RE: E30 Fuel pump problem

["Tim Piscitelli" <tim.piscitelli@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I was having the same problem with my 88 325is and solved it with a new main
relay.  The cost was only $10.40 at the dealer.  The existing relay was the
original, dated 1988.  The symptoms were the same, not starting on occasion
and cutting out intermittently.  At about $10, it would be worth a try.

Tim

> I am having an irritating intermittent problem with my 89 325i with
motronic
> 1.1 engine management.  Perhaps someone can help me with the
> troubleshooting:
>
> The symptoms are that intermittently, the car will turn over and not
start.
> Also, lately it has been periodically stalling.  I have done some
> troubleshooting suggested by Bentley, but it is frustrating b/c the
problem
> is intermittent.  Here is what I have done:
> I determined that the fuel pump is not running when the problem occurs.
The
> relay appears to be good and the pump runs fine with it jumpered.  In the
> midst of my troubleshooting, I turned on the ignition and noticed that the
> idle control valve intermittently has power when the problem with the fuel
> pump is occurring.  This seems to point to something with the main relay,
> but at some points, I have had power to the control valve (it hums) and
the
> fuel pump was not running with the car turning over.  Seems odd because,
as
> far as I know, all of the juice running through the main relay goes
through
> one contactor.  The only thing I can figure is that the DME is failing.  I
> don't even want to know what it costs to replace that!
>
> Has anyone had any similar problems or know where I might look next.  As
of
> right now, the problem is not occurring, so I am at a troubleshooting
> standstill.  My next move was going to be to take readings at the DME
> connector to check for wiring problems.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Gregg Ott
> ottg001@domain.elided
> 89 325i
> 99 323ic

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