random stalling and spluttering

Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:53 am

Bit of an intermittent problem with the turd at the moment, just wondering if anyone has any similar experiences or advice?

320i - this has happened a few times over the last 6 months or so, completely random and inconsistent.

I popped up the shops last night, all was fine. Then as I pulled into the car park, it started spluttering and the revs dropped, bounced a couple of times, then died. It's done this on a few occassions, and I can usually keep it alive by dipping the clutch and just giving it some revs to keep it going, but when I do this, it splutters and feels really lumpy and hesitant.

Usually a good blast through the rev range in second gear clears it up, which suggests it's some kind of fuelling problem maybe? Or does it?! There is a stink of petrol when it does this, but that could just be because it's struggling to stay alive?

My idle is usually spot on and doesn't tend to bounce around.

I have no air leaks (relatively new rubber) and have recently replaced the fuel filter. I believe ICV and TPS are as they should be.

Hope I've explained clearly enough, it's a tricky one because it's so random - most of the time there's no problem.

One thing to add - my last MOT had an advisory for a small exhaust blow, I think at the manifold end IIRC - could this have something to do with it? edit - this could be a major factor now, had a backfire last night when it was misbehaving again, so am going to try and find the hole in the exhaust system and seal it up, see if there's any improvement.
Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers,

SiEdit -

Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:54 pm

this happened to me...i had moisture in the injector wiring loom plug. the injector wiring loom plug is located from the passenger underneath the manifold unplug it use some electrical cleaner spray squirt bit of that on or try below it or dry it out and then plug it back in ..it should work.

thanks.

Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:59 pm

I can't help you just yet but your symptons sounds very similar to mine, albeit mine are constant. It's at a garage today so i'll update this when i know the score!

Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:00 pm

Cheers K13.

I'll try and find the injector wiring loom plug when I get in this evening, passenger side under the manifold? Hopefully it shouldn't be too hard to find! It'd certainly make sense if it was something like that, as it'd explain why it's so inconsistent.

Any other possibilities anyone?

Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:03 pm

SteSE - thanks for your reply. I think I'd prefer it if the symptoms of mine were constant, at least then it wouldn't be so hard to pin down the problem! Please keep me informed of the outcome when you get it back - if something on yours turns out to be knackered, that'd give me a good idea of what may be on its way out on mine!!

Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:06 pm

Does yours only do it once warm. i.e it's fine from cold

Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:39 pm

spp320i wrote:Cheers K13.

I'll try and find the injector wiring loom plug when I get in this evening, passenger side under the manifold? Hopefully it shouldn't be too hard to find! It'd certainly make sense if it was something like that, as it'd explain why it's so inconsistent.

Any other possibilities anyone?

yes passenger side under the manifold. just unplug it spray some electrical spray cleaner or jus blow it dry it out and plug back in then see if it works.

Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:44 pm

I'm having same problems at the moment.

Will watch this thread with interest. Mine does it once hot. Drove it last night and after 40mins it started doing it.

Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:04 am

I couldn't be sure if it only does it when hot really, but I think so. I was driving for about 10 mins when it happened the other day, so I'd think it was up to normal temperature by then.

Didn't manage to check the injector wiring loom plug last night, had a few drinks after work instead!! Priorities...!!

Got the day off tomorrow so will have a look and give it a clean up to see if that makes any difference - although I won't know if it's worked unless it decides to minsbehave again!!

Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:33 am

Willnz - thanks for your input. Good point, although I'm not sure if an earthing problem would cause this, as it doesn't cut out completely, it just starts to struggle. I can keep it running by using the throttle to keep it alive, but it really sounds pretty rough when I do this. Also can be a bit tricky when coming up to a junction and having to keep the throttle open!!

I'll certainly check the earths around that area anyway though, as I'm going to have a look at the injector wiring loom plug already mentioned above.

Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:41 pm

Garage just phoned me to say it's fixed, picking it up in a few hours. Mechanic said he dismantled and rebuilt throttle housing and tuned it using a co2 tester? So that probably doesn't help

Thu Aug 13, 2009 3:24 pm

Thanks SteSE for updating us with your results. That (to me anyway) seems like a fairly strange solution to the problem. I'd expect your mechanic to have replaced some parts, but maybe there was just a bad gasket seal around the throttle body or something?

It doesn't really help me I don't think - wouldn't know how to tune it using a co2 tester, or what to look for! My co2 readings are ok anyway, according to my last MOT emissions print out.

Oh well, glad your is (touch wood) sorted anyway!

Sat Aug 15, 2009 3:15 pm

OP any news?

Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:09 am

no news yet - bit of a development though.

It did it again last night after a fairly long journey, I tried to just keep going and blast through it, then when pulling off from a set of traffic lights, it hesitated really badly and wouldn't get going, then there was a fairly loud backfire and so I pulled over!

I'm not really any closer to solving it yet, but am going to get underneath as I've definitiely got a bit of an exhaust blow at the manifold end.

Does anyone think the exhaust blow could be a contributing factor?? I'm going to patch it with gun gum for the moment and see if that helps.

Sun Aug 16, 2009 2:46 pm

spp320i wrote:no news yet - bit of a development though.

It did it again last night after a fairly long journey, I tried to just keep going and blast through it, then when pulling off from a set of traffic lights, it hesitated really badly and wouldn't get going, then there was a fairly loud backfire and so I pulled over!

I'm not really any closer to solving it yet, but am going to get underneath as I've definitiely got a bit of an exhaust blow at the manifold end.

Does anyone think the exhaust blow could be a contributing factor?? I'm going to patch it with gun gum for the moment and see if that helps.

Mine does it at traffic lights, or after idling for a bit. Sounds like we are having the same problem. Has yours ever sped up on you? Mine seems to pick up speed on its own sometimes after all this stalling and spluttering.

Mine has a leak also. Going to borrow some ramps later and have a look.

Hopefully one of us can find the problem.

Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:37 pm

[quote="BadMoonRising"

Mine does it at traffic lights, or after idling for a bit. Sounds like we are having the same problem. Has yours ever sped up on you? Mine seems to pick up speed on its own sometimes after all this stalling and spluttering.

Mine has a leak also. Going to borrow some ramps later and have a look.

Hopefully one of us can find the problem.[/quote]

It normally happens to me constantly once it starts, you can feel it's lumpy through the rev range and if I stop, I have to keep revving it to stop it from stalling.

It's never sped up on me though.

She's up on the ramps now and I've sealed up the hole in the exhaust system - it was near the first silencer box, about halfway along the car. Is this the catalytic convertor on a facelift 320i?

Hopefully this will help if not solve the problem

Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:30 am

Update - still not fixed! See my other post for more info - http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 88#1580188

The injector wiring loom plug looks fine to me, no moisture and no corrosion.

Mine does it from cold as well. All earths appear to be ok. Could be ICV related, as unplugging it when running rough then plugging the connector back in termporarily fixes the problem. Have celaned out the ICV and no improvement.

I NEED HELP!!! Other post has the latest info - http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 88#1580188

Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:08 am

Hey mate

Know how your feeling. Mine is still buggered. Bought the bullet and called the AA man today. He has checked AFM, ICV, Crank sensor, throttle switch, earth wires. Replaced the rotor arm and distrubutor cap which were fooked.

And still same problem. Will be taking to a BMW specialist in next few days. Will let you know how I get on.

Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:20 am

spp320i wrote:[quote="BadMoonRising"

Mine does it at traffic lights, or after idling for a bit. Sounds like we are having the same problem. Has yours ever sped up on you? Mine seems to pick up speed on its own sometimes after all this stalling and spluttering.

it's hunting right ?

I wouldn't worry about the exhaust blowing , that wouldn't cause this to happen

clean out the TPS (prise the cover off) and get plenty of carb cleaner in there, chances are it's full of oil,
while you have the TB off give that a good clean too
and clean out the IVC with carb cleaner or WD40

M20 engines are designed to 'eat' their own crap, and these 2 places are where it builds up

Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:26 am

e30topless wrote:
spp320i wrote:[quote="BadMoonRising"

Mine does it at traffic lights, or after idling for a bit. Sounds like we are having the same problem. Has yours ever sped up on you? Mine seems to pick up speed on its own sometimes after all this stalling and spluttering.
it's hunting right ?

I wouldn't worry about the exhaust blowing , that wouldn't cause this to happen

clean out the TPS (prise the cover off) and get plenty of carb cleaner in there, chances are it's full of oil,
while you have the TB off give that a good clean too
and clean out the IVC with carb cleaner or WD40

M20 engines are designed to 'eat' their own crap, and these 2 places are where it builds up

I'll give that a go before I take it into the garage

Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:47 am

e30topless wrote:
spp320i wrote:[quote="BadMoonRising"

Mine does it at traffic lights, or after idling for a bit. Sounds like we are having the same problem. Has yours ever sped up on you? Mine seems to pick up speed on its own sometimes after all this stalling and spluttering.
it's hunting right ?

I wouldn't worry about the exhaust blowing , that wouldn't cause this to happen

clean out the TPS (prise the cover off) and get plenty of carb cleaner in there, chances are it's full of oil,
while you have the TB off give that a good clean too
and clean out the IVC with carb cleaner or WD40

M20 engines are designed to 'eat' their own crap, and these 2 places are where it builds up

I wouldn't really say it's hunting, no. Normally the idle is constant and smooth, but occassionally it gets really rough and will just splutter and die, it stinks of petrol so it seems to be overfuelling. It does this hot and cold, and completely randomly.

Over the weekend I've cleaned out all the air intake pipes and the ICV and AFM. So far it's not happened since, but being temperamental, I'm not convinced the problem's gone away.

I'll give the TPS and throttle body a good clean out as well, that's next on the list!

Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:49 am

BadMoonRising wrote:Hey mate

Know how your feeling. Mine is still buggered. Bought the bullet and called the AA man today. He has checked AFM, ICV, Crank sensor, throttle switch, earth wires. Replaced the rotor arm and distrubutor cap which were fooked.

And still same problem. Will be taking to a BMW specialist in next few days. Will let you know how I get on.

If you do get it sorted by cleaning or taking it to the specialist, please do let me know the results. As I said above, I'm not convinced my problem's solved yet, it'll probably happen again in the next couple of days. In the past it's gone weeks without misbehaving, so will see how it goes.

Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:29 pm

spp320i wrote:
BadMoonRising wrote:Hey mate

Know how your feeling. Mine is still buggered. Bought the bullet and called the AA man today. He has checked AFM, ICV, Crank sensor, throttle switch, earth wires. Replaced the rotor arm and distrubutor cap which were fooked.

And still same problem. Will be taking to a BMW specialist in next few days. Will let you know how I get on.
If you do get it sorted by cleaning or taking it to the specialist, please do let me know the results. As I said above, I'm not convinced my problem's solved yet, it'll probably happen again in the next couple of days. In the past it's gone weeks without misbehaving, so will see how it goes.

Mine was the AFM.

Sun Sep 27, 2009 11:13 pm

hi try another air flow meter, there not all the same if you have a mate with same model could be worth a swop, recently fixed one with probs that sound similar to yours, good luck
www.lotusport.co.uk
regards Anton

Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:41 am

I had a similar problem but not exactly the same, worth telling you though as it could be related... I had a loose alternator belt and it wasnt charging the battery all the time. This meant at times it would start to misfire and the idle would fall and eventually stall...

Now you might not have a loose alternator belt but something wrong with the alternator. Maybe check that its charging... From study E30zone for some time now I have realised its always the simplest of things that cause these cars to run bad.

Mike