Re: E30 engine problem

[alex.fadeev@xxxxxxxxxxx]

staub <jstaub@domain.elided> wrote:
> If you have 100k or more on the engine, the problem might be a bad 
> fuel pump.

Jim,
A bad fuel pump would not instantaneously cut engine power. It would 
starve it from fuel causing all sorts of sputtering, but not instant cut 
off. 
That E30 has two fuel pumps (in tank and transfer). I had one of those 
cars and both pumps were original at 213K miles when I sold it.
My money is on an electrical problem. Either the DME, the coil or a sensor 
(crank shaft position, etc).

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Tdb1946@domain.elided>
> > My daughter's 89 325i suddenly developed a running problem. It will be
> > running fine, then suddenly engine quits running, no ignition I 
suppose,
> > but a second later catches up again and runs fine for a while. Problem 

> > is intermittent, but is happening more often and stays "off" longer,
> > sometimes several seconds.Of course, the check engine light came on 
the
> > first time this happened, but went off later and comes on each time 
the
> > car hiccups. I have not tried yet to read the code. Should the code 
> > reveal the problem? 

Tom,
Yes, reading the CE code can be very helpful. Not always, but more often 
than not.
Read the code by following the execrator pressing DIY method (see my post 
on the subject from earlier today) and let us know what you find.

> > Could this be ECU going bad? When this occurs, gauges and radio stay 
on 
> > until engine fires up again. Thanks for any help, ideas.

ECU/DME/Motronic can easily be going bad. 
~$200 for a used one, $1K from the dealer. 
You need to do more trouble shooting before you start swapping parts.

alex f

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