Engine doesn't like it cold

Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:09 pm

I have a 325i touring. I have a lumpy idle and the engine doesn't like it when cold or pulling away in traffic. When you depress the accelerator it wants to cut out and therefore makes the car bunny hop a bit. It will idle with no load on it though but a bit lumpily. The problem gets a bit better when warmed up but is still there. The car is driveable with this problem but i would like to sort it out.

I have changed plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, set valve clearances and checked for air leaks. I have also used loads of carb cleaner in intake system. The throttle position sensor seems to be working ok. The engine has done 130k, is unmodified and is in good nick.

Can anyone help? i have not yet had the timing checked. Would this help?

Thanks.

Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:33 pm

Sounds like its the Blue temp sensor at fault.

Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:08 pm

I did buy a blue temp sensor and tried to fit it the other weekend but i couldn't get my spanner on it as in a tight position. I will have another look.

Thanks
Wid77

Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:19 pm

Wid77 wrote:I did buy a blue temp sensor and tried to fit it the other weekend but i couldn't get my spanner on it as in a tight position. I will have another look.

Thanks
Wid77

I've just done this whilst under the bonnet doing the water pump etc. I ended up taking off the manifold (luckily I keep spare gaskets), I have heard it's possible without doing this and just remove the fuel injector loom and rail but my fingers are too big casue it's a wee bit tight under the manifold....

Sat Apr 01, 2006 5:05 pm

I did mine yesterday on the 320 M20.....

What you need is, a 19mm swan neck (some call them goose neck) spanner

Working from the drivers side, remove the connectors from the brown and blue temp sensors

Remove brown sensor for improved access

Remove blue sensor

you may need to bleed the coolant as you will loose a little

actual time to change the sensor was under 2 mins for me

Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:01 pm

I will have a look for one of these spanners. Cheers for the info.

Wid77

Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:37 pm

did mine yesterday (also on M20 320i) simply removed the manifold to top cover support bracket so i could see, then pulled the fuel injector wiring off the first three injectors, you can then move the loom enough to get a long 19mm socket over the sensor. no need to remove the brown sensor at all, but make sure you disconnect the wiring from the brown sensor to give a bit more room.

P.S. the injector wiring loom needs a bit of force to unclip from the injectors

Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:47 am

All this about the injector loom needing to be moved.... i didnt touch it and am wondering if i got the correct sensor now

that 1?

Sun Apr 02, 2006 3:12 pm

yep, thats the right one! what your car doesn't have is the black 'box' that the injector loom runs in. thats the bit that is usually in the way. you appear to have each injector simply connected to seperate wires not covered up. must just be one of those 'didn't have the parts that week' things. doesn't affect the way the car runs.