Starting issue

[greese]

Sometimes the car starts and suddenly stalls when it catches. It takes several attempts before it starts. Then other times it starts right up. Doesn't seem to matter if it is hot or cold. However, it usually starts right up when it's warm (90% of the time). Cleaned the ICV twice, checked for vacum leaks, changed air filter and the fuel filter is relativley new. I don't understand how it can start right up and other times it's so stuborn. Please help!

[JGood]

Sometimes the car starts and suddenly stalls when it catches. It takes several attempts before it starts. Then other times it starts right up. Doesn't seem to matter if it is hot or cold. However, it usually starts right up when it's warm (90% of the time). Cleaned the ICV twice, checked for vacum leaks, changed air filter and the fuel filter is relativley new. I don't understand how it can start right up and other times it's so stuborn. Please help!

Have you done plugs/wires/cap/rotor lately? Probably not the source of your issue, but it doesn't hurt to eliminate stuff that should be done periodically anyway. Maybe the coil pack or main/fuel pump relays, or even CPS. Check your grounds, too.

Can we assume you are talking about a 88 325i like in your profile?

[greese]

I have an 88i and once the engine gets warm, it starts fine. Chaning plugs this weekend.

[dark89e30]

Have you done plugs/wires/cap/rotor lately? Probably not the source of your issue, but it doesn't hurt to eliminate stuff that should be done periodically anyway. Maybe the coil pack or main/fuel pump relays, or even CPS. Check your grounds, too.

Uh oh, partschanger...

[JGood]

Uh oh, partschanger...

Why don't you offer some advice then?

If the car hasn't had a tune-up recently, that is where I would start, with a car that has a problem such as his - that sounds like it's related to bad ignition parts. The other parts I've listed, I've had go bad and have caused similar problems to his - not shots in the dark.

But since you know otherwise, why don't you go ahead and tell us what the problem is or the proper way to troubleshoot this issue?

[dark89e30]

Why don't you offer some advice then?

The advice is, don't just start throwing parts at it, by taking a $200 guess. Smartguy.

[JGood]

The advice is, don't just start throwing parts at it, by taking a $200 guess. Smartguy.

And as I said, twice, what I suggested is what I have experience in being the cause of similar problems.

The CPS is a resistance check, the grounds are visual, are the relays can be swapped. The cap/rotor/wires/plugs are normal maintenance, and if they haven't been done in a while is where I would start, because they should be done anyway. He didn't say whether this problem just started yesterday, has been a gradual thing, or if he got the car like this. It sounds like it's been doing it for a while.

But your advice is better. greese, the way to fix your problem is don't throw $200 parts at it. Sorry, you are on your own after that. You didn't think this was a helpful message board, did you?



Anyway, I know you said you checked for vacuum leaks, but the intake boot is very prone to cracking on the bottom side, next to the ribs. Double check that. How long ago has this problem started, and was it gradual?

Check your fuel pressure, too. The in tank pump screen may be clogged.