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Cold Start Issue Evolved into Full Time Issue

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    Cold Start Issue Evolved into Full Time Issue

    My 1990 325is has been having issues when I first start it for the last two weeks or so. When I go out to start the car, it stumbles and idles pretty poorly, almost like its running on only a few cylinders. I rev up the motor a few times... a little white smoke out the tailpipe (smells like gas) and afterwards runs fine. I live in sunny California, and the car is always garaged.

    Today, I went around the block after having just started it, and I noticed it was still running pretty crappy (although it was running). Specifically, I noticed that when giving it 0-50% throttle, it would run fine, but the more I eased down on the throttle, the worse it seemed to run, stuttering and bogging down. Easing up on the throttle a bit and it started running smoother and quicker again.

    Driving home today, I couldn't seem get it to move without stalling for quite a while. When I did get it to run, it displayed the same odd "high throttle - low power" issue. I limped it home pretty carefully and am now considering my options.

    I checked the spark plugs, which all seem fine. I replaced the fuel filter within the last 2 years, and threw in some fuel injector cleaner in the tank about a week back when the cold start issues started arising.

    I'm (still) a starving student over here, and while I do need my car for transportation, I am hesitant to take it to a shop and drop a few hundred dollars... so any thoughts or suggestions anyone here has would be extremely helpful. My shop is closed for the weekend anyway.

    I havn't posted here in years, since it went under new management, but... I'm pretty sure the knowledge base around here is still pretty great.

    #2
    first thing i always do when my 325is starts to run shitty is unplug the battery for about 10min, to reset the ECU, then hook it back up and drive around for about 15min. more than a few times this fixed my problem. also, check the easy stuff, like AFM connection, is the AFM really dirty inside? check the ICV, maybe take it off and spray alot of carb cleaner through it. all these things are free, and if they work then yer good to go...
    IG: @Baye30

    FRONT VALENCE IS ZENDER!!! STOP FILLING MY PM BOX PPL!!!

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      #3
      after that check the connections for your ecu coolant temp sensor. theres a chart in bently for checking the resistance across the sensor at certain temps maybe check to see if its reading right

      '89 Alpine S52 with goodies

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