Weird idle at stoplights / Buzzing Fuel pumps?

[spencers]

Funny thing with my car lately. Weather has been fine and all, not cold and not hot. (but dont think the idle is caused by that currently)

Anyways, whenever I get up to a stoplight and finally stop, the engine sort of hesitates, no matter if the car has just been started or has been running for a long while. The rpms dip below 500 and the whole car shakes. Usually to cure this problem, I sit on the brakes very hard, and hold the accelerator down just a tad to keep the rpm between 500-1000.

Can anyone suggest a fix?

Thanks!

edit: ALSO, another thing about my car.. The fuel pump or filter or something is BUZZING all the time. Whats the deal there? It's rather annoying.

[gusT_EthirT]

do you drive an automatic?
Is your car an extremely high mileage car...my friend has a 325i with 220k and it idles at random rpms...jumping about within a range of about 500 rpm all by itself...
My family has a 1969 2002 BMW, E9 I think...sorry for even mentioning something that isn't an E30...but it has the same problem with shuddering when its stopped and not completely warmed up...and even when it is very warmed up... I'm not sure what else there is to do other than rev the car in neutral...but thats easier if you drive a 4 speed...
Gus

[KenC]

Have you tried adjusting the ICV? Does it always idle like that?

[spencers]

do you drive an automatic?
Is your car an extremely high mileage car

Yes. yes.

Have you tried adjusting the ICV? Does it always idle like that?

No, not yet.

[E30godz]

can you even adjust the ICV?

[bimmerphile]

can you even adjust the ICV?

On some of them.


There's like 6 different ICV's for these cars.

[spencers]

is it bad to adjust the screw in the ICV? like, cause any damage?

[KenC]

is it bad to adjust the screw in the ICV? like, cause any damage?

That screw is what you use to adjust it. Clean it out with carb cleaner really well first and then reinstall it and adjust it while the car is idling.

[spencers]

i need to get some carb cleaner. dont have anything but wd40

[KenC]

i need to get some carb cleaner. dont have anything but wd40

A can of carb cleaner at wal-mart is less than a dollar... if you choose to shop there. Also, keep it away from all rubber. I had the little boot sitting in the sink when I was spraying it, and it melted a bit.

[spencers]

so, the idea is to spray the entire thing down with carb cleaner.. what about setting it in a pan of carb cleaner? as they say "let it take a bath"...

the object before putting it back on is getting all the liquid out, eh?

[KenC]

so, the idea is to spray the entire thing down with carb cleaner.. what about setting it in a pan of carb cleaner? as they say "let it take a bath"...

the object before putting it back on is getting all the liquid out, eh?

Just spray it into it. Just keep spraying until the carb cleaner comes out clear. You just want to clean all of the carbon deposits out of it. The carb cleaner is really volitile so it'll evaporate pretty quickly.

[spencers]

thx. i'll get on that tomorrow :D

[spencers]

ALSO, another thing about my car.. The fuel pump or filter or something is BUZZING all the time. Whats the deal there? It's rather annoying.

[chesster6969]

ALSO, another thing about my car.. The fuel pump or filter or something is BUZZING all the time. Whats the deal there? It's rather annoying.

Check if its your fuel filter. My pump buzzed because the filter was never replaced. No more buzz.