Have I killed it?

Post Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:43 pm

Replaced both brown and blue temp senders and stat. Flushed rad, flushed some of block. Looking to bleed the system and it is running worse than ever. Sounds a cylinder down. I disturbed the wiring for injector no1, but that is now back in place.
On idle, the revs seem stable enough, but there was a whine from the engine somewhere in the cycle, plus every no and again my mpg gauge swings to 50mpg then back to 0.
The alternator go a bit wet, is that my problem?
I was also working in the rain and most components got a covering of drizzle.

PLEASE HELP!

Post Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:48 pm

Let it dry off then give it a go. Ive had serious problems when my engine bay got really wet.

Post Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:48 pm

my temp gauge does not 'egage' when the ignition is turned on, but it used to before.

Post Sat Oct 08, 2005 4:07 pm

I disconnected the battery for 15 mins then re-started, it was the same, so I raised the revs and lowered them slowly. It idled okay from there on. Well, as well as it was before. The battery light flickered on so I stopped it. On restart, the idle was okay and the temp was starting to rise, but then the engine oil level warning light on the 'check' panel came on. But the light on the dash did not come on. A dipstick check showed the oil was okay.

Hmm I am confused. That said, I was idling the car facing up my sloped drive to help with the refill of coolant. Could the oil pump be starved by this?

Post Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:04 pm

The battery light flickering on is normally because its not charging - could be an alternator problem after it got wet.

The oil level warning on the check panel is just for the oil level and possibly came on because you had the car facing up hill - park it on a level surface, leave it a while and check it again.

The oil light on the dash is the oil pressure light or 'idiot' light as its sometimes called. If that comes on with the engine running, stop the engine right away 'cause the oil pressure has dropped and running it for any longer could damage the engine.

Post Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:17 pm

Good, good, Jmc. So if no idiot light the oil pressure is good and the oil pump must be working.
The level must be low though, I have added a lttle oil.
I did drive down the road and back up to mine and the light is still on.
I'll park it nose down for half an hour or so.

Post Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:33 pm

Ah-ha!
Just looked at ETK.
The oil level sensor is on the front passenger side of the sump.
Directly beneath the stat housing, which has given it a right royal soaking.

I reckon the wire may have shorted out, giving a positive reading.

Post Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:46 pm

Lot of the circuits you are having trouble with go through the big C101 plug and socket on the bulkhead, just inboard of the fusebox.
take this apart, check that all the pins are clean and bright, and when you put it back, check that the locking collar is tight.
I regularly wash under the bonnet of E30s with a hosepipe, sometimes with the engine running. Sholdn't do any harm all.

Post Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:14 pm

The car is running well again.
I disconnected the battery for half an hour whilst doing other jobs and with the car parked nose down.
No warning LED's at all. Idling when cold is still up and down, but rock solid when warm.
The temp gauge is nigh on touching the halfway line after a good test run
I'm happy enough!