Can you ajust the tps ? High idle issue
Moderator: martauto
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polsta
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Right, after quite a bit of graft , my engine bay is now looking great
Today it's had a new inlet manifold and rocker and a BBTB big bore throttle body , so its all been apart , it has a new thermostat housing recently, new thermostat etc but ran fine
It's just idleing at about 1000rpm with the mixture screw tight , can't move it any lower
just wondering how I can fix this ? Is it possible to ajust the TPS ? Ie remove it move it around a bit or something ? The icv is clean as is everything else
Not had a chance to fiddle yet, after getting it all fitted today and taken it out for a bit of a run out this evening to let the ecu sort itself out , all seems to be running fine no issues , the BBTB seems to have made a nice little difference bit more perky
Appriciate any advice ?
Cheers
Today it's had a new inlet manifold and rocker and a BBTB big bore throttle body , so its all been apart , it has a new thermostat housing recently, new thermostat etc but ran fine
It's just idleing at about 1000rpm with the mixture screw tight , can't move it any lower
just wondering how I can fix this ? Is it possible to ajust the TPS ? Ie remove it move it around a bit or something ? The icv is clean as is everything else
Not had a chance to fiddle yet, after getting it all fitted today and taken it out for a bit of a run out this evening to let the ecu sort itself out , all seems to be running fine no issues , the BBTB seems to have made a nice little difference bit more perky
Appriciate any advice ?
Cheers
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

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Mixture screw?? Only if you've fitted a carburettor. If you mean the CO adjustment on the AFM, I hope you marked where it was. Put it back exactly where it was, and don't touch it again.
Is the throttle cable adjusted properly, and not holding the butterfly open slightly?
The throttle body has an adjustable stop for the butterfly on it - another adjustment that should never be touched, but if your TB has been enlarged, the original adjustment is no longer applicable, and may not be set correctly. BMW special tool needed to set properly.
TPS has to be adjusted after the throttle stop is set, and has to be set to switch from the idle map immediately after the butterfly leaves the stop, consistent with reliably switching back again when the throttle is closed.
Is the throttle cable adjusted properly, and not holding the butterfly open slightly?
The throttle body has an adjustable stop for the butterfly on it - another adjustment that should never be touched, but if your TB has been enlarged, the original adjustment is no longer applicable, and may not be set correctly. BMW special tool needed to set properly.
TPS has to be adjusted after the throttle stop is set, and has to be set to switch from the idle map immediately after the butterfly leaves the stop, consistent with reliably switching back again when the throttle is closed.
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler

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If you disconnect the battery or ECU, you should let the engine idle for at least 10 minutes to enable base idle settings to be learnt, then switch off, then take it for a drive throughout the rev range. This ensures full data transfer from the EPROM to the processor.
The idle speed is set by the Motronic system - I don't think it's adjustable, as such, unless you change the hex value of the idle speed part of the map.
The idle speed is set by the Motronic system - I don't think it's adjustable, as such, unless you change the hex value of the idle speed part of the map.
Last edited by Speedtouch on Tue Apr 07, 2015 10:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
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polsta
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Cheers guys, it's all a bit above me , I ment the little screw on the throttle body ? The one you can ajust slightly to alter the idle ?
The afm has not been touched , and yes it was left to idle for 10 mins well longer to come up to temp etc and bleed the coolant system
But being a new TB and bigger bore, it needs to all be set up and ajusted ?
The afm has not been touched , and yes it was left to idle for 10 mins well longer to come up to temp etc and bleed the coolant system
But being a new TB and bigger bore, it needs to all be set up and ajusted ?
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polsta
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The butterly stop thing brian that should never be touched, would that vary on it being a TB from another car ? (Not my original) and also having the big bore conversion ? And then being fitted to my car ?
I presume it all just needs ajusting and setting up ? Is this something I can fiddle with or should be taken to someone professional ?
I presume it all just needs ajusting and setting up ? Is this something I can fiddle with or should be taken to someone professional ?
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Brianmoooore
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The throttle stop requires the use of a BMW special tool to set properly, so the 'someone' would have to be a BMW dealer.
However, the method I use on the rare occasions I need to, is to remove the ICV and either block both hoses, or plug one port of the ICV and refit it, then to start the engine and bring it up to temperature. I then adjust the stop so that the engine is idling so slowly that it is threatening to jump away from the engine mounts.
Once this is done, the throttle body needs to be removed and the TPS adjusted in its slotted mounting holes as I described in my last post.
However, the method I use on the rare occasions I need to, is to remove the ICV and either block both hoses, or plug one port of the ICV and refit it, then to start the engine and bring it up to temperature. I then adjust the stop so that the engine is idling so slowly that it is threatening to jump away from the engine mounts.
Once this is done, the throttle body needs to be removed and the TPS adjusted in its slotted mounting holes as I described in my last post.
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e30topless
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The only gains you will get from an M20 BBTB is space in your wallet and drama's with idle.. spend 10 mins fitting your old TB and see how it runs ?

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jimbom30cab
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Could you alternatively set the butterfly flap gap with a feeler guage?
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Brianmoooore
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IMO, no.jimbom30cab wrote:Could you alternatively set the butterfly flap gap with a feeler guage?
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polsta
- Married to the E30 Zone

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So what should I do brian ? Take it to Bmw ? It sounds a bit beyond me
What would you do in my situation ?
Would be interesting if anyone else who fitted a Bbtb could comment on what they did if they has idle issues
What would you do in my situation ?
Would be interesting if anyone else who fitted a Bbtb could comment on what they did if they has idle issues
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DanThe
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Most people dont consider that Mr Schmitz (or whatever the coonts name was) spent hundreds of hours setting up an ECU map to work with a particular sized throttle body and a particular profiled cam etc etc to get the best drivability from the engine, if Mr Schmitz would have thought a larger throttle would make a significant improvement im sure the engine would have come with that throttle from newe30topless wrote:The only gains you will get from an M20 BBTB is space in your wallet and drama's with idle.. spend 10 mins fitting your old TB and see how it runs ?
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e30topless
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My theory entirely Dan,DanThe wrote: Most people dont consider that Mr Schmitz (or whatever the coonts name was) spent hundreds of hours setting up an ECU map to work with a particular sized throttle body and a particular profiled cam etc etc to get the best drivability from the engine, if Mr Schmitz would have thought a larger throttle would make a significant improvement im sure the engine would have come with that throttle from new
Millions spent on development back in the 80's is no match for fred in a shed with an Aldi laptop and a various black and decker tool assortment,
I shall name no names but a well known zoner... went to a dyno day with his polished BBTB/speed touch chip and produced a whopping 96bhp in his rampant 325i, only to be slayed by a 318 touring producing 104bhp, He took home the wooden spoon award...
Luckily i was on hand to sell him a standard TB and ECU which got him back up to an almost respectable 160 bhp
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polsta
- Married to the E30 Zone

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96bhp a˜³ lol
Tbh the car feels good and certainly not worse and it seemed to pick up nice and great when changing down a gear , Ive read s few zoners have fitted BBTBs with good results ? Jimbo said it was excellent perked it up and improved mpg
Not had a real good drive just a little run out and didn't give it much as ive got shit tyres on at mo and having just put it all back together just took it for a gentle runout
Tbh the car feels good and certainly not worse and it seemed to pick up nice and great when changing down a gear , Ive read s few zoners have fitted BBTBs with good results ? Jimbo said it was excellent perked it up and improved mpg
Not had a real good drive just a little run out and didn't give it much as ive got shit tyres on at mo and having just put it all back together just took it for a gentle runout
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Speedtouch
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Well, since you did mention my name, I might add that the chip may not necessarily have been at fault there if other aftermarket parts had also been added such as BBTB, etc.e30topless wrote: I shall name no names but a well known zoner... went to a dyno day with his polished BBTB/speed touch chip and produced a whopping 96bhp in his rampant 325i, only to be slayed by a 318 touring producing 104bhp, He took home the wooden spoon award...
Luckily i was on hand to sell him a standard TB and ECU which got him back up to an almost respectable 160 bhp
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
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daimlerman
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My 2.7,with BBTB,struggled this year at MoT time and is noticabley running rich at idle.
TPS clicks as it should,but there's a flat spot just off idle that shows it's self both when opening the throttle and closing it at 750/1200rpm.
My thoughts are air leak,possibly from the rubber bung on the base of the t/b,but reading the above leads me to try the stock item and see what happens.
When the BBTB was first fitted,I gained about 5% in fuel economy with no drop in grunt,but I'm not now covering the long distances that I have been in recent years so the fuel consumption is now less important.
Indeed,from one MoT to the next,the cabbie travelled less than 800 miles....by comparision my S Type(bought 6 months ago)has covered almost 6k!
TPS clicks as it should,but there's a flat spot just off idle that shows it's self both when opening the throttle and closing it at 750/1200rpm.
My thoughts are air leak,possibly from the rubber bung on the base of the t/b,but reading the above leads me to try the stock item and see what happens.
When the BBTB was first fitted,I gained about 5% in fuel economy with no drop in grunt,but I'm not now covering the long distances that I have been in recent years so the fuel consumption is now less important.
Indeed,from one MoT to the next,the cabbie travelled less than 800 miles....by comparision my S Type(bought 6 months ago)has covered almost 6k!
Youth is wasted on the young.
