Vehicle Only Starts When Remote Key Held Against Column (61 20 14)

VEHICLE ONLY STARTS WHEN REMOTE KEY HELD AGAINST COLUMN

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

SUBJECT

Vehicle Only Starts when Remote Key Held Against Column 

SITUATION

The vehicle does not start using the Comfort Start feature. The vehicle does start once the remote key is held next to the steering column emergency start area (key symbol at the right side of the column between the white marks).

CAUSE

The antenna (aerial) in the passenger compartment near the front of the center console has shorted wiring.

CORRECTION

Isolate the shorted wires and repair as needed.

PROCEDURE

1. Perform a vehicle test using ISTA and see if the following faults are stored in the Front Electronics Module (FEM):
   • "804105 - Aerial in passenger compartment front: short circuit to earth"
   • "804104 - Aerial in passenger compartment front: internal defect"

     Always connect a BMW approved battery charger/power supply (SI B 04 23 10  ). 

2. Follow the recommendations of the test plan linked to the fault codes. The test plan will prompt to check the wiring as part of the functional check.
3. Remove the center console trim cover and gain access to the aerial wiring (1).
4. The wiring harness gets shorted against the metal bracket (2).
   NOTE: (2) is a close-up of the area indicated in (1).
5. Repair the wiring harness. Position the harness away from the metal bracket.
6. Clear the faults. Check the Comfort Start function.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle/SAV Limited Warranty or the BMW Certified Pre-Owned Program.

Defect Code:

61 11 14 79 00

Labor Operation:	Labor Allowance:	Description:
00 00 006	Refer to KSD	Performing "vehicle test" (with vehicle diagnosis system - checking faults)
and
61 21 528	Refer to KSD	Connect an approved battery charger/power supply (indicated in KSD2 as "Charging battery")
and
51 16 645	Refer to KSD	Removing and installing trim cover on center console
and
61 99 000	2 FRU	Work time to repair and reposition wiring

Labor operation code 00 00 006 is a Main labor operation. If you are using a Main labor code for another repair, use the Plus code labor operation 00 00 556 instead.

Refer to KSD2 for the corresponding flat rate unit (FRU) allowance. Enter the Chassis Number, which consists of the last 7 digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Click on the "Search" button, and then enter the applicable flat rate labor operation in the FR code field.

Even though work time labor operation code 61 99 000 ends in "000," it is not considered a Main labor operation. Also, since the "work time" FRU allowance to be claimed is specified, a separate punch time is not required.