So my car is STILL messed up... - United Bimmer Community

**mullethunter3** · 08-19-2007, 01:56 AM

Okay, so I think most of you remember the whole "my car is dead" problem.... i.e. thread here

Okay, so long story short, the mechanic fixed everything, reset the codes... whatever that means and told me that it would take a few miles before everything worked out.

Right, so i toke it to Illinois, and living in MO, that's a far drive. The car ran smooth as silk. I drove it everyday for work during the summer and it ran smooth as silk. NOW, I'm in Rolla, I don't drive much. When I start it, it acts all crazy. It starts, it revs to 1500, tries to kill itself at 400, revs back up, the check engine light comes on and does this every time it's idling. At stoplights or in any idling situation. Pressing the gas does not help, it still idles pretty rough.

So in short, when I don't drive it a lot, it's angry at me. When I drive it, it works perfectly. WTF?????

Any help? (And don't tell me to drive it more often, I don't have time.)

**Chris** · 08-19-2007, 02:12 AM

Heed its demands and drive it more?

**RSF5** · 08-19-2007, 04:35 AM

So what does frequent driving cure that sitting still causes...

**denyo77** · 08-19-2007, 04:35 AM

Bimmers actually have a "human emotion" chip
maybe you should wash it more often, go to parties with it or maybe watch TV together?

**Dudesky** · 08-19-2007, 05:07 AM

You said the CEL lights up? What code does it throw? You should be able to do the 5 stomp method on that '93. My 3 guesses: dirty throttle plate, dirty ICV, or malfunctioning throttle position sensor. Or a combination of these; a stuck or dirty ICV can make the TPS go crazy and throw a TPS fault code. If you don't have a Bentley, PM me and I'll send you info on how to test the TPS.

Could also be a bad O2 sensor.

**Linds** · 08-19-2007, 09:52 AM

My first e36 used to do that when it had a bad ignition coil.

**mullethunter3** · 08-19-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky

You said the CEL lights up? What code does it throw? You should be able to do the 5 stomp method on that '93. My 3 guesses: dirty throttle plate, dirty ICV, or malfunctioning throttle position sensor. Or a combination of these; a stuck or dirty ICV can make the TPS go crazy and throw a TPS fault code. If you don't have a Bentley, PM me and I'll send you info on how to test the TPS.

Could also be a bad O2 sensor.

If by CEL you mean the Check Engine Light, then yes. It ONLY lights up when at an idle. When you leave idle, like when you actually go, the CEL turns off. The car runs fine when not in idle.

As for the dirty throttle plate or ICV, I cleaned them both when I took the car apart. I have a Bentley, but I don't have a code reader. Also, I'm in a hick-town and asking O'Reiley to help a BMW is a no go.

And what exactly is the 5 stomp method?

**scooter** · 08-19-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

If by CEL you mean the Check Engine Light, then yes. It ONLY lights up when at an idle. When you leave idle, like when you actually go, the CEL turns off. The car runs fine when not in idle.

As for the dirty throttle plate or ICV, I cleaned them both when I took the car apart. I have a Bentley, but I don't have a code reader. Also, I'm in a hick-town and asking O'Reiley to help a BMW is a no go.

And what exactly is the 5 stomp method?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...nostics%20.htm

**Dudesky** · 08-19-2007, 11:27 AM

^^^Yep. It's also on page 100-9 in the Bentley.

So it only lights up briefly? Then Linds could be on to something . . sounds electrical; the CEL behaves like that when it detects a misfire or ignition/electrical issue. Try that route maybe?

**mullethunter3** · 08-19-2007, 12:43 PM

Can I just let this problem go? Is it actually going to hurt the car? I really am done with spending money on this money pit.

**RSF5** · 08-19-2007, 01:29 PM

What does the engine sound like when it happens?

**scooter** · 08-19-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

Can I just let this problem go? Is it actually going to hurt the car? I really am done with spending money on this money pit.

it depends on what it is, if its a coil it can be fixed on the cheap.

**mullethunter3** · 08-19-2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSF5

What does the engine sound like when it happens?

Like it has a rough idle. That's all. I was going to have someone look at it at MBF, but it was running like a champ then.

Oh, and I can't get that stupid 5 stomp method to work. Any tips?

**94bmw325i** · 08-19-2007, 07:01 PM

With my 325 it worked with 3 stomps lol maybe something is messed up. Just press the pedal down to the floor fairly quickly when you are turning the key, maybe move your floormat out of the way if it is catching slightly?

**Numark318i** · 08-19-2007, 07:40 PM

my318 did that, I mean the odd idle, before my ecu chip poppedoutof place completely. So check the ecu and make sure the chip didn't come loose