Messages

1

Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: December 15, 2012, 10:05:09 AM »

I haven't pulled the wires one at a time since it's clear that the ignition (or fuel) cut is complete--it's not just one or two cylinders not firing, it's definitely all of them.

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Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: December 14, 2012, 09:20:19 AM »

Keflaman--I've actually tried that exactly!  It was one of the first things I did when the problem appeared.  

For my own peace of mind, I think I've comfortably exhausted all ignition/fuel delivery/DME/sensor possibilities and need to move on to grounds.  Since the DME was throwing codes for two completely unrelated components (cam sensor and diff speed sensor), that sounds to me like a bad ground that's causing problems for a few different systems.  Will start with alternator ground.

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Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: December 13, 2012, 05:30:52 PM »

...sorry for that blank post.  It won't seem to let me delete it...

4

Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: December 13, 2012, 05:18:29 PM »

Hey, Eric, just saw this and your PM--haven't been on here in a few weeks.

I haven't thrown any more time at my issue since my last post.  I've been focusing on my 325e and my new winter beater, which is a nice, rusty, dented, boring, '99 Civic hatch.  Pretty easy to justify 800 bucks on something you know will run through the winter without giving you any guff.  Too bad about the complete lack of steering feel, but whatcha gonna do?

I fired up the 318i today for the first time in a few weeks.  Got it up to temp and took it for a drive.  Didn't misbehave at all, but these days it's going for 30mins or more before acting up.

Next job is going to be grounds.  Gonna find every one I can and clean it up.  Battery connections are good, so I'll go for the alternator next and proceed from there.

It's hilarious that yours and mine are doing the same thing but under opposite conditions!  Mine runs fine cold but sputters when warm, yours sputters when cold but runs fine when warm.  I expect we're chasing the same gremlin, here.

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Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: December 13, 2012, 05:17:33 PM »

_

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Engine management / 0W30 Synthetic

« on: November 21, 2012, 03:18:08 PM »

I agree with all of this.  The 0-weight oils will leak more, regardless (especially at lower temps, where 20w50 is like molasses), but with frosty Alberta temps to deal with I'd just accept some leakage and go as thin as you can.  

What it probably comes down to, realistically, is whether or not you run a block heater.  If you don't, you'll be best off with a light oil like your 0w30 or 5w30.  If you do, you can comfortably stay with thick oil year round.  

Here in Southern Ontario, I've always run 20w50 in the summer and 10w40 in the winter.  It's sometimes a bit of a hard crank on those rare -20 mornings, but not too bad!

7

Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: November 09, 2012, 06:08:11 PM »

Does anyone have a quick link for DME pin tests?  I've just been through that on my Eta but haven't been able to find a list of tests for an M42.  Figure it'd be easier to do that and test a bunch of sensors all in one go rather than yanking stuff out one at a time...

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Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: November 06, 2012, 09:56:33 PM »

No, Dave, you're right--I forgot about the air temp and coolant sensors.  That'll be job one tomorrow.

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Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: November 06, 2012, 04:33:46 PM »

I swapped out the speed sensor from the parts car.  After putting about 100kms on the car today, it was working fine--no cutout at any point, running reliably to 6500rpm.  Then, just as I was almost home, I ran the engine fully out in 2nd gear, and it sputtered at 6k rpm.  Did a stomp test and it threw no codes.

I also had in in for an emissions test, today, and it failed the acceleration tests for both carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, but passed on NOx.  Passed everything at idle.

Any thoughts on any of this?

10

Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: November 02, 2012, 01:01:27 PM »

@Avtovaz (nice handle, btw):  Funny you should mention the speed sensor.  I finally broke down and took the car in to a local German car specialist (whose daughter I dated in High School...) to have him take a crack at it.  He said his diagnostic scan turned up codes for the cam sensor and the speed sensor.  

All he did with the cam sensor was fiddle with connections.  Didn't do anything with the speed sensor.  What would the speed sensor have to do with anything, though?  I didn't figure it would have any effect on engine management.

@axisofjustice:  If this speed sensor business doesn't lead to any insight I'll swap the fp out of the parts car and give it a try!

11

Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: September 02, 2012, 05:31:39 PM »

I get proper resistance on the 1-2 test on the cam sensor, but infinite on 1-3 and 2-3.  Both other cam sensors in my collection are the same.

Are there any test values for checking the corresponding terminals on the harness side of the connection?

12

Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: August 28, 2012, 03:43:56 PM »

^I see how a weak pump could cause low revving, but there's a distinctive "leaning out" feeling to fuel starvation whereas this is a definite, sharp, electronic cut-out.  Like I said earlier, it's like a rev limiter at 3k.

I've been focusing on getting my 325e running properly for the last while, but I'm back onto the M42 again.  I'll go test the sensor connector pins now and see what I get for resistance.

13

General Topics / ansa catback worthit?

« on: August 28, 2012, 03:25:15 PM »

Yeah, I've wondered about one, too.  They're pretty cheap.  My parts car came wish a cheap Bosal system on it, which broke in pretty short order (the pipe snapped right in front of the muffler--just snapped, no rusting or anything), and the Ansa system is about the same price, so I figure it's about as crappy.  

Maybe give it a try with a coat of barbecue paint...?

14

Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: May 31, 2012, 02:44:29 PM »

@Romkasponka:  Nice!  I didn't know that sort of thing existed for these cars.  Thanks for the heads-up.

@DesktopDave:  The crank sensor clearance is fine--that was one of the first things I checked.  The pins for the cam sensor had occurred to me, too, but I haven't checked that yet--figured I'd exhaust all sensor/electrical possibilities before checking for mechanical damage.  I also haven't checked the resistance for the cam/crank sensor grounds, but that is an excellent suggestion and I'll try that next.

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Engine management / Unable to rev past 3k...

« on: May 27, 2012, 11:35:03 PM »

INPA...?

I may eventually take it to someone for professional help, but it hasn't seen a mechanic in four years and I don't want to break my streak of self-reliance!