Discussion
Help, my car is running like a bag o' nails!
I went out for a blast a few weeks ago in my 350i and it was running great. Came home, put it in the garage, no problem. 5 days later I started the car up again, backed out of the garage and pulled on to the road, when the car started misfiring, hesitating and generally running crap. I carried on to see if it was damp and got better as the engine warmed up. It didnt. When it was warm it was still missing and was struggling to idle on about 400 - 500rpm.
I ve checked the ignition timing which is spot on at 4' BTDC and have just put some new HT leads on. Its still running crap, but the new leads look nice!
I m going to try a new coil next. I have been on Rimmers site and found a new coil GCL143 for a Rov V8/ TR8. Can someone confirm this is the right coil for my 89 350i and am I on the right lines, checking the lgnition system or have you got any other ideas how it can go from running great to crap overnight? It starts ok and runs for as normal for about 30 secs to a minute then starts missing.
Thanks in advance
Jon
I went out for a blast a few weeks ago in my 350i and it was running great. Came home, put it in the garage, no problem. 5 days later I started the car up again, backed out of the garage and pulled on to the road, when the car started misfiring, hesitating and generally running crap. I carried on to see if it was damp and got better as the engine warmed up. It didnt. When it was warm it was still missing and was struggling to idle on about 400 - 500rpm.
I ve checked the ignition timing which is spot on at 4' BTDC and have just put some new HT leads on. Its still running crap, but the new leads look nice!
I m going to try a new coil next. I have been on Rimmers site and found a new coil GCL143 for a Rov V8/ TR8. Can someone confirm this is the right coil for my 89 350i and am I on the right lines, checking the lgnition system or have you got any other ideas how it can go from running great to crap overnight? It starts ok and runs for as normal for about 30 secs to a minute then starts missing.
Thanks in advance
Jon
I would not think it's any of them..
As it was running well one day and crap the next - I would suspect something came / is very loose or frayed :
Check under the bonnet :
Plug connections, coil connections high & low tension, air flow meter connections, power pak amp & dizzy connections, check inside cap and check the carbon button and spring in the cap roof.. and lastly the engine earths at battery, starter motor, back of engine block (injectors).
Also does the fuel pump sound OK.
As it was running well one day and crap the next - I would suspect something came / is very loose or frayed :
Check under the bonnet :
Plug connections, coil connections high & low tension, air flow meter connections, power pak amp & dizzy connections, check inside cap and check the carbon button and spring in the cap roof.. and lastly the engine earths at battery, starter motor, back of engine block (injectors).
Also does the fuel pump sound OK.
Jon S said:
Help, my car is running like a bag o' nails!
I went out for a blast a few weeks ago in my 350i and it was running great. Came home, put it in the garage, no problem. 5 days later I started the car up again, backed out of the garage and pulled on to the road, when the car started misfiring, hesitating and generally running crap. I carried on to see if it was damp and got better as the engine warmed up. It didnt. When it was warm it was still missing and was struggling to idle on about 400 - 500rpm.
I ve checked the ignition timing which is spot on at 4' BTDC and have just put some new HT leads on. Its still running crap, but the new leads look nice!
I m going to try a new coil next. I have been on Rimmers site and found a new coil GCL143 for a Rov V8/ TR8. Can someone confirm this is the right coil for my 89 350i and am I on the right lines, checking the lgnition system or have you got any other ideas how it can go from running great to crap overnight? It starts ok and runs for as normal for about 30 secs to a minute then starts missing.
Thanks in advance
Jon
Get a Mallory or a Blaster 2....I went out for a blast a few weeks ago in my 350i and it was running great. Came home, put it in the garage, no problem. 5 days later I started the car up again, backed out of the garage and pulled on to the road, when the car started misfiring, hesitating and generally running crap. I carried on to see if it was damp and got better as the engine warmed up. It didnt. When it was warm it was still missing and was struggling to idle on about 400 - 500rpm.
I ve checked the ignition timing which is spot on at 4' BTDC and have just put some new HT leads on. Its still running crap, but the new leads look nice!
I m going to try a new coil next. I have been on Rimmers site and found a new coil GCL143 for a Rov V8/ TR8. Can someone confirm this is the right coil for my 89 350i and am I on the right lines, checking the lgnition system or have you got any other ideas how it can go from running great to crap overnight? It starts ok and runs for as normal for about 30 secs to a minute then starts missing.
Thanks in advance
Jon
Check the connector into the injector resistor pack.
On mine (1985 390 with Flapper) the resistor pack is mounted to the passenger side inner wing and has a bundle (12-16) of fairly heavy duty wires going into it.
These wires carry a fairly large amount of current and if the connectors corrode this can cause the injectors to open inconsistently. It is simple enough to check, while the car is idling (stuttering along) then grab hold of the loom and push it towards the resistor pack while wiggling it a little. If the revs pick up then you have found the trouble.
It might go away for a few weeks but will probably return.
You need to clean up the plug and socket and check the springiness of all the socket bits, check to se if there is any visible corrosion and clean it off. Make sure it is running sweetly then use vaseline on both plug and socket.
The vaseline is not acting as a lubricant, more as a seal to exclude air and help prevent further corrosion. I believe that some of the racers used to dismantle the resistor pack, plug and socket and then permanently solder the resistors into the loom for reliability.
Problems that occur while you are away from the car are generally down to corrosion of electrical contacts.
Another quick check is to break and remake the two Lucas plugs on the Dissy Amp, I have had this one go slightly dodgy on me in the past.
Russ
On mine (1985 390 with Flapper) the resistor pack is mounted to the passenger side inner wing and has a bundle (12-16) of fairly heavy duty wires going into it.
These wires carry a fairly large amount of current and if the connectors corrode this can cause the injectors to open inconsistently. It is simple enough to check, while the car is idling (stuttering along) then grab hold of the loom and push it towards the resistor pack while wiggling it a little. If the revs pick up then you have found the trouble.
It might go away for a few weeks but will probably return.
You need to clean up the plug and socket and check the springiness of all the socket bits, check to se if there is any visible corrosion and clean it off. Make sure it is running sweetly then use vaseline on both plug and socket.
The vaseline is not acting as a lubricant, more as a seal to exclude air and help prevent further corrosion. I believe that some of the racers used to dismantle the resistor pack, plug and socket and then permanently solder the resistors into the loom for reliability.
Problems that occur while you are away from the car are generally down to corrosion of electrical contacts.
Another quick check is to break and remake the two Lucas plugs on the Dissy Amp, I have had this one go slightly dodgy on me in the past.
Russ
For a replacement coil: Bosch as advised by Mark Adams. Think you can find the part number with a search on this forum.
Agree with mentioned before: Rotor and dizzy cap could be the problem.
But would like to add a standard issue as well, which is our all time favourite coolant temperature sensor (I had same symptoms and it was this sensor).
Rob
Agree with mentioned before: Rotor and dizzy cap could be the problem.
But would like to add a standard issue as well, which is our all time favourite coolant temperature sensor (I had same symptoms and it was this sensor).
Rob
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