E36 318ti cutting out

Sat Dec 31, 2016 1:52 pm

I picked up a tidy 318ti last week and have been enjoying it all week... until today! The engine has started to cut out. First time was while waiting at some lights, it restarted fine and drove home fine (about 4 or 5miles), then when reversing on to my drive it cut out again. When it cuts it's a smooth cut, all the lights stay on and the rev needle drops with the engine speed.

For 10mins it's would start fine but idle rough and then cut out. Then it struggled to start, but idle fine when it fired up and then cut out when revved above 1500rpm.
Now it seems to be starting and idling fine.

I'm thinking camshaft sensor, but could it be a sign of a failing fuel pump?

Cheers

Sat Dec 31, 2016 2:30 pm

So I tried it again (needed to move it) and it idled for about 2-3mins and cut out. Now it fires and starts fine but cuts out within a second or two.

When it does idle for more than 10 seconds, if I lightly touch the throttle it coughs, the revs drop and then it suddenly revs up but cuts out almost immediately.

Sat Dec 31, 2016 3:51 pm

The fuel pump went on mine and had very similar symptoms. It ran for a bit then cut out. Very smooth cutting out as you've described.

Sat Dec 31, 2016 4:05 pm

Not my car but this is exactly what it's doing (not the wiper thing)...

[youtube][/youtube]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=go-kG3wgwa4

Sat Dec 31, 2016 4:17 pm

Well I've swapped the camshaft sensor for one from my other engine and it seems to be running fine. It idles much better/smoother than before and has stayed idling for 15mins+. I've not driven it yet but it's a good sign I guess.