Re: 89 320i Intermittent Missing

["Allan Williams" <allanw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi there.

I would pull off the ICV (Idle control valve) and clean that - it might n=
ot
help high engine speed lurching... but it might too.

Puor a little degreaser (like crc or wd-40 "lubricant") through it and th=
en
fit it back on. My E30 325i runs MUCH better now that I have done that
(After I got the car stuck in mud it wouldn't idle and I had to rinse the
ICV out - now it is purr-fect :-))
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Ciaran Moynihan <ciaran.moynihan@domain.elided>
To: <bmw-digest@domain.elided>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 12:01 PM
Subject: 89 320i Intermittent Missing


Hi

I'm new to the list and was wondering if any of you have come across a ve=
ry
strange very intermittent problem that I've been having with my 1989 320i.

Occasionally while cruising or accelerating the engine will die for a sec=
ond
and then pick up again. This results in a very annoying 'lurch' in the ca=
r.
There is no spluttering or fading power loss associated with this, the
engine just seems to shut of for a second and then pick up again. This ma=
y
happen 4 or five times during one long trip and then might not happen aga=
in
for weeks.

Once or twice the engine has just died for no reason at a steady tick ove=
r
and started easily again. The car can also take a long time to start very
occasionally and sometimes I have had to leave it for a few minutes befor=
e
it would start. There is however no strong smell of fuel which I would
associate with 'flooding' when the engine is hot. The Tick over is normal=
ly
a little rough but steady.

I have checked all Wiring to the ECU, Engine sensors, Fuel Pump and Relay
and all seem OK. Otherwise everything else is fine with the Car.

Has anyone come across a problem like this. I am considering paying a Bos=
ch
Engine Management specialist lots of =A3=A3=A3 to run a full set of tests=
 on the
car but as it is an intermittent problem they will not guarantee me that
they will find it.

The Motronic ECU is supposed to store fault codes. Is there any way to
download and analyse these without specialist equipment or is there any
other way to diagnose this problem.

I would appreciate any suggestions anyone might have on this either via t=
he
digest or direct email.

Thanks

Ciaran

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