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Mystery stalling problem. Help needed(FIXED)

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    Mystery stalling problem. Help needed(FIXED)

    *Update*: it finally died on me. But not like how it was described to me. Last Monday, after sitting for 8 hours at work in the heat, I went to start it and it had a hard start. Took 3-4 long cranks, then started but running rough. Let it warm up and smooth out, no check engine lights, so I started my in-town drive home. After 15 minutes or so, accelerating from a stop light, it died. And it was as if someone turned the key off. No stumble, just off. Cranked it for a few tries and it came back. Made it home. Two days later, I drove it from Seattle to Tacoma in the midday heat. When I hit traffic it died several times, same as before. Off idle, slow acceleration and then turns off around 2k rpm. So weird.

    So its either losing a signal or getting one to tell it to turn off. I drove back from Tacoma today with no problem. Only things that changed were 8.5 gallons of gas added and no stop and go traffic(but I still hit lights in Seattle before home). Any ideas? I put that it was hot because it was the first few days of real heat this summer, could be unrelated.

    tl;dr: Car dies off idle, accelerating slowly, around 2k rpm. Like the key was turned off.



    So I bought a 87 325e that has an on going problem. It stalls about once a month and then wont start until it cools down. It's not over heating. The ecu has been replaced, wiring harness, crank sensor, relays and the list goes on. A shop has looked into it and Robert1700 has spent a fair amount of time trouble shooting with no luck.

    I bought the car for a summer internship, where I need reliable transportation. But the more history I get the less I feel like this car will do it. Does anyone have any insight? I do have experience with trouble shooting and thought I could track down its flaw, but I am worried I might not. I guess I am just looking for words of wisdom/encouragement here...
    Last edited by slowe34; 09-21-2013, 04:49 PM.

    #2
    Fuel pump.
    '70 911s | '72 2002 | '88 M5 | '89 330is | '89 M3 | '95 911 | '02 M5 | '04 RR HSE

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      #3
      Originally posted by Austin! View Post
      Fuel pump.
      I thought that too. And there was a broken up unit in the trunk, so Im not sure if it was swapped out or not. How do I find a "once a month" fuel pump problem though?

      Nice 4 door on e38 style 5's :)

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        #4
        It's hard to say. I worked on a Taurus that had a very similar issue and it was very intermittent. I just changed the pump and it went away.

        Thanks! Yours looks nice too.
        '70 911s | '72 2002 | '88 M5 | '89 330is | '89 M3 | '95 911 | '02 M5 | '04 RR HSE

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by slowe34 View Post
          I thought that too. And there was a broken up unit in the trunk, so Im not sure if it was swapped out or not. How do I find a "once a month" fuel pump problem though?

          Nice 4 door on e38 style 5's :)
          "T" in a fuel pressure gage to the rail. When it stalls, jump out n pop the hood to see if you lost pressure.

          1987 Alpinweiß 325is

          Like the PNW E30 Local Crew Facebook page

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            #6
            Just because no one said it. Fuel filter?

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              #7
              So, it looks like most people are leaning towards a fuel delivery issue.

              I have a fuel filter waiting to be swapped in(only have time on weekends to work on this).

              What about the FPR? Could that possibly be affected by heat and then crap out until it cools off again? Leaky injectors? I guess I'd rather start with the cheaper parts first.

              I should also add that the stall only happens when you come to a stop after a fair amount of around town driving. Never occurred on the freeway. Or so I was told.

              Comment


                #8
                Here are my thoughts.

                Broken up FP in trunk means it was probably replaced.

                87 Eta leads me to believe the PO probably was a cheap ass and replaced it with a used unit. Do what PNWDan said, should be a surefire way to single out the pump?
                clutchCTRL!
                Move with a purpose.
                - 1991 325iX 4dr/5spd
                - 1976 2002 SlickTop/2.7i M20/G260
                - 2000 323i AT
                2016 Mazda CX3 Sport AWD

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by kid325e View Post
                  Here are my thoughts.

                  Broken up FP in trunk means it was probably replaced.

                  87 Eta leads me to believe the PO probably was a cheap ass and replaced it with a used unit. Do what PNWDan said, should be a surefire way to single out the pump?

                  PO said it was a "spare". He never turned a bolt on the car, so he wasnt very much help. Also, it was just the pre-pump, as 87 still had the in line HP pump.

                  But when I do the filter I will do the pressure gauge too. Now I just need to find one for cheap. I was thinking of just using the HF fuel pressure tester: http://www.harborfreight.com/fuel-in...ter-92699.html

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                    #10
                    *see first post for update

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                      #11
                      My car did that when the top of the coil was corroded

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                        #12
                        car dies at random

                        I think the grounds, or something to do with electrical connections if it was fuel I would think it would do some sorta sputter, but just losing everything like turn off a light switch. Makes me thing electrical.

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                          #13
                          My car did that when my tps went out. It just died. So I got a new tps.. And still had stalling issues. Put new afm(mine was bad) on still had stalling issues... Only at cold engine tho.
                          Put new intake boot on. Problem solved. And no more cel either. Good luck. Your best bet would be find a friend that has a perfectly running car.. And swap parts..
                          sigpic


                          1989 BMW 325is (SOLD)
                          1990 BMW 325i Brilliantrot (SOLD)
                          1992 BMW 325IC (SOLD)
                          1991 BMW 318IS (STOLEN!)

                          2017 BMW M2 (WEEKEND WARRIOR)
                          (GRIGIO TELESTO RESPRAY, FULL BOLT ONS, TUNE-HPFP AND TURBO UPGRADE COMING AFTER WARRANTY IS DONE)
                          1989 BMW 325IC (PROJECT(
                          2002 FORD ESCAPE (DAILY)
                          2001 BMW 330CI (FOR SALE SOON)



                          "R3v, being a bunch of cheap bastards that would try to negotiate a discount on a free engine,"

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                            #14
                            Did you figure it out?

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                              #15
                              solved or not

                              update bro plzs is it fixed? and if so what was the issue?
                              Last edited by BigBillions; 08-20-2013, 11:41 PM. Reason: bad title

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