Ok, what the hell is wrong with my car?

[MR 325]

So I've been having issues with my car cutting out. Car is an 85 325e with an 89 325i motor swap. I have tried 3 different ECU's, 3 ICV's, 2 AFM's, and 2 TPS's. I have adjusted the TPS perfectly and also tested the o2 sensor which is working perfectly.

The car will sometimes run just fine and sometimes run like shit. During idle it can be going perfectly and all fo the sudden die or fall on its face and almost die. During driving and acceleration at pretty much any throttle it can cut out and sometimes backfires and shoots a nice flame.

I, for the life of me, do not know what the fuck is going on but I am pissed, lol. Any advice and info is welcome. I need this car to be in tip top running order since it is my DD and I will be taking it to Santa Barbara in May and Washington in June!

[backtrail69]

Have you swapped any relays? I know my dad's civic would die on occasion and he had a bad main relay. See what others think though. It clearly wanted to stay an ETA... ;) Also, check any of the connections that you made in the conversion. Plug wires, plugs, cap/rotor, coil any of the ignition oriented stuff.

[WillisE30]

This doesn't sound like it will help you at all but when I first picked up my car it would cut out when cold and when under heavy throttle around 4500rpm. I adjusted the valves and the problem went away. I doubt that is your problem but check the basics anyway.
I might also look at the cap/rotor. I've seen hairline cracks and moisture lead to bizzarre drivability problems as well.

[KenC]

look at the cap/rotor.

[nando]

how are your grounds?

[MR 325]

All grounds are attached and the cap and rotor and brand new Bosch units.

[Ablice]

I had my POS 325e do that too.

Disconnect the oxygen sensor is what I did, then try it for a day or two with no oxygen sensor. That's what I did, it would rev to like 400rpm and shake like I was riding a dog or something.

P.S. I'll be at the Santa Barbara meet too.

[MR 325]

I had my POS 325e do that too.

Disconnect the oxygen sensor is what I did, then try it for a day or two with no oxygen sensor. That's what I did, it would rev to like 400rpm and shake like I was riding a dog or something.

P.S. I'll be at the Santa Barbara meet too.

As mentioned I have tested the o2 sensor and it is working perfectly.

[rede30]

fuel pump, i feel like i say that to everyone who has problems but whatever. FUEL PUMP

[bddog]

Does the catalytic converter rattle?Listen for a rattling noise when you press down the throttle , it means the ceramic has broken and it is going out.
I ran across one that I thought the auto trani was out.Went bad suddenly, car would idle and rev fine , but would not accelerate.
It's like putting a potato in your exaust pipe. No go. The backfire is also a tell.Converter problems can be intermittent, when they are going bad. Just a thought. You have a brand new boot, don't you. Their accordion shape makes it hard to tell when they are bad. My e was acting up until I replaced the boot , the formed intake hoses and the icv valve. Fuel pumps usualy get louder when they are going bad. Your car has two. I take it there is no oil in your water.
I had a 66' stang that acted the same. One of the valves was squared off.I was broke, going to college in Corvallis. Drove it for a year before I fixed it. Old stangs don't die easy.Just accelerated real slow so it wouldn't backfire.- Steve

[MR 325]

Does the catyletic converter rattle?Listen for a rattling noise when you press down the throttle , it means the ceramic has broken and it is going out.
I ran accross one that I thought the auto trani was out.Went bad suddenly, car would idle and rev fine , but would not accelerate.
It's like putting a potato in your exaust pipe. No go. The backfire is also a tell.Converter problems can be intermittent, when they are going bad. Just a thought. You have a brand new boot don't you. Their accordian shape makes it hard to tell when they are bad. My e was acting similar until I replaced the boot , the formed intake hoses and the icv valve. Steve

Sorry but there is no cat on my car.

This is not a loss in HP, the car actually cuts out.

[MR 325]

Also, the boot is good and I have used carb cleaner to check for any leaks and found nothing.

[AndrewBird]

I would say it's ignition related since the way you say it cuts out.

Check the connections at the coil maybe? I would just look over the entire ignition system with a fine tooth comb. Maybe there is a wiring shorting out somewhere or something.

[bddog]

How do you get by with no converter in la?The stang would backfire and die. I would put it in neut and restart it while rollin down the highway.I would suspect wiring from the swap.Poss no build up in the coil Bad ground?

[bddog]

You can spray a can on that boot and not find the huge tears along the wires at the bottom.Mine was fine on top. Fell to pieces when I took it off.They are supposed to be replaced as a part of regular maintanance.They are cheap. The hoses are too.