No Idle. Please Help...
 

Hi everyone, New to e36. I have owned many BMW's. But this has me pulling my hair out. I have a !994 325i (vanos). After driving and parking car for sometime it will not idle. Everything off idle very smooth. Let car cool off for several hours and starts idles fine. I just replaced ICV and checked all vacume, intake hoses. Still same condition. Checked fault codes. (1444) No Codes? I'm almost out of hair and patience. Any info greatly welcomed.. Thanks


Drew

1980 323i
1985 325e
1994 325i

Bad idle is usually caused by dirty ICV, bad O2 sensors, dirty MAF sensor, or vacuum leak.

O2 sensors supposedly last between 50,000 - 100,000 miles. How many miles do you have?

You can clean MAF with electronic parts cleaner (or any cleaner that does not leave a residue). Spray the MAF with the cleaner and then let it air dry.

I have had a few idle problems over the life of the car and they all turned out to be vacuum problems. I would suggest that you continue to look for cracked or loose hoses.

Thanks, I cleaned MAF sensor today with electric motor contact cleaner. Took for a test drive. Still the same. No idle after warm. Car has 130K miles. Only owned 1 Month. I gave up and took car to BMW dealer today. I will post what ,if any, magic they work. Thanks Again..


1980 323i
1985 325e
1994 325i

WHAT WAS THE FINAL WORD FROM THE DEALERSHIP? I WOKE UP TO THIS SAME PROBLEM TODAY

90% of the time, this will be a vacuum leak due to a cracked hose or boot. Inspect them very carefully, and squeeze them - as you can't see the cracks normally...

-Wayne

Sorry guys, Dealer still has car. They have been willing to work with me in the past. They trouble shoot and let me intall parts. So i told them take there time. I installed new breather hoses and new vacume hoses before taking it to the dealer. They were taking fuel pressure readings last i checked. I will keep every one informed. Thanks for the feedback..


Drew
1980 323i
1985 325e
1994 325i

GOING TO THE SHOP
 

THANKS FOR THE INFO. I CAN FIND NO LEAKS SO OFF TO THE SHOP I GO. AFTER SOME RESEARH I AM LEANING TOWARDS A FAILING IDLE CONTROL SENSOR. GOOD LUCK!

I went to the dealer today. They dont have a clue. They are going to work on it tomorrow. Let me know if anyone finds anything useful.
Thanks All

Drew
1980 323i
1985 325e
1994 325i

:( I have same problem and I'd been replaced many things (ICV, Fuel pressor regulator, Fuel filter, Spark plugs, hoses, cleaned TB...) but still. Please keep inform what the Stealer find on your car. Thank you!

poor idle
 

I have a similar idle problem, 1995 328 the idle bounces at a hot or cold start. I checked for vacuum leaks with a can of starter fluid and checked the MFS and it appears to get a voltage signal and return a voltage but I'm uncertain how eles to check the MFS. I'm starting to think ICV may be the problem. 113k on car any ideas?

Hi Drews,
Any answer from Stealer yet? Thanks. :rolleyes:

No word yet. Im going to stop at dealer tomorrow. They have checked vacume, fuel pressure, and sensors. If they still dont know, im going to take car to a larger BMW dealer in Indianapolis. They have more volume of cars that they work on. I really dont know what else to do. I will keep everyone informed.

Thanks
Drew
1980 323i
1985 325e
1994 325i

Thanks.

Re: poor idle
 

Starting fluid on a fuel injected car is a BAD idea. i highly reccomend that you do not do this. Startting fluid has chemicals in it like xylene which can damage sensors, not to mention causing fires and possible manifold explosions. Starting fluid is good for carbureted cars, not for FI. You never want to prime a FI system with anything. I've seen people blow intake manifolds OFF engines this way.

I talked to dealer friday. They are going to swap out DME with another e36 this week. So i will let everyone know later this week.

Thanks, Drew

1980 323i
1985 325e
1994 325i

Any update yet???

Dealer gave up. I took car back. Has not died since. But when racking steering all the way car idles down and dies. It does not idle up when a/c is turned on either. It idles down with a/c on. Talked to two diferent $tealers they both said the DME. I think its the only thing left, that controls the idle, that i have not replaced. trying to find someone in the Indianapolis area to swap out DME's. Or may just buy a used one:(

Sorry to hear about. I think my car better because it's an auto. I'd been searching for couple months for the problem. There is a guy at bimmerforum dot com have same prolem and he replaced DME but didn't fix. Ended up, he sold the car. Really hopeless for now and I know alot of people have to live with it.

Hello again, I went for a long drive today. Stopped at a store near my house. Started car, BIG Suprise! No Idle. ARRRRRHHH. Kept heavy foot on gas on the way home. Broke out the Bentley manual and proceded to check everything related to idle. Unplugged ICV to check voltage. Started car with it unplugged. Runs the same unplugged or plugged in. Humm Positive voltage at plug from DME to ICV. Bentley manual says to check signal from DME to ICV with a dwell meter per the ICV manufacturer's instructions??? my new Bosch ICV came with no instructions?? also checked TPS ohm sweep, its OK. I think this is all leaning to the DME?? Sorry I Just Had To Vent... Whooooeeee My old E30 is Looking better every day!!

1980 323i
1985 325e
1994 325i

Could be a dirty idle stabiliser bypass valve, or DME box that's playing up because it got wet. Try opening up the DME box and see if you find corrosion or bad solder joints. Procedure desribed in Bentley manual. Sometimes these can be fixed easily - ask me how I know: bad idle = wet DME after rain storm. Dried out the DME, re-sealed, Voila!

LeRoux