Trying to nail this idle problem

Post Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:42 pm

Must be checked then....maybe tomorrow as I need to do the tracking by a professional anyway!

Post Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:29 am

The diff plug was not connected...so I've just plugged it in and took it for a quick spin...still died on me once...

I'll drive it for the next few days to see how it goes...

Thanks Dan

Post Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:05 pm

Still cuts out...I've sealed all the air pipes...(almost all are brand new)
can the spark plugs to be the problem? or what else could it be?!

Thanks

Post Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:45 pm

After driving it for few days I ca tell you that absolutly nothing improved...still cuts out when the idle drops...must me something electric as the idle is perfect now....6-700 ish...

At least now it starts...

Post Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:19 pm

Shot at 2012-04-24

Shot at 2012-04-24

for DAN

Post Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:29 pm

what fan u using?

Post Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:14 am

at the moment just on electric Bosch one in front of the radiator connected to the ignition wire...why? does it make any difference?

Post Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:26 am

so is the fan on all the time then or on a switch?

Post Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:30 am

all the time didn't bother with a switch

Post Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:36 am

they drain power from the enigne badly, makes them stall!!! put money on it thats ur problem mate get a battery test done and see the drain

Post Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:38 am

the battery is brand new...but i'll give it a go and drive it disconected to see if that is the problem...

Thanks

Post Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:42 am

i got a the A/C fan from the E36 cooling mine and if i push the clutch and just the right time when in traffic the fan kicks in its stalls, cos of power drain from the engine

Post Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:47 am

Hey!!!! You might be right... Drove it for 6 miles and i must admit that it didn't stall so many times like it did before...
What is the solution then? I have the loom and ordered a temperature sensor for a twin speed fan... Maybe i'll check what kind of fan i've got tomorrow and let you know exactly...

Thank younfor the advice!

Post Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:30 pm

StefanAnghel wrote:Hey!!!! You might be right... Drove it for 6 miles and i must admit that it didn't stall so many times like it did before...
What is the solution then? I have the loom and ordered a temperature sensor for a twin speed fan... Maybe i'll check what kind of fan i've got tomorrow and let you know exactly...

Thank younfor the advice!

no probs mate think its a common problem with the swap, also have u taken the ICV off at any point?

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:58 pm

Today had the first proper drive without any issues...thank you everyone for all your inputs!
Drove it with the fan disconected but didn't overheat as was cold outside and was a short trip anyway (6-7 miles)

Looking for some advice regarding a better two speed fan that will not cause the same problem

Thank you

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:56 pm

People use fans from various aircon BM's, I think DanThe will do you a fan loom if you pm him?

On mine I got a kit car style fan from ebay and a 102 ish degree fan switch off something random, and a relay.

The fan will never come on in normal driving, it's only when you're stopped for a while and there's no air coming thru the rad naturally that the temp will start to creep up. I ran with no fan at all for a good while!

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:05 pm

I've got a loom from Dan!
Thanks

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:51 pm

Interesting! My car does the same but haven't had chance to tackle the problem properly yet - will be getting round to it this weekend. Will report back if it's the same thing as I too have the E36 aircon fan.

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:04 pm

Jimbob wrote:Interesting! My car does the same but haven't had chance to tackle the problem properly yet - will be getting round to it this weekend. Will report back if it's the same thing as I too have the E36 aircon fan.

yeah think the A/C fans just pull to much juice, might b an idea to get one from a car that has a electric fan as standard to cool the rad

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:10 pm

Someone like Dan or Brianmooore can help as they know loads about electronics...

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:18 pm

Ive always had the BMW twin speed fans and never had a problem

Have you checked the battery voltage with the engine running?

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:32 pm

DanThe wrote:Ive always had the BMW twin speed fans and never had a problem

Have you checked the battery voltage with the engine running?

are A/C fans twin speed cos only wired it up to cut in once at 88 on the swtich, only happens once in a blue moon but it does do my nut in lol. yeah batt volts are gd when the fan kicks in, but what i did notice if all the lights and everything is on the revs dont drop. you think making it a 2 speed so the the fan is spinning low at first wont pull as much power as just high speed all the time. thinking about it that makes sense lol

Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:43 pm

DanThe wrote:Ive always had the BMW twin speed fans and never had a problem

Have you checked the battery voltage with the engine running?

Mine is not a twin speed as it has only 2 wires...i'll buy a proper one and connect it to your loom... What a/c fan i'm after?!

And my battery was brand new Bosch
Thanks

Post Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:12 am

I've just did a quick test with the engine running i've connected the fan and the rpm dropped about 100-150 for few seconds...

The other question is what part dictates the idle as mine is a bit low when the engine is cold (500-600)... When the engine gets warm the idle is normal (700rpm)

Thanks

Post Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:23 pm

Idle control valve (ICV) controls the idle speed. The idle revs. are set by the software, and should be higher when cold in response to a 'cold engine' signal value from the coolant temperature sensor. The wiring to this sensor (combined coolant temp. and 'remote thermometer' sensor (temp. gauge)) will have been modified as part of the conversion, to fit an E30 compatible 'brown' sensor for the gauge, so check this has been done correctly.

Post Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:34 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:Idle control valve (ICV) controls the idle speed. The idle revs. are set by the software, and should be higher when cold in response to a 'cold engine' signal value from the coolant temperature sensor. The wiring to this sensor (combined coolant temp. and 'remote thermometer' sensor (temp. gauge)) will have been modified as part of the conversion, to fit an E30 compatible 'brown' sensor for the gauge, so check this has been done correctly.

Ok, I will! And what is the 'blue' sensor for?

Post Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:04 pm

Sorry, just noticed that yours is a M50 conversion, not M52, so please ignore most of what I posted about modified wiring! The blue sensor is the coolant temp. sensor, and is the same on a M50 as it is on a M40 or M20. It's the M52 that uses a combined sensor.

Post Fri May 04, 2012 10:46 am

I was clutching at straws when I thought it may have been the fan, turns out it was the intake manifold causing an air leak.

Post Fri May 04, 2012 4:58 pm

Jimbob wrote:I was clutching at straws when I thought it may have been the fan, turns out it was the intake manifold causing an air leak.

How did you Sort it out?!
Thanks

Post Fri May 04, 2012 5:48 pm

My manifold was actually damaged/bodged (sourced from an ebay breaker..) - there was a hole in it, have put a bolt and araldite on it at the moment because I need the car tomorrow. Will source a new manifold at some point in the future.

Post Fri May 04, 2012 8:10 pm

Mine is strange...when is cold is still playing up... And the engine cuts off... And after reaches the running temp is fine...
Thinking to change the spark plugs as I run out of ideas...

Post Wed May 09, 2012 12:25 am

I'm looking to buy another ecu but i want to check if is anything that i'm missing on my check list...
The symptoms are:
when cold the idle is low and the engine stalls and after the engine is warm the idle goes up and down a bit 500-800 rpm and occasionally the engine stalls

Icv - cleaned and wd40-ed
Electric fan - disconnected
Diff plug - checked
Spark plugs and coils - checked
Air leaks - checked
MAF - cleaned
Lambda - brand new

Anything i'm missing?!
Thank you

Post Mon May 21, 2012 11:55 pm

Can someone tell me what are the 3 relays (white, orange and blue) for?
Thanks

Post Tue May 22, 2012 9:02 am

DME, lambda sensor heater and fuel pump.

Post Tue May 22, 2012 9:10 am

Brianmoooore wrote:DME, lambda sensor heater and fuel pump.

Thank you
Could them be my problem if they are not working properly!?