it just stalled

[finch]

so i was driving along normally and car just stalled it was in gear at the time so the revs stayed up and engine was turning over, but nothing...... :(

so i pulled over checked coil/plugs/distributor connections all seemed good. cranked it over and nothing.... (this is what i am assuming the problem was)

got towed home. i have power to the coil and spark from the main lead. but nothing from the other 6...... engine is 88 325is. havent had a chance to pull the distributor off but it looks differant to other distributors i am famillar with (83' 318i and 85' 323i).

any way. anything that you can sugest that i look at in particlar, do these cars have a module? i am assuming that the problem is located somewhere betwween the coil and sparkplugs or fuel.

[DaN]

Pull off the distributor cap. Probably full of corrosion.

[Jordan]

Your problem is inside the distributer cap.

[finch]

well i got the distributor cap off, it looks fine, cleaned it all up, still nothing...

are the 6cyl coils any differant to a 4? cos i the numbers are differant, but the shop said the right number for e30 2.5L is the same as the no. on my 318 coil.. but the 325 coil is bigger and has differant number on it....? hope that makes sense...

[finch]

well i do have spark from the main lead but it is a piss weak one and it doest jump really at all.. have to actually touch the metal to metal for spark.
this was the same with 3 differant coils that i tried. but i believe that i am getting 12v to the two terminals on the coil..

wish i knew what is going on :(

[Brew]

Do you have a multimeter?

If so, check the resistance across the terminals on the coil. The specs are in the Bentley, assuming you have one.

[finch]

dont have either.

[Brew]

I suggest you pick both of them up. They will no doubt be very useful for working on your car.

[finch]

so i think that the distributor is probably ok.
coil is probably ok.
leads are probably ok.
this means that maybe power is not getting to coil..? i need a multimeter. :(

if this was the case.. how would i go about rectifing the problem? somthing in the ignition, computer? resistance in the wires?

[kowalski]

first go buy a multi meter they're only like 10 bucks for a crappy one that will do the job

[finch]

will pick up multimeter tomorrow. 8) thanks for the info so far

another question that is kinda related:
is there a sensor that goes to the distributor?
and on a 88 2.5L would it be (assuming it exists) directly under the distributor at the bottom of the block?

[Screaming_bmwe30]

concerning not getting a spark unless you touch your plugs to metal. This is because they need to be touching metal to complete the circuit. The head acts as the ground for the body of the plug when the plugs are installed....so they won't spark unless you touch the threaded body to a ground/metal object.

If you are getting spark though...even a weak spark...it should still run...or at least sputter or do something. I'm almost thinking your not getting fuel. If you have weak spark...yet you have fuel...your plugs will get wet. It's just like when you have fouled plugs...and the plugs just get soaked with fuel because the spark can't ignite it. If your plugs are completely dry...and you can't really smell fuel that strongly...i'd check to see if your fuel system is funcioning properly. Check to make sure the pump runs...check for wet plugs (this could narrow it to ignition probs) , and check the fuses (i'm not positive if there is an injector harness fuse or what....but just check it out.) good luck troubleshooting. :)

[Screaming_bmwe30]

will pick up multimeter tomorrow. 8) thanks for the info so far

another question that is kinda related:
is there a sensor that goes to the distributor?
and on a 88 2.5L would it be (assuming it exists) directly under the distributor at the bottom of the block?

There is a reference sensor that is the timing pickup....but no sensors connect to/or are around the distributor on 2.5L M20's. If the reference sensor goes bad though...you won't have spark...and the pump wont' run.

[finch]

does not connect to distributor. but is directly below it. about in line with the bottom of the fan.
was told it might be crank angle sensor.

[finch]

ok. got a multimeter. both sides of the coil have ~12volts at ignition. but crank it over it drops to 6~7 (battery was in fairly good charge)

and i have checked all fuses and the relays that i could.
i know that i am getting fuel because i took the fuel line off the rail cranked it over. fuel came running out freely. and there is a smell of fuel after atempting to start.