Couple of problems.

Post Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:37 am

Hi Guys,

I have noticed a few problems with my car as I started driving my 318 IS about.

The first thing is the brake lights. When im braking under high pressure I have being told by drivers behind that my brake lights begin flashing at a fast speed. It sometimes also does it when I'm just driving along at a standard speed and brake normally. I have ordered another Brake switch for it as I believe it could be sticking as the car sat for a long time before I bought it.

The next problem I have noticed is a clunking noise coming from the rear suspension. I'm not entirely sure which side but it has a fair loud clunk when going over small bumps and also sometimes If I change gear fairly harsh.

Another problem I found was after taking the car to a car wash. I noticed sitting water in the boot of the car. It is located in the two side bits of the boot that are lower down. One was damp and one had sitting water. The rest of the boot and the interior of the car feels dry throughout.

Any help/advice is much appreciated.

Thanks

Lee

Post Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:52 pm

Brake lights: Switch is probably faulty, having been destroyed by the brake pull rod (across the car in front of the heater box) being badly out of adjustment.

Clunk: Caused by bumps, then likely to be a rear damper top mount. Caused by changing gear, then prop shaft centre mount, diff. bolts or diff. rear mounting bush.

Car wash problem: If you're lucky it was caused by upward jets of water behind the sides of the rear bumper, getting in via the air extractor vents, or just a boot lid catch in need of adjustment.
If not so lucky, then it may be rust holes. Rear light seals have been known to leak, and an often overlooked source of water ingress, on the LH side only, is an aerial where no one has bothered to fit the drain tube.

Post Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:14 pm

pretty much repeating what ^^^ said above...

clunk could be the upper shock mounts, subframe bushings or diff mount bushings. I suggest getting the car up on jack stands for a poke around. May just be a loose bolt.

The water in the boot is most likely rotted tail light gaskets but it could possibly be a worn boot lid seal as well.

Post Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:49 pm

e30rapidic wrote: but it could possibly be a worn boot lid seal as well.

Never seen a worn seal, but I have seen many hiding a rust hole under the seal!

Post Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:02 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
e30rapidic wrote: but it could possibly be a worn boot lid seal as well.
Never seen a worn seal, but I have seen many hiding a rust hole under the seal!

I've had one rip, back in the day when the car lived outside. Opened the trunk after a freezing cold, rainy night and the seal ripped apart. Part stuck to the trunk lid and part stuck to the body.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 8:26 am

thanks alot guys, will investigate into them further this weekend. Just last night when I was parking up I heard a very loud whirring noise coming from the front. It sounded like it was coming from the Fan or the alternator somewhere in them regions. When I drove the noise would sort of stop at 3.5k revs unless it was because of the engine. I have looked into it and have found that most people say its something to do with the fan clutch. I have ordered it a replacement so hopefully that should fix that problem.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:53 am

#1 rule when running an E30, unless you have spare money coming out of your ears, is don't randomly replace parts that haven't been PROVEN to be faulty.
One of the last things I'd suspect for a whirring noise at the front of an iS is the fan clutch, unless it's a very loud whirr that increases with revs., right up to the red line.
Obviously, I haven't heard this noise, but on an iS, I'd be thinking in terms of timing chain components.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 10:36 am

Its loud and it increased till about 3.5k revs then by the sounds of it goes quiet. A friend of mine with some knowledge had a listen not long ago and said hes fairly certain its the fan clutch.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 1:52 pm

Well I still wouldn't buy one on spec. Easily checked - just unscrew the fan (reverse thread) and run the car for a test without it. As long as the car doesn't get stuck in traffic, it won't overheat.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 2:34 pm

ok well as it was spinning. I used some paper to just jam in the fan slightly and I could fully stop it and spin it the other way whilst it was all running.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 7:19 pm

leeuk93 wrote:ok well as it was spinning. I used some paper to just jam in the fan slightly and I could fully stop it and spin it the other way whilst it was all running.

Exactly as you should be able to.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 7:27 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
leeuk93 wrote:ok well as it was spinning. I used some paper to just jam in the fan slightly and I could fully stop it and spin it the other way whilst it was all running.
Exactly as you should be able to.

When cold.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 7:54 pm

jmc330i wrote:
Brianmoooore wrote:
leeuk93 wrote:ok well as it was spinning. I used some paper to just jam in the fan slightly and I could fully stop it and spin it the other way whilst it was all running.
Exactly as you should be able to.
When cold.

And at running temperature.

Post Thu Mar 06, 2014 8:05 pm

Yes, I should of said cold to warm (or running temp). Although, I've never been able to easily fully stop the fan blades on either of my E30s with the engine idling and up to temp.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:19 am

The blades can still be stopped even when that car is warmed up. Listening to the noise more, we think its not the fan clutch. The noise is a weird sound to explain, sounds like a dodgy VTEC and when idling it quieter now but sounds like a diesel somewhat and the sound get louder and faster with the revs up to around 3k then it just sounds like the normal engine for the rest of the rev range. We disconnected the water pump and its not that. Where fairly confident its not the alternator. It weird when you try source where the sound is coming from it sounds like it keeps moving which is odd.

The best I can do is get a video on my lunch. This should hopefully capture the sound properly as its a hard noise to describe.

The noise also suddenly came on, it didn't degrade to it.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:56 am

As Brian said, the fan/viscous unit probably isn't to blame for the noise, unless the noise rises with revs right up to the red line.
I'd also be thinking to look around the timing gear, looking at the chain, sprockets and guide for wear. The chain tensioner can also cause issues, and this is now updated with the tensioner from the M44 engine. (The chain guide should of also been replaced with a plastic guide, not the metal guide the M42 originally came with).
IIRC, the chain should be replaced at 100k miles, but a lot get over looked and left, which is where problems can start.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 10:03 am

Ok, and the fact the noise suddenly started can that be factored into this ?

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 10:40 am

Usually when a noise starts suddenly, it means a components has failed rather than worn out.

Why don't you just remove the belts from the front of the engine if you think it's an auxilary component? No bad can come of it.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 10:54 am

We disconnected the water pump and fan last night and tested noise was still there. Im going to record a video soon on my lunch and post here, It might help is people heard it. I cant properly explain it.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:12 pm

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Here is a video I made of the noise. You will notice as the car turns over the sound isnt there as soon as the car starts the noise starts. You really get the feel but sound sounds like its coming from the front of then engine/engine bay. As I rev it up its gets louder until it hits around 3k then it stops/ quietens down.

It sounds abit like a diesel.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:13 pm

Just to add ive also noticed it takes abit longer for it start when turning over.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:42 pm

I can't really hear the vid properly on my phone (not sure if the crappy speakers are making it sound worse than it is) but I would definitely be looking at the chain, chain guide etc etc as soon as possible - not sure I'd be using the car until it's been checked.

I wouldn't let your friend take a look if he thought that was the viscous clutch!

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:55 pm

the sound has got worse. the fan clutch was what I gathered together from reading online when it sounded more of a whir. And it doesnt sound too great. Im getting it down to a car garage tomorrow.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 5:53 pm

That sounds very chain-y. Definately not a whirring noise.

Has it got oil in it?

And as above, avoid driving it for the time being.

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 6:07 pm

I am, going to drive it shortly to the garage and its got oil yes/ the noise has randomly quietened down a tad

Post Fri Mar 07, 2014 6:56 pm

I've not worked on M42 timing gear, but I'd possibly be expecting to see an original knackered metal chain guide at the least - it kind of sounds like the chain rubbing along it (or bits of it). Could be the M42 tensioner hasn't been doing its job...