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Check engine light on in wheel, but not middle dash-- meaning?

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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 08:11 AM
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Check engine light on in wheel, but not middle dash-- meaning?

Hey all,

So, on this very cold morning I noticed my check engine light was in the middle of my steering wheel, but it wasn't lit up on the indicator in the middle dashboard.

Does that mean the car is okay? Or does it mean that the check engine light is actually on?

I've never had this happen and I just had my spark plugs and coils repaired.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 08:21 AM
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Its is a low tire pressure warning? Im confused when you said in the middle of the steering wheel. There isnt anything in the middle other than a logo and an airbag

Picture maybe?
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 10:48 AM
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No. By the middle where the wheel is, I mean the tiny dashboard that displays info such as mpg, low gas (if you're on the last gas tick marker), things like that.

The check engine light is on there. But it's not lighting up where the indicator light is in the middle of the speedometer.

So, I'm wondering what the difference is between the two? I've never seen the check engine light appear on the steering wheel but not in the middle of the speedometer-- if that makes sense.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 12:46 PM
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First, what car are we talking about here??

There is no "lights" in the middle of the steering wheel......usually an air bag or a horn button as my cars have

I think a picture would be very helpful here in determining what you are seeing......or, look through your owners manual and see if you can find a picture to tell you what light you are seeing means

Bryan
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 12:50 PM
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This one?
or this?
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Mineeee
This one?
I have never seen the one on the right.....maybe it means he has half an engine left?? (bad joke, I know)

Bryan
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 04:45 PM
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The half engine literally meant running at half power/loss of power on my 335i. (Happened once when the vacuum reservoir system had a failure), causing turbos not to function. Could possibly be the same here? Or if its an r53 i think they had hpfp issues which would cause it as well, especially if it were failing.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Danissl
The half engine literally meant running at half power/loss of power on my 335i. (Happened once when the vacuum reservoir system had a failure), causing turbos not to function. Could possibly be the same here? Or if its an r53 i think they had hpfp issues which would cause it as well, especially if it were failing.
That is what the check engine light looks like on my R60 Countryman. It doesn’t mean 1/2 power btw LOL. It just means the engine computer has some news of a diagnostic nature for you!
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 05:00 PM
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Perhaps not on these, i just know what iDrive said when it showed up for me. Same icon, assumed similar message ��
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Danissl
The half engine literally meant running at half power/loss of power on my 335i. (Happened once when the vacuum reservoir system had a failure), causing turbos not to function. Could possibly be the same here? Or if its an r53 i think they had hpfp issues which would cause it as well, especially if it were failing.
My '04 R53 doesn't have that "half engine" icon in the cluster

Bryan
 
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Old Jan 29, 2019 | 09:49 PM
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found this......might answer your questions

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-no-codes.html

Bryan
 
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Old Jan 30, 2019 | 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Danissl
Perhaps not on these, i just know what iDrive said when it showed up for me. Same icon, assumed similar message ��
I spoke too soon in my reply above. I think you are right. I forgot that when I first picked up my R60 Countryman the selling dealership had to replace/code the battery. It displayed a “normal” check engine light (CEL) in the speedometer cluster. When my thermostat was replaced that icon with the half filled-in engine displayed in the tach cluster. While I didn’t experience any noticeable loss in power, that does indicate that the engine nannys have taken a bit of an edge off the engine performance to make it safe to drive while it is diagnosed. Some manufacturers call this “limp home” mode.

my apologies for being so quick to contribute my lack of knowledge.
 
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