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M20 - no power

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    #1

    M20 - no power

    Hey Guys,

    I have an '89 325iX (M20B25) - 2K miles ago, I had a head gasket and head replaced along with the timing belt and the other usual things that go with that type of service. Anyway, aside from a rough idle, the car has been driving fine. In the process of troubleshooting the idle, I've basically replaced everything from throttle switches, ECUs, cleaned the injectors, cleaned ICV, plugs, fuel filter, changed all the vacuum lines, swapped the TB, the plastic fittings, had the engine smoke tested and had a reputable Indy shop pull the upper cam cover to inspect the dots for the cam timing. Finally, in a very expensive mistake, I lopped off the exhaust at the downpipes as I thought I had a clogged cat. Needless to say, the car hot or cold can hardly make it up a slight incline. If you do manage to patiently wait for the motor to get over 2 grand, it can be sort of driven.

    I need to buy a compression gauge but besides leak down and compression testing, are there any other things I need to check? Even if it's obvious that's cool as I'm out of ideas. To me it feels like the ignition timing is way off but these don't have adjustable distributors so I guess that can't be it. The car has 150K on it but I have no idea if the motor is original or not - I think it is bit who the hell knows.

    Any ideas?

    Nick
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    #2
    I will add the work was done by a known good independent wrench who is out of ideas as well so not something I can take back to the dealer and start a riot or something :) just trying to figure it out before I stuff a motor in it.

    Nick

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      #3
      first compression test. than id start at the spark see if its a good spark. second i would check fuel pressure.

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        #4
        Just did the compression tonight. On a stone cold motor I got 0-90-90-90-90-60 (1-6) so looks like she's getting a motor. No big surprise there it's just that it's an iX with an auto so it's a bit more involved :)

        I was really surprised that #1 was totally dead though so maybe a valve issue there but who knows. I knew she was tired but didn't think it was this tired. The issue just happened one morning - started driving and was just way down on power. And here we are. :)

        Nick

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          #5
          0 wow that is low
          sigpic

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            #6
            Do a leak down test. That will tell you if the cause is in the head or block.
            The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
            Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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              #7
              Yeah the plan is to do the leak-down test this weekend. When we did the head gasket, we put a head that had 40K on it. Ended up using the 40K mile valve train (cam incl.) as well. Had the head pressure tested and milled flat so I'm assuming the head is ok it's the rings that are shot. The car has always had a rough idle since the engine work so maybe we exposed some other issue when we did the job. When I bought the car, the motor was putting oil in the coolant as a result of a very poorly done head gasket job.

              Searching the forum now to see how to pull the motor. I would love to leave the trans and xfer case in the car but I don't know if that's even possible. I have the tools and can make the time (plus it's a project car anyway) so I guess it doesn't matter either way.

              If anyone can point me to an engine removal DIY for an iX that would be cool. I know I saw something on here yesterday but damned if I can find it again... lol

              Nick

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