E30 Zone

Following on from all the problems my 316i has (in this thread: http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=49337 I've just given it it's daily run to see if all the problems have miraculously cleared up by themselves, and noticed that while sat idling (at 1500rpm with added "popping"), if I turn the headlights on the revs dropped a bit...this didn't bother me much, but then I started turning the steering wheel and half a turn made it drop to 1000rpm! When I released it, it went back to normal?!??!


This happened steering both ways...is this normal? (i assume it's not, but I havn't had power steering before so it's all new to me...)

ive noticed the revs drop when ive turned the steering wheel while stationary. not in my current car but driving others. i spose if u got a small engine it is working harder to drive the pas pump, by the way thats why tyres generally wear on inside because when u turn the wheel at a standstill u wear the inner edges on the fronts. the engine revs dropping isnt an electrical problem i would call it operator error!

I have never really noticed this effect but the lights would put a load on the engine because of the alternator. the Power steering would put a load on the engine through the power steering pump. Either of these would reduce the idle speed.

Idle speed will reduce momentarily, but the ECU should open up the idle control valve a little to compensate.