Re: m42 stumbling--cam timing?

["David Orr" <orrs@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Shaun,

    Don't know if you have a timing belt or chain but as they get older they
stretch which affects the timing between the crankshaft and the cam. How
many miles are on the timing belt/chain? I have see in cars where the cam
has jumped a tooth. You should be able to check the cam to crank position
fairly easy. Don't have a manual or procedure to tell you exactly how to do
it. Usually  you line a mark up on the crankshaft or flywheel and the cam
gear
will have a line up mark that is supposed to be in a certain place.

Maybe someone else can tell you the exact locaitons of the marks.

Dave Orr

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Shaun Dustin" <sdustin@domain.elided>
To: <bmw@domain.elided>
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 9:49 AM
Subject: m42 stumbling--cam timing?


> Well, I'm at it again with my '91 318i. After replacing everything I could
> think of and that was suggested by list members, I caved and took it in to
> the dealer. They spent 3 hours messing with it and finally came out to
tell
> me they had no idea; that the only fault code was from me disconnecting
the
> airflow sensor when I was replacing some other stuff. The mech shrugged
his
> shoulders and said maybe it was the cam timing. I admit it feels like a
> timing problem, but ignition timing is not adjustable, and I have never
> heard of cam timing. He wants to pull the head and check it ($250).
>
> The car runs, and the computer can mostly compensate for whatever the
> problem is, but the crisp, smooth throttle response I've come to expect is
> gone.
>
> My repair manual doesn't give a procedure for or discuss the possibility
of
> adjusting the cams. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Or is this a Car
> Talk "Bo-oo-gus" moment?
>
> I have replaced the following:
> O2 sensor
> Plugs
> ICV
> Coolant temp sensor
> Checked coils--OK
> Checked plug wires-OK
> Fuel pressure ok
> Manifold vac. OK
>
>
> Shaun Dustin
> --
> to be removed from bmw, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
> or email "unsubscribe bmw" to majordomo@domain.elided

------------------------------