what causes this on an 86 325e?

larmstrong · 11-23-2003, 06:17 AM

the exhaust manifold is turning bright orange, the car is not over heating but there is no power and if you hit the gas it will only go to like 3000 rpm

the really wierd thing is it only does this part of the time, sometimes you start it up and it goes like hell, runs perfectly,

and then sometimes i get nooooo power and a glowing manifold

any ideas??????? thanks

KC Ron Carter · KC Ron Carter's Garage

The catalyst is a three bed and the amount of fuel it can convert is a limited amount.

If it provides too much backpressure the excess fuel normally burnt in the catalyst is still in the exhaust.

Adding a double dose of ChevRON TechRON, is the last a best way to allow the catalyst to clean it's self out.

http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuels/techrongas/

Later,

Jared at Pelican Parts · 11-24-2003, 08:45 AM

Sounds like something is blocking the exhaust flow in the car. More than likely the cat has failed and must be replaced. Are you noticing a sulphur-like smell?

larmstrong · 11-24-2003, 02:49 PM

no no sulfer smell, but why is the car working perfectly fine sometimes and other times it barely runs and the exhaust turn red, if the cat was blocked wouldnt it do this every time???????????

plus its wierd because i try to start it and the car does not run properly, turn it off, try to start it again and still nothing, but hey on the 3rd sometimes 4th or 5th the car starts up and runs just fine, i let it run for 8 hours today and still ran fine, turned it off tried to start it again and nothing, it ran just without throttle response or any power.......what gives??????thannks for the help

7hills · 11-24-2003, 05:01 PM

One other possibility could be a muffler that has broken welds on the inside. I had this problem with an old Ford truck. Sometimes the baffles in the muffler would catch and it would run great, other times the pieces fell to gether and blocked the flow. You end up with the same problem KC Ron Carter outlined - too much backpressure and the cat just can't burn all of the excess.

Find a good exhaust shop to help you diagnose which part to replace before you get a lot of expensive parts melting - or just rip it all out and call Jared for the good stuff to go back with.

larmstrong · 11-25-2003, 02:04 AM

thanks 7, the more i talk to people it seems like its an exhaust problem, you are the first to recomend the muffler, the car sat for a year so its possible, one guy told me he left a car sit and the same thing happened, he found out that mice made a nest in his cat.........ah the wounders of buying a used car, but hey i only spent 242 bucks on this sucker and when it runs it runs great, no smoke or anything, just this exhaust problem.......

larmstrong · 11-27-2003, 11:24 AM

o and one more thing seems like plenty of exhaust is coming out... there is a good amount of force coming from the muffler when you try to cover it with your hand........i am no mechanic, i know how to unbolt something and put the new one on, but i do not know how much pressure should be coming from the exhaust
thanks again guys

larmstrong · 11-30-2003, 02:09 PM

ok well it was not the cat, i switched cats today and nothing, the car still seems like it is bogged down, maybe too much fuel but from where, if the exhaust mainfold is turning bright orange then and the cat is not at fault what is, i have changed everything in this car from a perfectly running car, i have changed wires, coil, plugs, coolant temp senor, cold start injector, and now the cat, HELP HELP HELP........ the car seems to run fine everyonce in a while but majority of the time it just wont run with any sort of power and then the manifold glows like a pumpkin

thanks

Windsor396 · 11-30-2003, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by larmstrong
ok well it was not the cat, i switched cats today and nothing, the car still seems like it is bogged down, maybe too much fuel but from where, if the exhaust mainfold is turning bright orange then and the cat is not at fault what is, i have changed everything in this car from a perfectly running car, i have changed wires, coil, plugs, coolant temp senor, cold start injector, and now the cat, HELP HELP HELP........ the car seems to run fine everyonce in a while but majority of the time it just wont run with any sort of power and then the manifold glows like a pumpkin

thanks

I had the same problem in my 86 and now in my 87 325e. On the 87 it did not happen until I fixed a break early in the exhaust. HHHHMMMMM I am going to kick myself now. Anyways where can I get an exhaust for a decent price as this is my beater...

larmstrong · 03:17 AM

windser, i have not run this problem down yet, while it seems like this could be a clogged exhaust, it is not true in my case, unfortunatley i do not have an exhaust right now, i have "used" my extras, you can try www.bmwwholesale.net these guys have been great to me.......a used cat is a little harder to find, since it is illegal to sell used cats, good luck.

Windsor396 · 12-01-2003, 05:07 AM

Thank you larmstrong. I will try to get in touch with them shortly.. What other parts do you have for an 86-87 325e. I would love to do an i motor conversion but I know it is expensive...

larmstrong · 12-01-2003, 02:12 PM

i have everything for an e, unfortunately times 2 now, because i cant spend anymore time trying to get this car to run, its a shame really its a good car, when it runs right its perfect. lots of power, its an auto and i can spin the tires off the line in it....if someone wants to make me an offer on it before i part it out,

i do not have the parts you need for an I conversion, to be honest with you it would be easier for you to sell your car and buy an i, after you did engine, and the rear, plus the exhaust is different, someone here should be able to tell you but i am pretty sure you need an different afm, ecu and some other electronics.........let me know if you need anything thanks

Windsor396 · 12-01-2003, 04:26 PM

Where do you live????? I may be insterested.........

larmstrong · 12-02-2003, 02:18 AM

nj, 30 miles from nyc, close to morristown

mikescars · 12-08-2003, 07:23 PM

I would check the resonator ifo the muffler. may have converter debris, If yo have the parts car, remove the 3 bolts and the muffler and replace the unit. worth a try.

larmstrong · 12-09-2003, 03:23 AM

the entire exhaust has been switched out from a perfectly good running car, and still no go thanks for the idea, keep em coming....i am waiting on a new rotor and cap, as i found out the other day that the spark was not hitting the posts insided the cap, they were low and melting the plastic of the cap its self, so cross your fingers

mikescars · 12-09-2003, 03:49 AM

being that the exhaust has been so hot recently, is it not possible that the exhaust itself has melted the cap????

larmstrong · 12-09-2003, 05:57 AM

o no its not melting that way, at the bottom of the posts on the cap you can see where the spark is hitting, it is missing the post and hitting the plastic where the post is connected to the cap, and you can see burn marks on the cap

it is not melting like the wicked witch of the north did