starts very normal but dies (no stalling)

[hahaitzskippy]

ok i have been researching and testing for a while and i am coming to a dead end.

replaced parts:
fuel relay (no more buzzing)
idle stabilzation relay
ICM
distributor
ignition coil
spark plugs
leads
fuel pump (secondary)
battery

tested areas:
there is spark (it also starts)
throttle open does not keep the engine going, the car still dies
MAF is good, voltage responds well with opening and closing
voltage to both fuel pumps 11-12v
fuel pressure entering the fuel rail is 43psi
compression on each cylinder is 150psi
checked all the harnesses for power and continuity (all checks out)

again, the fuel pump primes, cranks, fires up, but then just dies. it does not stay running.

we did a few test on the DME to see if there is resistance and continuity and they seem to check but i am not sure if we checked correctly

does anyone have any idea what problem i might have or test i did not do? i might have missed mentioning some.

and can someone help me lead me in the right direction on how to test your DME?

thanks in advance


***************
update:
the car just happens to magically work now... what had happened was after all said parts aboved were replace and checking all the vacuum hoses were connected, the car would fire up and die... until suddenly a magical mechanic happened to helped me.

he found an unplugged vacuum line (ICV back into the intake boot). put that thing back and and it fired up fine. adjusted the timing by ear. all is good.

except, the car is now running rich (At least thats what the mechanic who helped me said)... a lot of smoke. maybe because the car hasnt been fired up in months.

i will let the car run again this weekend and warm up. maybe i can get this thing running again.

[IRON-E]

Check your CPS.

[hahaitzskippy]

Check your CPS.

i have an m10

we dont have CPS... it runs of the distributor (sensing the position of the dizzy allows the engine to know when to fire)

[milo1303s]

Had a similar problem with my 84 318i changed the dme fired right up and runs fine !
Make sure you use the same # dme .

[hahaitzskippy]

Had a similar problem with my 84 318i changed the dme fired right up and runs fine !
Make sure you use the same # dme .

hey thanks for the reply, when you say same # do you mean part # or serial number? what number exactly?

sorry if it is a stupid question i just want to be sure. i might want to hit up a junkyard in hopes it has a DME

[thebutterson]

The DME's have two different part numbers on them. People are usually referring to the last three numbers. I believe 85's have a dme ending in 328.

[gettinscurvy]

And what number does the 84 have? I have an 85 car, but with an 84 engine in it.

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[thebutterson]

I don't remember what the dme is for the 84's, but I have read that the dme and distributor have to match, possibly the idle computer as well. There's some info floating around this forum for that. I've also read that if you plug an 84 dme into an 85 harness it won't work, but I can't back that up. if I were you I would determine which combination of parts you're supposed to have and which ones you actually have and see if there's a discrepancy. For the wiring harness you could try downloading diagrams from wedophones and see if what/if there are differences and possibly use the colors and pin locations to determine which harness you have.

[gettinscurvy]

Oh ok, thanks. The car came complete with an 85 engine and harness. Some old lady owned it and seemingly just mistreated the engine. So I assume the DME, harness and ICU are 85. The new engine and dizzy I believe are out of an 84 due to the differences

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[hahaitzskippy]

ok before i purchase a new DME

will anyone be willing to meet with me at my house so i can test out their working DME on my car?

i will buy a 6-pack of your choice... i just want to use your DME to see if my car fires up and stays on.. takers?

please?

[gettinscurvy]

Where are you located?

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[hahaitzskippy]

Where are you located?

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from your profile, i think you live too far for me.

i live in socal

[gettinscurvy]

Socal, MD? Lol

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[hahaitzskippy]

Socal, MD? Lol

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HAHAHA

socal = southern california,

Irvine, CA to be exact.

im going to post in the california section, hopefully i get some bites

[rasmith9]

Did you find a resolution to this problem, I am having the same exact symptom. Fuel pressure is 43psi, starts then dies after about 4-5 seconds like fuel is going to the Cold Start Valve (to start) but not to injectors. What would cause injectors not to open?