the great m10 hesitation/stalling/cooldown thread

[dsio]

This is my take on the problem:

I've got somewhat of a power drain I think, and my battery isn't coping too well with multiple starts. After about 6-7 it just clicks the solanoid and doesn't turn over.

The car has been unable to start for about 5 months.

I drained the fuel tank, and it was full of water and crap, then filled it with 98 octane premium unleaded, with a 1:20 ratio mixture of pure methylated spirits.

I then yesterday, pulled the fuel pump relay (large black relay in the forward relay box) and connected jumper leads from my 525i E34 to it. Cranked it for about 5 minutes off and on.

No firing, then I was getting firing on a couple of cylinders, with no fuel comming to it since the relay was removed, and after 5 minutes it stopped firing, as all the fuel that was in it was burned.

I put the fuel pump relay back in, turned the key, and instant start, on all 4 cylinders, smooth up to redline and perfect idle.

Started it a few more times and then left it overnight. This morning, starting it, it was firing on 2 or 3, then I stopped it and went to crank it again, and it didn't have the power to turn over.

So, I am assuming that it is flooding, possibly because of the cold start injector, which I have cleaned with CLR.

One question, my cold start injector is giving a continuous stream of fuel, no pulses, just a spray. Also, at what point does this injector stop working? Because while testing it, it didn't stop.

Will it start ok without the cold start injector connected?

Does this sound consistent with the cold start injector flooding, as I'm pretty sure flooding is my starting problem?

[318driver]

well i tested my coldstart today and it works fine.
to answer your question, the cold start is suposed to spray for 8 seconds and then shut off. Also this test has to be done under 86degree??? weather, according to the bentley. we also check some other sensor that has to do with the timing of some electronic part, i forget the name, that tested out good also.

my dad went out and bought the new hose and clamps because a couple of them were cracked, and like i said before the one was leaking. We'll see if this helps.


oh also i have a new/used AFM in the mail on its way.

[1991 318is]

Ever do this?

When the problem happens, immediately pull a spark plug.

[318driver]

anyone else try anything lately???

my dad saw a leak coming from the hose at the coldstart valve. so we changed the fuel lines, and performed the test on the coldstart valve and it seems to be working fine. however the problem is only at random times of cold and underload so only god knows if thats whats causing the problem.

[///M Powered]

mine hasn't had a problem all last week until i was on the freeway last night and it coughed and i lost power for a second.... so i milked it home.

the next morning i started the car and the gas light came on, so i'm thinking it's a fuel problem now instead of afm( it would help if my gas gauge worked more than 10% of the time haha) I should flush my fuel tank, god only knows what's been floating around in there over the years, It could be choking on a dead bird every time i get under 1/4 tank hah.

[318driver]

well ive had the car for 2 days now, and yesterday was warm and i drove it over 100 miles with no problems, even drove it at night when it was a bit colder with no problems.

today this morning was a little chilliy, probably around low 40s or so. I drove car only 1000 ft or so and it choked a little and then ran ok(only a very short ride from the apts do the actually school buildings).

On my back tonight when it was alot colder it did it one time only realll slighty when i was already driving for about 10 mins and was going 70mph. I got it back to my house with no problem, actually driving it very hard to try to get it to do it again, but it didnt. When i got home i put on the new/used afm and the new fuel pump relay. took it for a test drive and it seems fine so far. we'll see if it happens again soon. Ill let you guys know

when i changed my AFM i stuck my finger inside the elbow and i got some oil or grease all over my finger, it was grossssss.

pictures:




also heres a pic of a ground covered in oil and grime that is tearing in half, need to change these? do they acttually do anything? my hood one is completely gone

[///M Powered]

shit now that i think of it i believe mine is like that too from the p/s

keep us updated on the afm swap, it didn't help me a few months ago, but i have changed all my vacuum lines since then....

gotta love the 22 year old motors!

[chuckybob]

im not sure about metal, but oil can eat through rubber items, so it'd probly be a good idea to get those grounds cleaned.

[318driver]

i think my car is solved. I got the car back after i changed a couple more fuel lines, one of which(the one coming from the cold start valve mind you) was leaking. and the car ran fine until it was cold. when it was cold, it did the studder and buck again. now i had a new fuel pump relay in my trunk along with a new/used m10 afm. when i got back home i swapped both parts. the car has been running great!!!!! the past week and it has been cold as hell some times. So far soo great. Very excited soo far.

btw, if your reading this, please knock on wood for me

[///M Powered]

i've narrowed mine down to only doing it when i'm low on gas, and it is when i hit bumps or turns hard. maybe the in tank pick-up? or maybe it's jsut sucking up all the 20 years of shit from my tank that needs to be cleaned

problems solved so far by keeping over a half tank though lol

[318driver]

NEW SYMPTOM, studer goes away at WOT it seems.

also, recently ive been having IDLE issues too, sometimes at idle when its cold out the idle would just drop very low and almost die, but i would rev it and it would be back for a few secs at the norm, then drop down again.


ok so tonight, i was driving home from school and it was very cold out 27degrees, and the car ran like shit, studered and bucked very often and was a hassle to drive..... USUALLY i would drive the car easier when this would happen and just kinda hope it would stop,,,, well tonight, since i was already angry about something else todya, i got pissed and decided to beat the crap outa it. When i went WOT, the car pulled strong though the RPMs, it was only when i wouldnt go WOT and would try to accellerat slowly that it would happen. hmmmmm??? AFM flap freezing up?? what do you guys think??

[chuckybob]

i replaced the ecu and mine's cured :D :D :D