e30 sport running bad, help...

Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:19 pm

noticed a small miss in my 90 sport the last day but it went again so thought no more of it until on route home from work earlier,
car drove to work sound and was driving home sound but suddenly the miss was back and gradually got worse!
cruising along at 60 when engine is under no pressure it run's like shit but sink the shoe and drive hard and theres loads of power and no prob's,
looking for any hint's or tip's what it could be and how to slove the prob

cheers for any help

Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:06 pm

Check for a crack on your distributor cap. I had very similar running problems to yourself, and found a 3" hairline crack on the dizzy. Car ran fine after fitting a new cap..

Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:24 pm

cheers, mate has one for breaking so gonna try swap few bit's of that the wkend

any other ideas to try?
seem's heavier on petrol too!

Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:45 pm

First thing I would check is the coolant temperature sensor, blue one on the thermostat housing (assuming its an m20). A quick search should give you all the info you need to check it, I can't remember off hand what the resistance should be.

Then the throttle position switch under the throttle body, should be a closed circuit between middle and one of the outer pins on idle, then open when off idle and closed circuit between middle pin and the other one when nearly fully open IIRC.

If Mr Moore saw this I'm sure he'd tell you to check the wiring connector under the inlet manifold while you're there. Its almost directly beneath the throttle body. Check the pins then pull the rubber sleeve back and check the wires as they go into the connectors, especially the lower one as the sensor/injector wires go through this plug and its known to be a weak spot.

Let us know how you get on...

Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:57 pm

check cranc sensor wire,mine escaped an got worn down by the fan spinning over it. causing it to run like a sack of shit!

Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:05 pm

it actually came right again after bitta messing with the plug leed's so changed them and try it now for few day's to see, funny one!