Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up

[318isfolife]

hey if it is your fuel pump not sending the fuel rail enough fuel for start up couldn't you just turn the key to the on position wait for the beeps to stop then do it again and maybe one more time. would that not prime the shit out of your injectors enough that it has enough fuel for start up and doesn't create that lean condition and keep the engine from detonating upon start up

[sports.racer]

if i disconnect this connector that is under the plastic piece against the fire wall that covers your harness the problem stops but the car has no power. the connector is a single wire black with gray tracer or gray with black tracer can't remember the colors

What is that wire for? I had taken the cabin air fan out to remove some trash and when I was putting it all back together noticed that it was apart. I hooked them back up but can't say for sure if I knocked them apart when I worked on it or if they were apart before I started. Seems like this all started after that. May have to unhook and see what happens.

[roundel318]

hey if it is your fuel pump not sending the fuel rail enough fuel for start up couldn't you just turn the key to the on position wait for the beeps to stop then do it again and maybe one more time. would that not prime the shit out of your injectors enough that it has enough fuel for start up and doesn't create that lean condition and keep the engine from detonating upon start up

There are 2 pumps, one that primes the system when you turn the key to on, and the primary that starts running when the engine starts up.

[roundel318]

There are fuel relay's under that, you might want to investigate further on that wiring.
There are E30 factory wiring diagrams available on the net

[twright]

I hearby declare the problem in my 318is to be FIXED.  (Or to be now so minor that I'm going to choose to ignore the very minor nature of what's left)

Here are the symptoms I used to have:

Restarting the engine warm would result in the engine starting instantly and idling nicely, but then it would shortly result in a 30-60 second interval of missing, coughing and sometimes the engine would die.

I have found two causes for this issue:

1.)  The ICV (Idle Control Valve) was backwards!  There is an arrow cast into the body of the ICV.  This arrow must point "down".   (The flow must be away from the valve cover.)

2.)  A defective TPS (Throttle Position Sensor).  I replaced this sensor.

The result is that I can now start the engine warm without worrying about the car not going anywhere for 30-60 seconds.  It still might hesitate for a second, but it goes away almost instantaneously.  That's close enough for me.

I hope this fixes everyone else's issue.

[roundel318]

I hearby declare the problem in my 318is to be FIXED.  (Or to be now so minor that I'm going to choose to ignore the very minor nature of what's left)

Here are the symptoms I used to have:

Restarting the engine warm would result in the engine starting instantly and idling nicely, but then it would shortly result in a 30-60 second interval of missing, coughing and sometimes the engine would die.

I have found two causes for this issue:

1.)  The ICV (Idle Control Valve) was backwards!  There is an arrow cast into the body of the ICV.  This arrow must point "down".   (The flow must be away from the valve cover.)

2.)  A defective TPS (Throttle Position Sensor).  I replaced this sensor.

The result is that I can now start the engine warm without worrying about the car not going anywhere for 30-60 seconds.  It still might hesitate for a second, but it goes away almost instantaneously.  That's close enough for me.

I hope this fixes everyone else's issue.

Your ICV definately works best when installed correctly, others report odd behaviour with it reversed.

Good to see the TPS helped, they definately play a roll in the process

[sports.racer]

What is that wire for? I had taken the cabin air fan out to remove some trash and when I was putting it all back together noticed that it was apart. I hooked them back up but can't say for sure if I knocked them apart when I worked on it or if they were apart before I started. Seems like this all started after that. May have to unhook and see what happens.

That wire tells the DME whether or not a cat is installed. It should be disconnected if you have a cat in the car.

[jrobie79]

bump for anything else........nothing worked

[///m42 sport]

K Im looking for ideas also developed same problems recently.