I don't see a check engine on my dash panel
Asked by fireball_rr Nov 11, 2011 at 11:27 AM about the 1989 BMW 3 Series 325i Sedan RWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I got a 1989 325i convertible and the smog people didn't pass my car cause there is
no check engine light on the dash board. However there is a check light that blinks
until I reset it from the overhead consul. I check my spare dash panel and it's the
same thing. There is a hole for a light but nothing is written on the face plate. Is the
smog person correct by not passing it?
4 Answers
Probably have a bulb in the cluster that has burnt out. You'll have to remove the cluster to replace it. All your dash or cluster lights should come on when you put your key into position 2 (just before start) in the key cylinder on the steering column. And yes, they will not even test your car for a smog certificate without having your CEL (check engine light) working. They could lose their license if it was found out if they issues a smog cert to a vehicle that doesn't meet the proper requirements. It seems trivial but that's the rules.
fireball_rr answered 13 years ago
the bulb is okay and I have another extra dash cluster and both of them don't say check engine on where it's suppose to be. The bulbs are okay and in fact it comes on when I take the MAP sensor out of it. But my problem is that from the factory it didn't come with the actual word "check engine"
I'm not getting what the issue is. Do you mean that your Check Engine Light is functional or illuminates when there is an error code sent to the OBD... but it just doesn't specifically read as "Check Engine"??? That doesn't really matter, just as long as it works. It could be "engine", "CEL", or even a symbol of an engine.
Am also having same problem of having no engine light. So others are saying my ECU is dead. Can it be the ECU issue on this no engine light and can it make it not to start the engine?
