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Engine loses power when driving judders then comes back
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:04 am
by george101
Today my 320 started doing something strange, when driving it loses power then gets power again it judders the whole car while doin this seems like it stops sparking for a second then sparks again. What could this be? What are the effects of the ignition coil packing up?
If anyone could help I would be greatful
Re: Engine loses power when driving judders then comes back
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:15 am
by sean_318i
This one is a long shot but it did happen on my touring once.
If the car has the 13 button OBC when the unit starts to fail it can cut power to the ecu and hence fuel pump causing the symptoms you describe. This is because the obc has an immobiliser function. To rule it out find the plug behind the glovebox with two green wires leading from the main loom. Seperate the plug and loop the wires on the main loom side.
There is a list as long as your arm as to what it could be though, failing relays, fuelpump, coil overheating (rare), poor connection on c101, c151, battery, engine earth strap or even a crank position sensor starting to fail or afm.
Things it probably wont be are intake air leaks or the blue temp sensor. Though the blue temp sensor is worth checking every couple of years anyway as a service item.
Sorry cant be more specific but theres enough things to rule out there for a start.
Seán
Re: Engine loses power when driving judders then comes back
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:20 am
by george101
Thanks for the info I'll give a few of them things a try. I don't have the OBC in my e30 tho if it's the thing I'm thinking of.
Re: Engine loses power when driving judders then comes back
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:46 am
by staley_turbo
My car did this, it was my fuel line in the tank, weird problem.
Re: Engine loses power when driving judders then comes back
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 2:00 pm
by george101
willnz wrote:When the car splutters, what do your gauges and dash warning lights do? Do the gauges drop to zero instantly or remain working, warning lights come on or remain off etc. EXACTLY what they do...
Everything seems to be as normal on the dash apart from the rev gauge drops a little then goes back to normal again untill it happens again. It got worse on the way home
Re: Engine loses power when driving judders then comes back
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 2:01 pm
by george101
staley_turbo wrote:My car did this, it was my fuel line in the tank, weird problem.
Weird, so it could be a blockage in the fuel line?
Re: Engine loses power when driving judders then comes back
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 2:15 pm
by george101
I also thought it may be the dizzy cap or rotor arm?
Re: Engine loses power when driving judders then comes back
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:37 pm
by george101
Ive had a play with the earth from engine to chassis I think it's a dodgy earth as at one point it got better then played with it again and got worse. Also I don't think it helps I have solid engine mounts, is there a wiki on earthing the engine?