DME. Throttle-valve actuator spring test of closing spring

[A Blair]

Background.
Partner drove the X5 back from Aviemore and parked up. It lay parked up for the week during the cold snap. Saturday morning started it up and the car went into. Engine failsafe prog.



Currently.
It will not reset. Everything else will reset.
So now I am going to:
Check that battery. Clean the terminals up and see if I can identify the age of the battery or take it for a drop test.
Take the air intake pipes off and see if anything is holding the butterfly valve open. Check the electrical connection plug and maybe give it some DW40.
If I have to remove the Throttle body.
Any links guys on how it is tested.
Can I order the sensor separate. A butterfly valve passing gas should be good forever?
Any views on using one off ebay.
Is there a reset methodology I should be using.
My aim is to repair as efficienty as possible with a new OEM part the last resort. I can afford one but its not a challenge.

Thanks in advance. 

[graemeX5]

Hii

I did a search for this on google and it came up with the M5 cars having a similar prob see link below and they seem to recommend replacement rather than strip down and clean the actuator gears, no pics so I am none the wiser

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60-m5 ... lease.html

Also this from the X5 forum
http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... l#msg31138


Graeme

[graemeX5]

Hi

I did a search and there is a post on the X3 part of the forum and it was the linkage of the throttle actuator was rpthe prob in this case so may be worth checking that first as could be a cheaper fix.

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... #msg103717

Looking at www.realoem it wasn't a lot of help on the throttle part of the fuel system
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=13_0967

Graeme

[A Blair]

Update.
Thanks Graeme X5. Good starter for 10.
Throttle body has an analogue input to move the butterfly and an analogue output proportional to the butterfly position. ECU runs 0 to 5v.
So I researched this topic. The throttle body can be tested in a number of ways. An example being. Have a friend watch the throttle body when you turn the ignition on and engine not running. It should do a little kick to fully close and release again to that partial opening position. Pressing the gas pedal for the first time will see the butterfly open and close. There are companies out their who will fix your throttle body for £250 and give you a throttle body better than the original. The feedback is currently a potentiometer, meaning it's a contact wiping a resistive wire. The refurb one is contactless, meaning optic / Hall effect etc.
I eventually forked out £40 on eBay. The part numbers have to be exact. Lesson learned here.
Installed the throttle body. Takes around 20 minutes.
Reset the throttle body. Yes it needs resetting. I used a scanner.
Cleared the engine management light.
Car started first time and ran sweet.
Happy the car is back on the road.

[henrym3]

Really good info' Thanks for posting it.