Idle high and lack of power

golden · 04-11-2003, 11:06 AM

Help! My 87 325i is idling high (around 2250) but will then come back down and behave nicely. This does not happen on cold start and there seems to be some relation to wet weather and spirited driving. Yesterday, car stalled and check engine came on but idle back to where needed. No throttle response even though engine restarted. Tps and idle control valve are new with no apparent vacuum leaks. Very intermittent as when this car is on top of it's game,....there is NO traction to be found! When misbehaving it won't even slip around in the rain.
Very heavy cat converter smell after one episode of "idle madness" Thanks all in advance!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 04-11-2003, 11:10 AM

Sounds like the O2 sensor. The O2 sensor controls mixture, and that woula coount for the smell. My car used to idle like this as well and replacing the o2 Sensor cured the problem. If you send me your email address, i can send you an article on how to check the O2 sensor for faults.

golden · 04-11-2003, 11:25 AM

yesca6@yahoo.com I believe the 02 sensor is new as well as I bought this rascal (in the dark) just knowing I could fix it. Seems previous owner replaced all my intended options. Either way, I got this car very very cheap and it runs like a scalded dog and I intend to use saved money to work my way up to "heavily modded"

Jared at Pelican Parts · 04-11-2003, 11:29 AM

lol, I wouldnt aspire to my tag. My car still has a ways to go until it is where I want it. Check the sensor. From what you desrcibed i think it may be clogged.

golden · 04-15-2003, 04:08 PM

o2 checks out. tpi is new, as well as icvalve. this is getting annoying. I have a 535 and I don't remember the red service light coming on intermittently. It does on this car. haven't seen the check engine light for a few days,.....but then again it has been sunny.
When idle is jumpy I swear it acts like I'm pulling a trailer and like it's governed or something. Next I'm going to see if its some kinda aftermarket chip malfuntion (if it has one) Did I mention this 325 has a cone K&N filter? Man,....when it howls it howls,.....but when not I was sure a civic hf beat me off the line the other day and he was even looking for his cell phone at the time

Jared at Pelican Parts · 04-16-2003, 07:03 AM

Have you adjusted the throttle switch?

golden · 04-16-2003, 05:35 PM

i heard this adjustment can be done but when i took apart the old one it seemed a rather simple switch. It was either full contact or at one point touched two switches together to fully close something. I must mention that it was almost impossible to divide this thing into two pieces as I don't believe it was meant to be opened.
Your email on 02 sensors was quite a read,.....I hope to read the whole novel one day.
To fully sort this rascal out:,..slight whine while clutch is out,....(throwout bearing,...but how long with noise will this last) Loud ticking in valves (hopefully not fully adjusted out,...if that's possible) Actually stalled this morning with large varnish fuel smell. Is there some kind of fuel regulator or pressure pump that would make this thing act so queer??

Jared at Pelican Parts · 04-17-2003, 06:54 AM

ok, you dont adjust the throttle switch by taking it apart. You need to read my other "novel" on how to do it. I just sent it over to you.

golden · 04-21-2003, 04:54 PM

Reading all I can get my hands on!!! tpi was pretty much on key (according to press release from Jared)and I looked around for cracked vacuum hoses today and really lately had any bad episodes of idle craziness. I did however hold hands over the exhaust to simulate a blocked cat and did get a delayed 1200 idle. As I've noted,...I find everything that I was going to replace to correct this idle has been replaced and I wonder if the cat conv. could actually cause intermittent problems.
Mostly when it is rainy and I've been driving real hard does it act crazy. I looked at the ecu to see if there were any "tamperings" but only found a screw missing and normal wear and tear from the glove box

carolinus · 04-23-2003, 06:16 PM

You could have water/electrical problems. Usually the biggest indicator there is non standard wiring going through the firewall and drawing in water because of a poor seal.

Also, your ecu connector could be cruddy. You might want to try pulling it and cleaning it.

Do you get any smoke when it does this? If so, you could be running it way too rich. In fact, a lot of the other symptoms you are describing act like it is running way too rich. Does a car like this have a fuel pressure regulator? If so, you might want to check that out.

Fassi · 04-23-2003, 11:27 PM

Could someone please send me the info on how to check the o2 sensor? I'd appreciate it. sagesse2002@lycos.com

Thanks in advance!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 04-24-2003, 07:27 AM

Just sent an article to you.

golden · 03:46 PM

this is new,...washed car with idle problem and the would'nt start,.......got home aand disconnect idle control valve (big, black "L") Idle will calm to 1200 but then goes right back once I reconnect. As I mentioned before: New Icv,tpi,o2 sensor.
Have actually heard a humming in the radio and this car can't seem to stand my metallica /pantera collection at high volume. (that was the first signal )

golden · 04-30-2003, 04:16 PM

behaving nicely lately,....been driving the speed limit and no 6500rpm shifts seems to help this anomoly. Some lucas injector cleaner as well.
When sitting in the driveway with no air flow and temp gauge at middle no problem,.....but at cold start and with a little rain this idle problem comes and goes.

carolinus · 04-30-2003, 06:08 PM

Interesting note, there is a TSB for your year car relating to the 02 sensor. It says that if it does not have rubber boots and silicone sealer in the grounding cable up there on the strut well on the exhaust side, it can cause those problems when wet. They recommend putting silicone and heat shrink tubing on those connectors. Also, replacement of those ends is recommended if corrosion is present, as it is on mine.

Ross318is · 05-01-2003, 07:00 AM

I had a Jetta that had idle problems and low power when it was rainy. After trying to figure out the problem for a month, I took it to a dealer. The tech took a spray bottle and misted the plug wires, at which point it started acting up. Try duplicating the problem by spraying various components on the car to isolate the problem. BTW, the tech asked if I wanted him to change the wires, and I thought "Why not?". Those bastards charged me $50 labor and $68 for the wires! I didn't see that coming.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-01-2003, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by golden
this is new,...washed car with idle problem and the would'nt start,.......got home aand disconnect idle control valve (big, black "L") Idle will calm to 1200 but then goes right back once I reconnect. As I mentioned before: New Icv,tpi,o2 sensor.
Have actually heard a humming in the radio and this car can't seem to stand my metallica /pantera collection at high volume. (that was the first signal )

DO NOT run the car with the ICV disconected. You stand a huge chance of sending a voltage spike to the ECU.

Have you adjusted the throttle position switch and checked all the vacuum hoses?

golden · 05-01-2003, 03:57 PM

yes. the tpi I can actually hear click off when moving the throttles past idle while hovering above. As for full throttle engaging those other switches I suspect they are on because when this car is right it screams!!
New problem. Lots of black smoke when throttle applied and not a whole lot of response. Check engine light comes on but just flickers.
Im going to re test the o2 sensor and then take this thing to the shop

(ultimate defeat)

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-01-2003, 03:58 PM

Id suspect the o2 sensor at this point.

golden · 05-01-2003, 06:48 PM

I have suspected this all along even though my sensor is new. possibly spoiled? Maybe he replaced it before the other gadgets went bad and then came the platinum plugs.
Man this is one masochistic hobby.