spluttering 325i cab

[cassa-d]

Ok so like a dumb sh*t i borrowed my cab to my mate as he had no car and im driving my e46 so did not want it sitting about doing nothing.. well he serviced the car new oil and filter,Plugs, Petrol filter and now the car splutters upto about 4g and will not run properly. Someone i know said the fuel filter might be on the wrong way so he changed that around and its still doing it. Any ideas what it could be??? Ive had enough of trying now and might even sell it as ive just been let go by my work for health reasons... Any ideas would be a great help... And don't ever borrow out your e30s ....
TIA Michael.

[fowler]

check the dizzy cap as this might cause the fault or the rotor arm
has he got the leads round the right way???
is one of the spark plugs screwed could be a 10 minute fix don't loose faith

[cassa-d]

Yeah he has checked the dizzy and arm and brought another set of plugs and it is still doing it as for the leads being the wrong way round they won't go on the wrong way cos they run through the square plastic thing(don't no what its called sorry)... it was running ok before he serviced it.. Im gonna have to get it back today and have a look myself i guess
Thanks anyway i will check what you have suggested once i get it back

[fowler]

well it sounds like something simple mate can you describe the fault in detail as the fault could be isolated to one system

[cassa-d]

all i know at the moment is its spluttering upto about 4g and you have to rev it had to get it to move will know more once i get it back today

[fowler]

mmm need to investigate me thinks

[cassa-d]

need to slap him i think.... i think my new moto is gonna be "A friend in need is a friend who can stay the F**k away from me"

[fowler]

where are you located ??? Na you never know he might do you a favour one day all about Karma

[cassa-d]

im in rochester in kent... one of the reasons i let him the car is cos he had been helping me out big time recently..

[fowler]

well are you off work WED / THURS . If you are pop it up to A-Tech he is only up the road in orpington drop me a call if you like as i think i might have an idea what the problem bit to difficult to explain

[cassa-d]

ive not got a job at the moment cos ive been signed off sick due to a panic disorder and my work let me go.. but i can't really bring it to a tech cos i don't really have money to be spending on it at the moment. i will have a look at it when i get it back and if i can't find anything i wil call you for some help if thats ok... i might be a bit of hard work tho cos im not really mechanicaly minded (don't have much of a clue)

[fowler]

i could have a look if you bring to a-tech just bring tea and biscuits if you fancy it ???
Forgot and 20 bensons gold too lol

[blingsta]

it does sound like easy fix, either dodgy spark plugs, rotor,dizzy etc... the fuel filter should have a arrow showing which way fuel goes in and out...

Ben... is Ant open on Tuesday? thinking of popping round for a chat !

[fowler]

yes he is erol but really busy ring first dude !!!!!!

[cassa-d]

Ok so i got the car back now and whats happening is when you try and rev it all you get is spluttering and back firing i have looked underneath and the fuel filter is on the right way as i can see the arrow is pointing the right way.

[blingsta]

sounds like the leads might be on the wrong way round fella, from the distributor cap side maybe?

[cassa-d]

Ok i will try that do you know which one should be where???

[fowler]

they are all labled mate on the dizzy cap and on the leads

[cassa-d]

i have taken the dizzy cap off i can see the numbers on the leads but cannot find no numbers on the cap tho

[cassa-d]

Could some please pop to there E30 325i and tell me what lead should be where on the dizzy cap... Starting from the one at the top and working down please

[cecotto479]

They are numbered on the cap, next to where you plug the lead into. I don't have a cap here, but PM me if necessary and I'll photograph one for you. Take a close look at thecap and you'll see the numbering.

[cassa-d]

No numbers on my cap think its been changed for a pattern part at some point

[cassa-d]

any help???

[e30den]

from the dizzy cap starting at the top lead it,s 2,4,6, coil lead, 3,1,5
and the firing order is 1,5,3,6,2,4

[cassa-d]

Ok i just checked those and they are the right way round... Could it be the air flow meter????

[e30den]

if the was fine before the service i would not the afm

[cassa-d]

Tried another airflow meter on it and still no joy so tried another set of leads still no joy... so what plugs should be in a 325i ??? the ones that are in there are NGK ZGR5A im just wondering if these are the wrong sort of plugs !!!

[e30den]

i,m thinking idle stabiliser valve, i may be completely off track but thats what i look at next.

[cassa-d]

where do i find that???? it idles fine its just when you try and rev it or drive

[blingsta]

dont think it has anything to do with idle control valve mate...

[e30den]

the tube that has the afm at one end and stabiliser valve at the other then inlet manifold it,s black and silver a plug on one end and puushed into the inlet pipe[rubber] at the other.
unplug the connecter and see if there is any difference, start the car first tho

[cassa-d]

the tube that has the afm at one end and stabiliser valve at the other then inlet manifold it,s black and silver a plug on one end and puushed into the inlet pipe[rubber] at the other.
unplug the connecter and see if there is any difference, start the car first tho

Tried that no difference at all

[e30den]

how about giving your mate a good kicking. lol
why did he service the car in the first place ?

[cassa-d]

Cos he was using it and it needed a service so he thought he would do it while he had it

[Incitatus]

It does sound a bit like you need to check for air leaks between the AFM and the throttle body. Mr friends car ran like that and it turned out the pipe between the idle control valve and the manifold had partly come off.