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    Idle stumble

    Hey everyone - looking for a little help diagnosing a small problem before it gets to be a big one!

    On my 89 325i I am experiencing an idle stumble that will sometimes kill the car while sitting at a light. The car always is able to restart again normally and it seems to only do this after the car is fully warm and idling for more than a minute.

    When the motor stumbles the mpg gauge goes from 0 to 40 mpg and the CEL comes on for a split second and then everything returns back to normal when the motor catches again.

    I think the CEL comes on only because the key is in the on position while the motor has no power, similar to the condition of the car not running but the key being on.

    I also tried unplugging the ICV while the car was running and the cars rpm's dropped from 800 to about 500 and the car still idled fine, but as soon as the motor stumbled it died immediately. Plugged back in the car would stumble and not die as the idle was at 800 and the problem lasting only a split second the motor still had enough rpm to catch again. I think this is why it only dies occasionally and not every time.

    I tried searching the forum for a specific thread with these exact symptoms, but either the thread went another direction or there were no difinitive answers to the problem. I would like to figure this out so any suggestions would be lovely. Thanks!
    The difference between porcupines and BMWs is that porcupines have the pricks on the outside!

    #2
    Where is jlevie when you need him? Maybe I should have posted this in the general technical section!
    The difference between porcupines and BMWs is that porcupines have the pricks on the outside!

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      #3
      Make sure your AFM is working properly. How do you do this you may be wondering? No idea.


      "Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed."

      John F. Kennedy

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        #4
        I know how to clean the AFM and can probably do a little research on testing, but I am hoping for a little more technical advice as to what might cause this particular issue. I have done the swap in new parts bit until you figure out the problem before and that seems a bit unproductive and can be costly as well!
        The difference between porcupines and BMWs is that porcupines have the pricks on the outside!

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          #5
          I had a very similar stumble in my idle... turned out to be my ICV. Check that out while you're diagnosing.
          Need a part? PM me.

          Get your Bass on. Luke's r3v Boxes are here: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=198123

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            #6
            This might shed some light on the situation. I did a stomp test today and got a 1263 code which is a purge valve. What does this valve do, and could it cause the problem I am experiencing? Also where is this purge valve located?
            The difference between porcupines and BMWs is that porcupines have the pricks on the outside!

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