My 320 has become a pain to start. Need to keep turning the key and pumping the throttle to get it to start. After the sixth attempt or so it starts but idles low, around 500rpm. Once it's been running for a bit the idle will rise and drop.
Called the AA out last week and the guy thought it was the fuel pump. That's been replaced and it is still hard to start.
Called them out again today the diagnose was the ICV this time. I know the ICV affects the idle. Before I shell out for a new (old) ICV. Can it make it hard to start as described above?
Can a faulty ICV make the car hard to start?
Moderator: martauto
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
An E30 should always be started with your foot well away from the accelerator pedal, and if you do, a faulty ICV could affect things, as there will be effectively no throttle.
If you press the throttle at all, the ICV becomes totally irrelevant, BUT you are then trying to start the car on the lean running map, rather than the idle map.
The first things I would check are that the TPS is actually working, and that it is switching immediately the throttle pedal come off of its stop. Once I'm convinced that all is good there, I'd be wanting to connect up a fuel pressure gauge to see if all is in spec. there, and if the fuel rail maintains its pressure after the engine is stopped.
What age is the car, BTW, as early 320's are a completely different and much more primitive engine management.
If you press the throttle at all, the ICV becomes totally irrelevant, BUT you are then trying to start the car on the lean running map, rather than the idle map.
The first things I would check are that the TPS is actually working, and that it is switching immediately the throttle pedal come off of its stop. Once I'm convinced that all is good there, I'd be wanting to connect up a fuel pressure gauge to see if all is in spec. there, and if the fuel rail maintains its pressure after the engine is stopped.
What age is the car, BTW, as early 320's are a completely different and much more primitive engine management.
- BadMoonRising
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 283
- Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Bristol
Thanks for the reply Brian.
It was the Temp Sensor.
It was the Temp Sensor.
