325i cold running problem HELP!

[CarsSuck]

So my (10/88 325is motronic 1.1) car runs rich, very rich, when the coolant is cold. The engine stalls, sputters, shakes like a bitch until it warms up a bit.

During warm up the idle speed is low and it will hunt up and down as i come to a stop and drive off again. As the engine warms up these symptoms improve. Once fully warmed the car will idle smooth and steady and generally run fine.

Ambient temperature does seem to play a factor generally the warmer it is outside the better. Yesterday was cold and wet and she stranded me.

Intake leak? I'm sure everything the sealed on the intake itself. It could be a small leak from the oil return tube, or a crank seal, but it will idle smooth as butter when its warm.

The ICV, FPR, fuel pump, CLT sensor and AFM and CPS are all good/recently replaced.

I had a small leak on the fuel return line, and thought maybe it was plugged, but I replaced the hoses from the rail and the FPR and they were clear...

sorry for the long post, I'm stumped. What do you guys think?

[jlevie]

Intake leaks would be my first suspicion. Have a smoke test run on the intake.

[CarsSuck]

I knew that was coming. I'm gonna pull the intake manifold and replace those gaskets when i do my timing belt. A smoke test would be kind of impractical right now, but if its not better after this next service ill be sure whatever shop it goes to has a smoke machine.

[E30Gus]

Put clamps on everything

[CarsSuck]

everything on the top is clamped and sealed in every way i can think of. I suspect the oil return tube o-rings. it looks very oily, grimy where it connects to the block.

I think i might as well replace the intake manifold gaskets. One less air leak to suspect. There is a coolant hose down under the manifold that i need to replace anyways.

[CarsSuck]

well i replaced the manifold gaskets and oil return o-rings. The car ran great for a couple days, but when the weather cooled off my problems returned.

What happens when the TPS fails? mine was filled with oil and resistance was barely within spec. Is the TPS in use by the ECU all the time, or just under certain conditions(open/closed loop)?

[CarsSuck]

One other suspicion....I have a brown top ECT. I'm pretty sure i got it at the dealer. Anyone else gotten these, or did I get the wrong part? Resistance seems to be correct, but kind of at the extremes of the ranges.