E30 Speed sensor location

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JasparRivers
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Post Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:46 pm

Hi, I have a troublesome E30 316i Lux (M40 engine) 1990 H-Reg

It has been suffering a continual but intermittant problem of the engine cutting out, and happened to me again last night on the M3.

The RAC guy and I think that it could be related to the 'engine speed sensor' however I am unsure where this is located on the 316i
A guy from GSF said that it was part of the HT lead set...?

Could anyone help, as the Haynes Manual doesnt give much away either.

Cheers
Jaspar
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JazzMan
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Post Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:55 pm

EDIT: sorry read post wrongly
Last edited by JazzMan on Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Treeman612
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Post Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:02 pm

Hi - Jazzman, I may be wrong, but I think you're locating the speedo sensor in the diff - IIRC the engine speed sensor is located in the engine bay - on my 320i Motronic the sensor is at the front of the engine, but where on a 4 pot I don't know - but you can bet someone on here will soon put you right!!
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JasparRivers
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Post Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:03 pm

Cheers for the pic - I thought it was under the bonnet somewhere...

Jaspar
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JazzMan
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Post Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:07 pm

Sorry you may be right there. I think I read the original post wrongly :oops:

In that case I have pic of some HT lead here instead:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/leads.jpg
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JasparRivers
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Post Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:08 pm

Sorry Treeman - was writing the last msg when yours came in...
I'm sure its near the engine somewhere. The RAC guy said that he has attended a 316 but it was an A-reg (M10 engine I believe) and that had a different sent up to mine. He couldnt find it where he (and you) thought it was, and I was scanning the Haynes and that didnt get me anywhere either.

I basically think the problem is todo with this sensor malfunctioning (seems to happen when the engine gets hot) and it tells the ECU to inject less fuel or make less sparks, and hence the stuttering and v.quick loss of any revs. when the problem occurs (like someone has just turned the key off) - when it happens, you have to stop, there is no possibility of carrying on, as the engine will cut out v.soon after the misbehavin...

Have replaced: coil, plugs, leads, dizzy, ICV, ECU, DME relay, AFM and am getting the stage of chucking in the towel...any other obvious suggestions other than the speed sensor would be greatly appreciated...

Cheers
Jaspar
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JasparRivers
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Post Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:13 pm

Cheers Jazzman - I'm gessin that the non-blue lead that you have in the photo is the sensor one.
GSF quoted Ԛ£68 + VAT for the leads, and mine are almost new (but suspect that the garage that replaced them did it on the cheap and avoided changing the sensor aswell).

Might try a reconditioned parts guy for the sensor......

Thanks for the help
wished my car worked, so much... :(
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