M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: Bmer318i on March 02, 2007, 02:34:05 PM

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: Bmer318i on March 02, 2007, 02:34:05 PM

In the past years I have been building 240's SC's and other toyotas. I have recently been on an E30 kick and decided to pick up my new DD being a 318i with 215,000k miles last week..

So last night I was getting on the highway when my car cut out, then picked back up for a second, then when I go to give it gas it just bogs down and has no acceleration. I pulled over with the car still running. It was so sluggish, I couldn't even get it into 2nd gear. Now it will start and then just die after a few seconds. Any ideas on what the problem may be? Ive never worked on a BMW and didn't know if this sounded like a common problem.

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: badboypolar on March 02, 2007, 03:14:38 PM

Well I don't know about BMW specific things, but you could look at the fuel filter and fuel pump for starters.

Title: Sounds like my problem
Post by: G-Man on March 02, 2007, 06:26:38 PM

I started pulling parts from my 91 318i parts car. I started swapping parts, started with coil pack then the ECU.  My ECU was bad,  it was night and day difference after I swapped out the ECU.  

The previous owner sold the car to me cheap, he spent a fortune trying to diagnose the problem.  The stalling out problem would never duplicate while at the shop, I have a brand new fuel pump, relays, filters, etc. .. that shops installed trying to figure out the problem.  I had to buy a parts car to diagnose the problem for $450 but that has paid for itself.  

It sounds like you need to take a trip to the pik-a-part yard.  Before you do, start looking through your back receipts to see what the PO did to the car before you got it.  

Gordon

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: magnum2066 on March 02, 2007, 10:02:35 PM

Check the spark plugs?

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: christophbmw on March 04, 2007, 05:10:08 PM

hmmm, sounds to me like youve got a vacuum leak......but it could be many things. loss of power is a tough one, go with the basics first, tune up, filters etc..

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: Bmer318i on March 04, 2007, 05:36:50 PM

yeah, i have a fuel filter at a buddies house, but unfortunately he is out of town till tomorrow, I was planning on starting with that, then doing the pump. Hopefully that will fix it, all the vacuum lines look in tact. I took the old fuel filter out, so when I throw the new one in I will see if I can hear the fuel pump when I turn the key.. Thanks for the tips!!

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: christophbmw on March 04, 2007, 05:50:23 PM

when the fuel pumps go bad on our cars the car wont run. im thinking its something else, smoke test the intake system for vacuum leaks.

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: Bmer318i on March 04, 2007, 08:39:37 PM

Yeah, I will pick up the filter tomorrow morning, but it definately won't run. I don't think it will even start up anymore.

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: Bmer318i on March 04, 2007, 08:40:53 PM

But I will make sure to check for vacuum leaks when I wake tomorrow..its late and freezing outside!!! Thanks!

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: RED IS 91 on March 05, 2007, 04:46:21 PM

I believe it will be your fuel pump.Over 200,000 miles is a lot for a pump. If it were the fuel filter then it would not just quit like you said it did.
To check your fuel pump :
1) remove back seat (lower portion) and the access panel for the pump is on the right side . I believe there are four screws holding the  panel. remove panel.
2) There should be two plugs there .One for pump power and one for fuel guage .the one in the middle with the little nuts around it is the guage.
3) disconnect the other one and with the key on you should have 12 volts . Use a  multi-meter to check . If you don't have 12 volts then you'll have to check your fuel pump relay. If you do then move on.
4) connect the pump back up and when you turn the key on or try to start there should be a hum or vibration coming from the pump. If not then I would suspect the pump is Kaputski !
When my pump went at 183,000 miles I ran wire direct from the battery to the pump to make sure it was the pump .
At 200 bucks for a pump you want to make sure yours is no good before you replace it . I replaced my pump and the car started right up.
Be very careful as you are working with gasoline and gasoline vapors! No SMOKING HERE PLEASE.
A couple of links for your assistance that can be found in the how to section.
http://zoso.no-ip.org/318i-fuelfilter.html
http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318ismaintenance.html#fuelpump
Also a couple of photos
If i've made some errors then someone on the forum will correct me I hope.:D  
good luck
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/bogeyman700/fuelpump.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/bogeyman700/fuelpump2.jpg)

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: christophbmw on March 05, 2007, 10:20:48 PM

dang, our pumps are quite predictible, mine went at 180K. similar to everybody else.

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: Bmer318i on March 06, 2007, 07:38:59 PM

Looks like its my pump.. When I turn on the ignition there is no noise from the fuel pump. I am figuring I will replace that and hopefully that will fix it!

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: RED IS 91 on March 07, 2007, 11:54:56 AM

Quote from: Bmer318i;20731

Looks like its my pump.. When I turn on the ignition there is no noise from the fuel pump. I am figuring I will replace that and hopefully that will fix it!

Look at the bright side ,if it's the pump then your good for another 200K :D

Title: 91 318i...dies getting on freeway
Post by: Bmer318i on March 07, 2007, 02:15:33 PM

True! I can't wait till it comes in, I wanna drive this thing!