87 BMW 325E HAVING PROBLEM

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 1:52 am

HELLO, MY NAME IS EUNELL, FIRST OF ALL I1DE LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SIGN UP TO THIS VERY VALUABLE WEBSITE. I KNOW THAT A LOT YOU HERE ARE EXPERTS IN OUR KIND OF CAR WE DRIVE. I HAVE A 87 325E THAT IM HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE IDLE. THE CAR STARTS ,THEN DIES. I HAVE CHANGE ALL SENSORS TO HIGH AND LOW FUEL PUMP TO FUEL FILTER. ITHE CAR WAS RUNNING OK UNTIL I PRESSURE WASH THE ENGINE, NOW IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT WON`T HOLD IDLE. I REALLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP.

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 5:07 am

HELLO!

Will the engine run when you press the accelerator pedal down? And just stalls when trying to idle?

If yes, check all electrical connector plugs for Idle Control Valve and Throttle Position Switch. If you can use a multimeter to check the TPS is correctly detecting the throttle closed position.

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 6:11 am

hi there jslot, 1st of all, i thank you for responding my question. the engine starts, then dies, i press the accelerator just to hold idle, still dies. it won`t even idle at all. i check the tps and it`s working from close to wot. clean ICV good as well, it hums when switch is on. i check fuel pressure, it giving me 3 to 4 bars. sounds like something cutting off somewhere. suspecting now is the injector pulse which i think the speed and crank sensor is the culprit, but correct me if im wrong, if thos two sensors are not working, then the car will not start at all right ?

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:45 am

The crank sensor signal is all that a M20 ECU needs to run. If this is missing, you will lose sparks and the fuel pump will not run.
Sure its not something so simple as water in the distributor?

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 12:15 pm

so my problem is not the crank sensor? the car starts and rev high then dies. anyone pls point me to the right direction, i`m about to give up this car.

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 12:23 pm

If the car has a fuel mixture that is approximately correct and has sparks at about the right time, it will run, assuming that there are no major mechanical defects, such as no compression. It's a very simple engine and control system. It runs for a short time, so we can assume none of the later.
Having said that, does the car have a cat? A severely restricted exhaust would do as you describe.
Have you monitored the fuel pressure while you're starting it?
Are the spark plugs bone dry after an aborted start?

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 1:50 pm

yes, the car has a cat, actually i cut the cat just to see if i`m having restriction, and still doing it. but last time it was running, i notice the # 6 cylinder got flooded with fuel.and yes, i monitored the fuel pressure and i`m getting 3-4 bars.

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 5:01 pm

Eunell wrote:..... CAR WAS RUNNING OK UNTIL I PRESSURE WASH THE ENGINE....

If the distributor has no water inside and the rotor arm is OK,try carefully checking the injector loom connector that's mounted under the inlet manifold.Peel back the rubber boots to check properly,not just that both halves are making contact.

Post Fri Jul 10, 2015 5:48 pm

hi daimlerman, are you referring to C191 plug? for some reason my car doesn`t have one. the injectors looms runs straight to the firewall to the ecu. not sure if the facelift cars are the only one`s has that plug. i`ve check distributor/ rotor for hairline cracks , found none , it`s in good shape.