Advice on misfire
Discussion
Hi all hoping somebody may have experienced the same problem as I am currently having. Car is a 1997 328i. Been fine for the two years I have owned it but is now developing an intermittent misfire which seems to be getting more and more frequent.
Seems to occur mostly when driving slow, stop start traffic or say 40 mph limits. I can usually cruise on motorway with no issues. Vehicle has a hiccup where the rev counter drops out for an instant and then car is very slow and misfiring. Feels like it's lost a cylinder but much less power left than I would expect.
I initially thought maybe a coil pack is on it's way out but just managed to get it home with misfire present so left it running and disconnected each coil in turn. Every one resulted in a noticeable drop in engine speed and you could also hear the difference. I noticed upon reving, I could hear the engine pinking so am now thinking the timing is out a lit when it is missing. This would also explain the lack of power.
Every time it has happened so far I have been able to clear it by keying off and then restarting the engine. It can then either be fine for the rest of the journey or start doing it again at random times. I don't get any engine warning lamp either.
Any advice gratefully received. I don't want to just keep throwing money at it until something fixes it if possible.
Seems to occur mostly when driving slow, stop start traffic or say 40 mph limits. I can usually cruise on motorway with no issues. Vehicle has a hiccup where the rev counter drops out for an instant and then car is very slow and misfiring. Feels like it's lost a cylinder but much less power left than I would expect.
I initially thought maybe a coil pack is on it's way out but just managed to get it home with misfire present so left it running and disconnected each coil in turn. Every one resulted in a noticeable drop in engine speed and you could also hear the difference. I noticed upon reving, I could hear the engine pinking so am now thinking the timing is out a lit when it is missing. This would also explain the lack of power.
Every time it has happened so far I have been able to clear it by keying off and then restarting the engine. It can then either be fine for the rest of the journey or start doing it again at random times. I don't get any engine warning lamp either.
Any advice gratefully received. I don't want to just keep throwing money at it until something fixes it if possible.
Edited by mini me on Sunday 8th May 16:46
Yeah I have been trying to get them. Heard that the method is pressing the accelerator pedal 5 times with ignition on but doesn't seem to be working on mine. Thunk it may not apply to my model year. I'm hoping we have an omniscan at work I can use but been on holiday last week so no chance to check yet.
If it's any consolation, mine has done the exact same thing a few times, although it hasn't done it so badly that it's required a "reboot" for a few months now. It just tends to miss every so often at idle.
I'd not got as far as attempting to diagnose it to any great extent because it's barely noticeable day-to-day (just slightly irritating), but these sound like some good suggestions in this thread.
OP - did you get any further with resolving your issue?
I'd not got as far as attempting to diagnose it to any great extent because it's barely noticeable day-to-day (just slightly irritating), but these sound like some good suggestions in this thread.
OP - did you get any further with resolving your issue?
. Had pretty much the exact same symptoms on My 328i. One DIY cam sensor replacement later and the car's been fine ever since!. 
I havent had a chance to fix it yet and unfortunately cannot get hold of a code reader. I have ordered a new cam sensor though which i am hoping to get on tonight if possible. All the symptoms sound the same as above and i have read lots of similar stories on other sites so fingers crossed it will fix it. Will let you know when its done.
cheers again for the advice
cheers again for the advice
Unfortunately the new cam sensor doesnt seem to have cured the problem. It was fine for a couple of days which made me think I had sorted it but then last night the engien cut out on me on the way home. It would then crank but not fire for a minute or two after which it fired up and got me home fine. How annoying!
mini me said:
Unfortunately the new cam sensor doesnt seem to have cured the problem. It was fine for a couple of days which made me think I had sorted it but then last night the engien cut out on me on the way home. It would then crank but not fire for a minute or two after which it fired up and got me home fine. How annoying!
Where did you get the cam sensor from?Ok an update. Not had much time for anything lately so slow going with the car but last night I fitted another cam sensor. Thinking that the cheap one had made a difference, although it was now just stalling, I purchased a decent quality vdo sensor. Tonight on the way home it did the same missfire type thing. I'm a bit gutted now as it cost me 80 quid and I've got nowhere. Don't really know what to do next. Supposed to be off to Newquay next week too.
mini me said:
Ok an update. Not had much time for anything lately so slow going with the car but last night I fitted another cam sensor. Thinking that the cheap one had made a difference, although it was now just stalling, I purchased a decent quality vdo sensor. Tonight on the way home it did the same missfire type thing. I'm a bit gutted now as it cost me 80 quid and I've got nowhere. Don't really know what to do next. Supposed to be off to Newquay next week too.
Maybe get the garage to look at the solenoid valve that has something to do with engine timing, as I said that's what caused the same problem in my E39.
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