Keep stalling my E30 Auto

[Cotty]

I have had a slight problem for a couple of months. I have a 325i auto and when trying to pull away from stationary in drive the revs drop and I have actually stalled it a couple of times. Stalling an auto

I dont use my car much, last time was last weekend, a quick trip to the shops only a few miles.

I got in her today, disarmed the imobiliser, turned the key and nothing. All the dash warning lights came on but nothing not a sound not even a click. I got the battery charger out and put it on charge for 3 hours, Let it rest then connected and started, was a bit lumpy and took a while to settle into a comfortable idle. After a while I turned it off put my tools and charger away and thought I would take her for a run.

Started up and idling fine, into drive, little throttle... .....chugga ...........chugga.........chugga ........ chugga.............. .................chugga..... ...................................chugga then it died, there was a sligh whiring sound just after it died.

Any thoughts?

[Conian]

Give the battery a good proper charge. Or get it started n take it out for a decent run.

It's possible that your battery is near dead, when it's stalled, did you have a lot of electrical items switched on? Demister, fan etc? It can put extra strain on the altenator and therefore the engine, causing it to stall out at low revs.

My 944 has stalled out a couple of times, but each time I knew exactly why, low idling with power steering on full lock and other things just slowing down the motor just enough to stall.

Ya could try turning the idle up slightly. Or of course, there may be a bigger problem.

[derin100]

Thermo Time Switch? ICV?

[Cotty]

Conian said:

Give the battery a good proper charge. Or get it started n take it out for a decent run.

It's possible that your battery is near dead, when it's stalled, did you have a lot of electrical items switched on? Demister, fan etc? It can put extra strain on the altenator and therefore the engine, causing it to stall out at low revs.

The batter is less than 6 months old so should be in good nick. It has been hesitating when pulling away from a stationary position for a couple of months regardless of electrical items, revs drop but you can catch it, back off the peddle and it picks up.

Its a constant thing not just after leaving for a while or a long run.

[pmanson]

Interesting...

My 525i is showing similar problems (lumpy idle, occasional stall).

I also have a problem with the sub in the car (came with the car). Occasionally it has a mind of its own and just starts "thumping". This stops when I switch the HU off. I have noticed that there seems to be a hum for the HU even with it switched off (like it's still drawing power).

I'll keep an eye on this thread I think!

Phill

[Conian]

pmanson said:

I also have a problem with the sub in the car (came with the car). Occasionally it has a mind of its own and just starts "thumping". This stops when I switch the HU off. I have noticed that there seems to be a hum for the HU even with it switched off (like it's still drawing power).

I'll keep an eye on this thread I think!

Phill

You mean a hum from the sub-woofer even when the stereo is off? Ya stereo should have a REMOTE wire, which should be connected to the amp that runs your sub, sounds like the amp doesn't know that it's not needed. Occasional thumps suggests other wiring probs.

[pmanson]

Conian said:

pmanson said:

I also have a problem with the sub in the car (came with the car). Occasionally it has a mind of its own and just starts "thumping". This stops when I switch the HU off. I have noticed that there seems to be a hum for the HU even with it switched off (like it's still drawing power).

I'll keep an eye on this thread I think!

Phill

You mean a hum from the sub-woofer even when the stereo is off? Ya stereo should have a REMOTE wire, which should be connected to the amp that runs your sub, sounds like the amp doesn't know that it's not needed. Occasional thumps suggests other wiring probs.

No it's an occasionally thump from sub when the stereo is on. Then I have noticed a hum from the Head Unit when it's switched off.

I think the occasional thump is an earthing issue in the boot (the sub's coming out in the next week or so for a booze cruise so I can check it all over then... it's one of those all in one units with a built in amp I think).

[wrighty78]

Cotty said:

Any thoughts?

What about relays? DME / fuel pump relay perhaps?

[fixedwheelnut]

E 30 s have to re-learn their adjustments if the battery is low or disconnected, disconnect the battery again for 5 mins then re-connect and start the engine and let it idle for 20 minutes, if it doesn't re-learn then there might be a throttle switch fault/ idle stabiliser fault which are easy enough to test.

[Cotty]

fixedwheelnut said:

E 30 s have to re-learn their adjustments

If you mean the ECU then thats anther factor as its been chipped. It was running really lumpy when I managed to start it but settled down after a bit.