318i acceleration/idle/starting problems>>RESOLVED

jjskibinski · 12-16-2003, 05:07 PM

It is truly Christmas time!! I was having multiple odd problems with my 318i lately. I had checked all vaccum lines and connections, all sensors changed out the ignition control module, the distributor is new, clean spark plugs, went through entire fuel system, all these items checked out. I have a spare ECU, so I pull apart the glove box and remove and replace the ECU. I hold up the old ECU, tilt the connector end downward while looling at the connectors and got about 3 ounces of water in my face. No leaks in area of glove box, fine dust powder on entire area above and beside where ECU resides. Bimmer now runs fine. Is a drain hole in the bottom of the ECU an appropriate safeguard measure? Could condensation cause this? Oh yes, the water was clear, no rust, corrosion or dirt particles apparent.
No I have almost seen it all.
Jan

KC Ron Carter · KC Ron Carter's Garage

Your windshield seal is leaking.

Wrap the ECU in a plastic bag.

Later,

jjskibinski · 12-16-2003, 07:51 PM

thanks Ron already put on a plastic bag. Not so sure about windshield leak. New windshield and rubber last spring, checked for water trails under days, never any moisture on carpets, dash after driving in some major rainstorms this year. Appreciate the advise though. Still trying to figure this one out, don't want to repeat of this misadventure.
Jan

FSAEracer03 · 08-10-2005, 09:36 PM

Sounds like we have similar ailes. Where are you in VA? I'm north for breaks and down in norfolk for school. I'd love to get together and chat sometime.

After the fuel problem gets worked out, the junkyard turbo upgrade will begin

Fun fun fun...

jjskibinski · 08-11-2005, 03:56 AM

fsaeracer03,

I live in Midlothian, Va. (Richmond area). I often visit NOVA
since my son is a George Mason senior, and plans to stay in
northern Virginia after graduation . Meeting up sometime would be fine.
Regards,
Jan

FSAEracer03 · 07:39 PM

Sounds good to me. I'm sure Richmond won't be a problem either seeing as I'll be in Norfolk the better part of the next 8 or 9 months.

Update of mine so far is that the previous shop that worked on this was full of amatuers... they seemed to not only have overlooked a major fuel pressure variance (1.2 bar instead of 3.0) and tried tuning the car around that, they EVEN messed that part up. The valve clearances were horrible, the air/fuel was cranked up lean (wrong way, guys!) and the base timing was set at 61 degrees advance. That's 36 degrees off spec timing! I adjusted it 21 degrees to 40 total because I hear that 40 degrees BTDC is optimal for performance for these cars, adjusted the A/F, valve clearances, replaced a load of vac lines, both fuel pumps, rewired one... and the problem is almost wholely cured. I believe after a littler more persistence, troubleshooting the idle control system as well as the ignition system, the car should be running how a 101hp, high-revving 4 should.

I'm already doing some R&D on easy-to-find-at-a-junkyard turbos and injectors. I'm optimistically hoping that with a little luck, a little money (shooting for $500 total cost), and a little time (next two semesters)... I will have tracked down what I need and done the necessary fabrication to install a small turbo.

...the Porsche got me addicted to boost. The bimmer got me addicted to frugality... let's see if I can't combine the two

By the way, Jan, my name is Kevin Reagan (I'll have to cut-and-paste my Rennlist signature). I'm finishing up a Mechanical Engineering degree down at ODU with a minor in Motorsports. On the "offseason" I'm a mechanic. Currently I'm working at a Porsche specialist shop in Fairfax by the name of IMA Motorsport. And speaking of which, I love BOTH (EDIT: gas-powered) cars in your garage.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Interesting - this is a common problem with the early E36 cars, but I haven't seen too many E30 owners suffering from the same...

-Wayne

FSAEracer03 · 05:47 PM

I can't complain really... it seems like most of the problem was due to the incompetent shop who "serviced" it before.

The way I see it, I just spent about 60-70 hours of TLC time with him, and about $400 in parts and consumables... and it's nearly boost-worthy and autocross-worthy. Not bad considering I got the car already sporting a freshly resurfaced head, new clutch, new bilsteins/H&Rs and other goodies... for 560 bucks.

It's going to be a fun beater. That's all.

Wayne, being a fresh Pelican Parts BBS member here, I'm flattered to be replied to by the CEO after my second post

I'm glad to see you're active on the boards, that's really great.

jjskibinski · 08-15-2005, 06:41 PM

Kevin,
I'm Jan Skibinski, pharmacist by profession, but a pilot, mechanic, racer, etc. by avocation. My involvement with auto repair/maintenance began due to negative experiences
with 'professional' repair shops. Recently, about a 14 months ago, I took my 318i into the local dealership since a major hurricane had struck the day before and no one was on the roads. Happened to be someone in the BMW dealership maintenance area. I as having problems with engine at the time and wanted an opinion or observation as
to the cause of the problems(s). They ran an engine analysis, and determined that the computer brain was about
to die. My visit there was in part a test of their abilities. So.
I hand over $80 bucks and told them no thank-you on the computer brain. Played around under the hood that afternoon and found the distributor to be worn. No parts to affect a repair so bought one from Pelican Parts. Ran fine immediatly after inserting new distributor.
I am having fuel flow problems with 318i now. Must be a pinched hose or obstruction in some fuel passage. ( I put in a new fuel tank (from Pelican) several months back.
Ran fine until about 2 weeks ago.
I mainly do Porsches. Love my Bimmer however. Finished restoring (every nut and bolt, welding, bodywork,paint and interior) my son's 1972 911T with new old stock "E" piston and cylinders. I am now working on my '67 911S, but only after I resolve my 318i issues.
This is about as long winded as I get.
Regards,
Jan

FSAEracer03 · 08-16-2005, 10:08 AM

"I mainly do Porsches. Love my Bimmer however. "

My thoughts exactly.

There are so many sly shops and even more that just don't know what they're doing and are too stubborn to admit it. It's really unfortunate.

My problems have also been in aprt to fuel flow or lack thereof. I still need to check the fuel pressure now to make sure the lines are good and unpinched. I now can redline the motor occassionally, but many times it still stumbles. Still, it's going 2500rpm higher or so than it did before when it does stumble.

After I sort this out, diagnose the occassionally-odd idle, reseal the distributor housing, it should be good to go.

While we're on the 318i issues topic, anyone happen to have bad tachs? Mine is pretty far off. I calibrated it with a Snap-On advance timing light and here's what I got

Reading --- Actual
1000 1400
2000 2400
3000 3400
4000 4600
5000 5900

Gotta love that nonlinearity, eh?

jjskibinski · 08-16-2005, 07:30 PM

Kevin,
I have a couple of spare tach that I'll never use if your problems involve replacement. I went through all those idle issues when I first purchased Bimmer. Replaced/repaired: vacuum lines, spark-plugs, wires, distributor cap, cleaned up throtle controle valve, replaced air flow sensor. Then car ran well. Eventually changed the distributor as mentioned previously.

Hope that helps,
Jan

FSAEracer03 · 08-18-2005, 10:28 AM

Thanks Jan, I might take you up on that offer. It appears the whole fuel system has half-failed... checked the pressure and it stays ar 3.0 for a little bit, then spikes past 6.0... looks like the FPR is bad also!

Now posting an FPR thread...

FSAEracer03 · 11-25-2005, 08:46 PM

To slightly ressurect this thread... for anyone's future reference who might come across this thread in a search, the tach problem is also related to a problem I've been having with the SRI lights and the speedo intermittently going out at random times. The two rechargable AA batteries in the instrument cluster are apperently bad. The replacement unit from BMW costs $1100, I'm going to remove it from the instrument cluster and solder in two NiCad rechargables that I just purchased from Circuit City for $10 instead!

jjskibinski · 11-26-2005, 05:38 AM

HI Kevin,

I has an easy resolution to a lingering problem with fuel flow. The '84 318i has been running well but at times I have felt a "lagging/dragging" with acceleration around 4,600 to 5,500 rpm. I knew that fuel line from tank to fuel rail was clean as I had diligently replaced or cleaned those items. Issue was relsolved when I removed fuel pressure regulator can cleaned it out by spraying innards with brake cleaner. Very small amount of 'gunk' was collected for observation, and that resolved the entire issue.
Regards,
Jan

FSAEracer03 · 11-26-2005, 09:02 AM

Hey Jan,

The odd thing is, I had bad fuel pressure and replaced the regulator, which cleared up the low-rpm mess, but now it has trouble hitting high rpms under load. Under no load, it will hit redline at ~3/4 throttle but cut back if you go WOT. It's been really aggrivating, and I have reset the timing to OE spec, and have adjusted the A/F. I think part of it might be a throttle over-travel problem created after i removed the idle control system and adjusted the throttle and throttle cable afterwards, I'm going to modify the bracket and readjust the throttle cable and see where that puts me.

The only next step I have is to put on the larger injectors for the turbo setup, readjust the A/F and have new plugs on there and see what happens. I think after that it's time for the turbo, cleaning up the asthetics and putting it up for sale

Turbo 318i anyone?

-Kevin Reagan-