Erratic idle in drive and reverse

[zandi]

Hello,
I have a 1991 325i automatic, whenever the car is in drive or reverse the idle is really erratic and sometimes ends up in the car stalling. I have no clue what the problem could be, do any of you?

[Kilomph]

Do you have a bently manual?

Get one.

Check your idle control valve. Get some throttle body cleaner and spray 2-3 second than off for 4-5 second bursts into the intake bellow just after the afm for a couple of minutes, made my idle rock solid.

[zandi]

Yeah I do have a bentley, I'm gonna try that, sounds good :D

[Anthrsckmnd]

I have a similar problem with one of my cars, let me know if this works. :)

[zandi]

Oh man oh man, no more putting the car into neutral at every stoplight and stop sign.

Yup this fixxed my problem!! I got intake and throttle body cleaner and did as you said, sprayed for 2-3 seconds then waiting around 4-5 seconds and kept doing it until i emptied out the can...Also, I pulled on the throttle while i sprayed it because otherwise the car would die, idles like a rock now :D

[Anthrsckmnd]

where exactly are you spraying the throttle body cleaner?

[zandi]

Inside the throttle body housing,

from the air intake theres a big hose that connects to the engine, take off the hose on the side that connects to the engine and spray it right in there

[SebSter]

Hm, I think I need to do this too. Do you spray it in while the engine is running? Won't the engine just die/shut off without the hose connected?

[e30Matt]

Hm, I think I need to do this too. Do you spray it in while the engine is running? Won't the engine just die/shut off without the hose connected?

Not if you keep it running with your other hand on the throttle.

[zandi]

Yeah, when you start up the engine with the key, quickly give the throttle on the engine a pull or two and then it'll stay alive