B3217 BMW Fault Code

Description:

The issue covered by the bulletin involves a power steering noise/whine or fluid leak from the power steering pump, gear or high pressure side power steering hose during extreme low outdoor temperature operation.

B3217 Code Symptoms :

The original multi-displacement system turned off opposite pairs of cylinders, allowing the engine to have three different configurations and displacements. B3217 code had an elaborate diagnostics procedure, including showing engine trouble codes on the air conditionning display. However, the system was troublesome, misunderstood by customers, and a rash of unpredictable failures led to the technology being quickly retired.

Diagnosis And Repairing B3217

B3217 OBD2 reports a sensor fault, replacement of the sensor is unlikely to resolve the underlying problem. The fault is most likely to be caused by the systems that the sensor is monitoring, but might even be caused by the wiring to the sensor itself.

How to fix B3217 code ?

• Continuous oil flow to the VCT piston chamber
• Faulty Air fuel ratio (A/F) Sensor 1 Bank 1
• Failures of clutch motion/travel sensors.
• Intake Valve Timing Control Solenoid Valve harness is open or shorted

As long as the throttle plate remains closed, the idling speed and quality is controlled by the PCM via the idle control valve, and as can be seen from the above it should be clear that idle control on a gasoline engine is a complex affair.

For instance, if the engine is started in sub-zero temperatures, the PCM will command the idling control valve to allow less air to enter the engine to enrich the air/fuel mixture to create a condition which is roughly analogous to how chokes worked on carburetted engines to control idling in cold weather.