It's cut out

[TOURINGDADDY]

Ok people what the freck is goin on with my mota??????? It's done this a couple of times now. It dosent have a particlour time that it does it ie cold/norm. it will suddenly run lumpy then the abs light comes on and cuts out. u turn her over and after 20/30 secs she fires up as if nothing has happend?????

[PeteE30Tourer]

I had a similar problem with mine when i first got it. Usually cut out when cruising along the motorway at around 70mph (or perhaps a little faster ) and it would very suddenly just die. I'd let it coast to a standstill, wait 30 seconds or so, then it would start no problem and i'd be off again as if nothing happened.

I changed several things, but in discussion with several people on here, it was either the ECU/Fuel pump relays or the ICV that caused it. Both were replaced and the problem has never reared it's ugly head again.

I'd try the relays first - relatively cheap from GSF or BMW. If that fails, try a different ICV - got mine from the scrappy for Ԛ£15!

[Martinaston]

Battery terminals ?

[Brianmoooore]

ECU and/or fuel pump relay definitely prime suspects.

[Brianmoooore]

Wire a couple of LEDs to the outputs of both, and see if either go off when the problem occurs.

[PeteE30Tourer]

Wire a couple of LEDs to the outputs of both, and see if either go off when the problem occurs.

Neat trick! Wish i'd thought of that one when i had the same problem!

[TOURINGDADDY]

CHEERS 4 THE INPUT WILL B TRYIN THE LED'S I THINK

[Martinaston]

If the battery terminals are loose or corroded all the lights and things work fine but the battery may not be charging properly and when moving this is enough to cut the engine.
If the battery is in good nick it then builds up enough charge to restart the car and you then think the problem lies somewhere else.
Also check the engine earth strap by refitting it, a visual check just don't work.

[Brianmoooore]

Be carefull messing with the engine earth strap if your car has a "check" panel.
The oil level sensor has a parallel earth wire to the main engine earth strap. If you try to start the car with the main earth strap badly connected, then all the current flows through a little 0.5 mm square wire in the wiring loom. i.e. The wire gets red hot and melts all the other wires around it in the loom.
Bought a mint 320 touring a couple of moths ago that had been written off by it's insurance company just because of this.

[TOURINGDADDY]

Cheers bloke will watch 4 that