that the ignition needs to be at position II, is this the full turn to the stop before the engine starts with all the dashboard lights on?

Zed Carer · Post by **Zed Carer** » Mon 17 May, 2010 18:11

estocks wrote:I think the fluid light turns off when you reset for <10seconds. Try using a running stopwatch to ensure your timing is correct.

I used 5 secs as I was using these instructions LINK that I came across last night when searching on here. I did use a watch rather than the "one elephant, two elephant" method.

The only thing that I can think of having had another look at the instructions is that I didn't put the top back on the Data Link Connector before I turned the ignition off.

I was more puzzled about how I managed to reset the clock but not the service lights

as I didn't think that this would be possible just shorting out Pin 7.

estocks · Post by **estocks** » Mon 17 May, 2010 18:30

Sounds like you are doing the right thing.

Odd how you reset the inspection lamp in 7 seconds.

Grounding pin seven (7) for approximately twelve (12) seconds will do an inspection service reset.

Mad Max · Post by **Mad Max** » Mon 17 May, 2010 19:18

I think that if it's due an inspection next, rather than a service, the service reset will not reset it...

indizee · Post by **indizee** » Mon 17 May, 2010 20:02

idont think im doing anything right. Ni manner of combinations of getting my oil service light reset has worked.

I'm beginning to think that my Pin 19 isnt for ressetting. And yes, I am using pin 19.

estocks · Post by **estocks** » Mon 17 May, 2010 21:16

19 is GND no? 7 is reset?

indizee · Post by **indizee** » Mon 17 May, 2010 21:46

Ah, thanks , i see what I have done there.

Mike Fishwick · Post by **Mike Fishwick** » Tue 18 May, 2010 07:57

You have to remove the wire link whie the ignition is turned on - then switch it off.

The reset takes effect when the wire link is removed.

indizee · Post by **indizee** » Tue 18 May, 2010 18:39

Hooray! At last I managed to reset, well, everything.

I did the Oil service first, using the combo:

Ignition on, plug in short, unplug short, off ignition.

I think i had a few attempts to get the right timing all between 4 and 9 seconds. I think the lack of use of the 20PIN connector has made the female pins less conductive, So I scraped them all clean.

Also reset the service time clock, as it had a full service.

All nice and green row of lights. Thanks for All post helpers.

Now to get the damn INPA working.

Zed Carer · Post by **Zed Carer** » Tue 18 May, 2010 19:33

indizee wrote:Hooray! At last I managed to reset, well, everything.

I did the Oil service first, using the combo:

Ignition on, plug in short, unplug short, off ignition.

All nice and green row of lights. Thanks for All post helpers.

Same here except I set up the short, then turned on the ignition and removed the short after 5 seconds and that didn't work. A bit more searching on the internet and decided to try a longer period to see if the ECU was looking for a reset for the service that was due next rather than the service it had just had - a 10 sec period brought up all 5 green lights and I had already got rid of the brake fluid clock yesterday.

'

Thanks to everyone for the advice and guidance.

As an added bonus stripped down the CD changer again

and even that's working

simonbud100 · Post by **simonbud100** » Wed 19 May, 2010 16:24

I got a reset tool off ebay, think it was less than £10 (from China), simply plug in and hold the button down until the light on the unit illuminates. It seemed easier than risking trying to short out the light with a bit of wire. Probably does exactly the same job, but reduces the risk of doing it wrongly.