Think my M30 is dead...

[Garageaholic]

So on my way to work this morning, I was pushing my M30 pretty hard at the time and then it just died as I shifted from 2nd to 3rd. I tried to start it back up but it didn’t even idle. Just kept dying.

I was pushing 7psi at the time in my stage 1, Here are the possible culprits.

Headgasket? Are these the proper symptoms? Should it at least idle if it’s the HG?
Rocker arm or valve. I didn’t hear any knocking when starting it up. It seemed to fire up quickly, but it died immediately.

If it’s too costly, I’m parting the whole car out and maybe start over one day in the future. I don’t have time to do this stuff anymore (if you couldn’t tell by the frequency of my posts lately)

Thanks a lot guys.

[Garageaholic]

any ideas guys?

[SpunkyE30nOk]

i say huge vaccum leak somewhere. i know my m20 is a lil bitch when she gets the smallest of small vaccum leaks. Easiest place to start before you start thinking its something internal

[BenM]

i say huge vaccum leak somewhere. i know my m20 is a lil bitch when she gets the smallest of small vaccum leaks. Easiest place to start before you start thinking its something internal

+1 on the vacuum leak.

If it was the headgasket, it would smoke like crazy from the engine compartment, and yes it will idle too.

I would also check and make sure your electronics are functioning properly as well.

And the most basic, check to make sure you are getting fuel and spark.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[Garageaholic]

Thanks alot guys. Will do. Yeah i checked out the engine compartment right after it happened. I have fuel (My fuel pressure gauge proves it). I didn't smell anything or hear anything wierd, didn't see anything out of the ordinary, no leaks, my SI lights didn't flash or all go on at the same time..


Seems rather trivial now that I think about it.

Where should I start checking for vacuum leaks do you suggest?

[Jean]

Is it getting spark ?

[SpunkyE30nOk]

Where should I start checking for vacuum leaks do you suggest?

check the underside of the intake manifold, when i was pulling mine off to clean, paint, etc I notice like 2 or 3 hoses that run and connect to the underside of the manifold. not sure how your setup is since you have a turbo, but just think of any hoses that could blow themselves off from too much boost. Not saying you are running too much (is there such a thing as too much), but it wouldn't hurt to check

[Garageaholic]

Figured it out. It took 5 seconds to look under the hood. It was one of the larger vacuum hoses. Came off the valve cover. That's alot of unmeasured air getting into the system. I put it back on and works like new.

Since it happened when I was boosting, it makes sense that it happened when it did.

[SpunkyE30nOk]

Figured it out. It took 5 seconds to look under the hood. It was one of the larger vacuum hoses. Came off the valve cover. That's alot of unmeasured air getting into the system. I put it back on and works like new.

Since it happened when I was boosting, it makes sense that it happened when it did.

glad to see it was a simple fix...how bout some pics of ya engine bay :p just curious to how it looks

[Garageaholic]

Hahaha, sure, gimme a little bit to take some good pics. Thanks for the help.

[SpunkyE30nOk]

Hahaha, sure, gimme a little bit to take some good pics. Thanks for the help.

No probs....do you know what kind of power you are putting down w the turbo setup?

[Garageaholic]

Yeah, with the stage I, 7psi non-intercooled, i think it's about 290-300hp/tq to the wheels.

I'll get some pics up soon.

[bmw335ist]

Any pic's???????