what thaaa...

[bikerbill2021]

whats happening ladies and gents

dont post much here, or at all for that matter, usually over hanging out on the Vortex. but the beater is acting up, so i need some assistance.

87 325IS

so lately ive been having a problem where the car would just sputter out, and occasionally die on me. most of the time it will either catch itself(gotta let off the gas) and keep on its happy way, or it will die and stay dead until it feels like running again. twice its left me stranded, thankfully they were both in my driveway more or less.

now as this was happening, i immediatelyy started thinking "hmmm, seems fuel related" as all my ign. components were replaced by the PO (got receipts and everything)

so i pull out the bentley, start searching around on the forums, and begin diagnosing the problem.

tried throwing in another fuel pump relay, same prob, so started with jumping the relay, and listening to the pumps. both were coming on and running, good start, but i noticed a fluctuation with the external pump, i.e. it would randomly kick out quickly then come back. unplugged the in tank and listened more closely to the external, and it was def kicking on and off randomly.

i had a spare external pump hanging around, so i swapped that in, and the car fired right up.

20 mins later as im leaving for work quite happy that i have my car back, go to back out, and she just dies.

later on after work, came home, jumped the pumps, and all i heard was silence. both pumps were quiet. i was like "fuck, i must have somehow fried both" then i tried jumping the relay again, and both came on. weird i thought. this happened again when i tested it later, they just both randomly come on now.

i havent messed with the car in about a week, so tomorrow im gonna wake up early, and see what i can do. any input from you guys? other things i could test things i should look for etc

P4C

[jlevie]

That sounds like it might be a wiring/connection problem between the relay socket and the pumps.

[StereoInstaller1]

I would check that damn ground point under the back seat.

[bikerbill2021]

cool cool, thanks for the replys guys, ill def check those things

bump for more opinions

[bikerbill2021]

any idea where that ground point is under the back seat? cant seem to find it

just pulled the in tank and check for any blockage tho, there was very very little, not enough to fuck with it. pumps are kicking on every time i jump them now hmmm

is it possible that the one of the pumps is overheating and canceling out the other? i kno gas cools and lubricates them, but its on a half tank now, so idn

[StereoInstaller1]

any idea where that ground point is under the back seat? cant seem to find it

Seems to me I remember mine being on the left side, near the seatbelts.

What year is the car?

[bikerbill2021]

87, but check this

grabbed the bentley to find out where said strap was, found it i think, toatally covered in corrosion. pretty much fell apart in my hands. it seems theres a larger wire, then the ground strap, and then the large wire continues and a smaller one comes off of it. there green with a purple stripe, sound right?

i think this is the one, i tried jumping the relay, and i get nothing with these two wires split apart.

now do these ground to the body? or something else? i cant find a bolt or anything that they may ground to

[StereoInstaller1]

87, but check this

grabbed the bentley to find out where said strap was, found it i think, toatally covered in corrosion. pretty much fell apart in my hands. it seems theres a larger wire, then the ground strap, and then the large wire continues and a smaller one comes off of it. there green with a purple stripe, sound right?

i think this is the one, i tried jumping the relay, and i get nothing with these two wires split apart.

now do these ground to the body? or something else? i cant find a bolt or anything that they may ground to

Corrosion is an EXCELLENT conductor....er...OK, not really.

Shoot a pic on this, would ya?

Luke

[bikerbill2021]

haha well i was gonna take a shot, but i was in a rush, and just re wired it, and that seems to have fixed it. ive been driving it around all afternoon with 0 problems

thanks alot guys for the help, really appreciate it. have one on me :drink:

[E30Idea]

haha well i was gonna take a shot, but i was in a rush, and just re wired it, and that seems to have fixed it. ive been driving it around all afternoon with 0 problems

thanks alot guys for the help, really appreciate it. have one on me :drink:

Dude you are into VW's, you should know that grounds on E30's are nearly the same.....for future reference

[StereoInstaller1]

Ya mean shitty and weird?