Fuel system mystery
Posted by Bob in Lake Havasu
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Hi Guys
Mine has been getting gradually worse, taking longer and longer to start, to the point where it is now starting to display the same symptoms when cold and being impossible when hot. Yesterday, on my way to work, I got a flat tire and pulled off to fit the spare. The 10 or so minutes it took me to fit the spare made it impossible to start again, I ended up abandoning the car and using Swambo's car to work., as it just refused, point blank to start, keep in mind, the car was at running temp. Returning that evening to fetch the car,. she fired right up from cold. I know that I have no vacuum leaks, I have bought a set of new plugs as well as a set of new HT leads and will fit them this weekend. Will let you know what the outcome is. I remember from my workshop days, weak spark due to bad plugs or / and HT leads were often over looked and the culprit of hard starting, especially with the starter sucking up all the juice during cranking, which leads to another possible scenario, possible bad unloader relay, whose job it is to make sure there is adequate electrical current to all the other systems while cranking, what if this were breaking down, once warm........mmmmmmmmmm???? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!! 
When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. |
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Ok, so here is the low down on the new plugs and HT leads.
Fitted them this morning, car fired right up from cold, took it for a good run out on the freeway to get it up to running temp and then parked it for half and hour or so, then went to see if it would give it's usual hot start troubles, nada, nothing, fired straight up at the first turn of the motor. Turned it off and tried again, same result, fired right up with the turn of the key, without touching the accelerator. So we shall see, will report back in a week or so, once I have checked it under varing and diffirent conditions, but it is looking promising. The car deffinately has more pep, idles a lot smoother and quiter, and revs up easier and cleaner. Measued the resistance in the old wires and the new ones, old wires had six times the resistance of the new wires, so just because they look good, don't mean they are doing their job as advertised. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!!
When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2013 11:56AM by Flyboy. |
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No Bob, I didn't because;
1. Couldn't be bothered 2. Rotor is new and cap cleaned from last belt change not too long ago. 3. She ran so sweetly and started so easily after the plug and HT lead change, I figured it was not required.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!!
When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. |
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It would seem so Al. I am cautiously optimistic, this coming week will be the acid test.
I will let you guys know all the findings at the end of the week. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!!
When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2013 09:16PM by Flyboy. |
Hahahahaha, ain't that always just the way.......  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!!
When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. |
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This forum has been busy! Good to know the problem was solved.
I took my kids to the snow last Sunday, to the highest place in mainland Portugal. No need for snow tires, they plow the roads clean so people can use regular tires there. Just felt like sharing...
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Obviously, in Portugal they don't use E30's for snowplows!!! 
alan |
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Ok, as promised, for your edification and perusal, here is the one week feed back report.
The little 318i is my daily driver, and I do an average of 70km a day to the airport and back, a mix of highway driving and traffic, pretty much 50/50. Not once in the last week, since putting in the new HT leads and plugs has she refused to start at the first turn of the motor, and settles immediately into a steady 750rpm idle. I have started her from cold, cool, warm, hot, and every time she fired straight into a steady idle, when standing at a light in traffic and the temps are way up (it's summer here, average temps 30C) I sub consciously find my right foot darting for the accelerator to catch her so as not to die, but she is rock steady at exactly 750rpm, then I just giggle at myself. Oh ye of little faith. As I said before, measured with a multimeter the resistance on the old wires was six times higher than the new wires. Change your leads, it is $40 well spent, use it, don't use it. Just sayin' Putting this one to bed.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!!
When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2013 09:35AM by Flyboy. |
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Bob, that was just a thumb suck, I paid ZAR 400 for mine and just worked on an exchange of 10:1 $/ZAR, not BMW stuff, I bought Bougi Cord.
But then again, the minister of fun does work for an auto parts outlet, and I get the stuff t staff price, which is like cost +10%, so I doubt you are being fleeced. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!!
When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. |
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