P1250 Code

[inacoma]

Hello, I am new to this board, but have been a member of DTMPower.net for quite some time and was directed over here for more technical help. I have search high and low on both boards and come to the conclusion that nobody knows what the P1250 code is about, what causes it, or how to fix it. If someone out there knows this information, could you please let me know. Also I am getting a P0442 so if someone know how to fix that one too that would be great. Is it ok to continue to drive the car? It is a '98 328i with almost 100K on it if that helps and the only engince mods that I have done are a AA GenIII exhaust and debaffled the intake box and put in a Amsoil airfilter. Thank You in advance...

[PENER]

P0442 belongs to system group:Vehicle Speed Idle Control And Auxiliary Inputs
description:Evaporative Emissions Control System Leak Detected (Small Leak)

[fun2drive]

I can only offer this as a suggestion. Might be your idle control valve but before you think about R&Ring that how about using throttle body cleaner and clean the ICV. There is a write up about this so I will make this short. Just take the clamp loose that goes into the throttle body, insert the plastic nozzle and with the car idling only squirt very short bursts into the throttle body. It will go to the ICV and should help clean it if it is dirty. At 100K it might be. Also be sure that you didn't cause any vacuum leaks when you did the mods.
Hope this helps

[inacoma]

Thanks I will look for the write-up and try that and also go through all the vacuum lines and make sure I don't have a leak, thanks...

[e65guy]

checked no luck... the other is indeed small leak in fuel system.Not idle control valve..... check fuel cap seal and purge valve... check around for ant fuel smell. Have found fuel cap seal dries out .
Good luck.
e65guy.

[inacoma]

Is the small leak in the fuel system or just any vacuum leak? Because I did remove one of the vacuum lines about a week ago to put in some SeaFoam..... Allthough since it was just a short time, maybe that is not what set the light off, just that the ECU has recorded that and it came up since we pulled all codes... Also the gas cap feels tight, will it always feel that way or will I be able to tell when it is worn out...thanks

[inacoma]

Well everyone, I have finally found out what the P1250 code is...

P1250 is a "FUEL LEVEL TOO LOW" code. level to low to run monitor

That is exactly what it says...Basically what I was told is that my fuel level sensor is going out. But that makes sense because it tripped it right after I filled up and everytime that I fill up the needle jumps from completely empty and completly full back and forth until I get about 40 miles on car. I thought that that was just normal because I overfilled or something since it has done it since the day I bought the car...But for everyone else that has gotten a P1250 and couldn't find what it is I ended up finding it from a buddy that is a mechanic and is part of a forum strictly for mechanics to get help from other mechanics when they come across something that stumps them like this one did for us...Hope this helps everyone....

[joyfret]

I found so many threads for P1250 but this can really be anything,
from a fuel trim error to injector system malfunction, depending on
what other codes are accompanying it. I am having this code and
found out it really is a generic vendor code and the descriptions
do not quite apply to my situation. I am having it checked out today
and post the result.

[cimbali]

I had a P1250 but it just went away without me doing anything. I also had a P0441 which was cleared by replacing the fuel clamps buy the fuel filter.

[kdufera]

HI i have the same problem.can u please describe where the fuel clamps are at and also what what they look like.
thanks

[Omchavez]

How do I fix the problem?

[Rizzls]

I also have a P1250 and P0441. Has anyone figured this out yet? I have read that the P0441 is either a bad fuel cap or charcoal canister. Does this sound right? I also have a P1397 which is a cam position sensor. Could that throw all three codes or is this something unrelated. Just purchased the car a week ago. I am new to Bimmers but a pretty experienced DIY mechanic. Thanks

[bmwdirtracer]

On BMW's, P-codes are not a reliable item. This is mainly because this number is usually read from a pocket code-reader, and translated through a paper chart. If the device you're reading codes with can't give you a complete BMW translation of the code ON THE SCREEN, you can't trust the results.

But here's a bit of support for my words:
http://blog.bavauto.com/6441/bmw-m52tu-m54-fault-codes-p1250-p1188-p1189-p1622-323i-325i-328i-330i/

You'll note that this is not even a valid code for your car.

Visit a BMW specialist professional, and let him talk to your computers with the right tool.

[Rizzls]

Thanks for the reply. That is what I figured as I couldn't find the code in my book. Are the other codes valid? I am wanting to buy a BMW code reader and have been looking at Peake and the BMW scanner 1.4.0. Any insight on these? Will they give me BMW specific codes. Thanks again.

[Rizzls]

So I just ordered a R5/FCX3 and it's on it's way. Just took the Bimmer for a drive and the check engine light is now off. Any input on this? Does that maybe help to diagnose the problem?

[bmwdirtracer]

I'm sorry, but I have to repeat again that I don't consider P-codes, pocket code readers, or anything translated from a chart, to be reliable diagnostics for a BMW. I've known far too many instances of these generic devices giving grossly misleading, or dead wrong clues, and known many owners to replace hugely expensive parts based on that info.

When interrogating a BMW's computers via a device that only reads numbers, you can't see the translation that BMW intended for the code which is THE piece of information I rely upon.


Just for a moment, imagine a German engineer, who's trying to provide an excellent BMW specialist mechanic the information to decipher a problem with this incredibly complex machine. He figures out the set of computer/sensor readings which accompany this dysfunction, and explains them to the computer programmer, who creates the trouble code which will accompany said dysfunction.

The computer guy then does a great job of making a four or six word synopsis of the problem, in German. But then, he's told he needs to put that synopsis into a four digit number.

Then he sends the whole mess off to England, where a very well educated Brit puts it into the Queen's English.

The Brit then sends the lump to an American bureaucrat, who has a list of standardized, American, generic p-codes that he's got to make the German engineer's clues fit into - right after half-a-dozen other people played telephone with them.

Then, the files all get sent to an aftermarket company, who's trying to design a hundred dollar plug in crapola that'll tell you what that German engineer wanted you to know. And this guy doesn't appreciate all the changes which were officially done in software and electronics at various times during the model year, or even year-to-year. If it's a BMW-dedicated piece, they'll even give you "BMW specific" codes; and then they're going to give you a paper chart to translate the numerical code back to English.

Anyway, somewhere in there, it all goes to hell.

For years, I had to rely on a good SnapOn pro scanner, equipped with BMW software. There were two BMW=specific codes which regularly appeared: I forget the numbers, something like 2992 & 2993. (BMW code numbers) Both codes appeared on later E46's, X5's, and X3's. I never could find a decent translation: the SnapOn Scanner just read : "Fuel System". Drove me nuts.

A few months after I started using my GT1, a customer with a well-known code reader came in and said he had codes for 2 faulty injectors, on cylinders 1 and 2. Another tech hooked up the SnapOn, and got the two codes which read "fuel system". I hooked up the GT1-DIS clone, and "Presto!": Bank 1 lean, bank 2 lean.

The smoke machine found the leaks five minutes later.