the old ladie is screaming at me??? (my beemer)

[92BMW318is]

okay guys, this is whats going on now....
The 318is is now running and now its screeching at me,
i have yet to figure out whats doing it tho....

maybe one of you guy can help a me out,

now when i start the 92bmw318is, it runs of course,
then when i reverse it is shooots into reverse, like no ones business, (thats another problem, cant control backing up speed) but then when i pop it into first the car makes this loud ass screeching noise, ill push the clutch in and it still does the same thing keeps schreeching and then ill pop it into nutreal still the noise contuines,
 
okay since ive adressed that problem there is another one,
the freaken lights flicker, now it does this, then it also starts to idle funnny as shit. going up to 2rpm and then back down to 1rpm repeatedly.
like every second it fluctuates, but then i messed with the throttle chord loosed it its not doing it as bad but its still doing it...

now then the car stalls occasionally, its unreal how many problems im having with this car,  mean its a fucking nice car. but has sooo many problems.
the damn thing only has 123,000 miles.

anyways if you know whats wrong please inform me onto what i can doo to fix the problem

also if i resold this car giving the miles and no rust on the car what so ever, and the near perfect interior how much do you think i can get. ( pics in my profile album, well there is atleast one)

P.S. could it be caused by a wrong chord pluged into the wrong outlet. from the front power distribution box. i have worked on cars before but nothing compared to this over engineered bmw, i love it tho,




well thanks to all the guys that share some input on this situation of mine, and ladies if there are any on here

[Choking Hazard]

Do you have a book?  Have you checked the idle control valve (icv)?  Sounds like something might be whacked there...
It is a canister thing between the engine and firewall, with two rubber hoses and a plug on the top.  Maybe it is shorting out somehow?  Also, how new is the batery?  A bad battery causes bizarre problems with fuel injection brains...

[92BMW318is]

Do you have a book?  Have you checked the idle control valve (icv)?  Sounds like something might be whacked there...
It is a canister thing between the engine and firewall, with two rubber hoses and a plug on the top.  Maybe it is shorting out somehow?  Also, how new is the batery?  A bad battery causes bizarre problems with fuel injection brains...

yeah i have a book and i know where the idle control valve is, i was just hoping it wasnt that because it costs nearly 200 dollars at auto zone.
im not sure how old the battery is but it might be a year old, i had too take out the starter and replace it with a new one, had to take off the entire intake manifold. i was thinking i plugged in the wrong connector from the front power distribution box.  but im unsure of what went were couldnt find a real diagram on it, the one in the book i bought is like this old ass old school diagram, and doesnt really explain much.

but thanks for your input, keep them coming if you have anymore ideas,
its very much appreciated

[DesktopDave]

I'm not sure...your post is hard to read.  I'm thinking you might have two problems:

A big vac leak or bad idle control valve making the engine idle bounce from 1k to 2k rpm.
Stuck starter.

The vac leak or bad ICV will make the engine idle unstable.  It'll almost stall, then go up to 2k, then back down.  The alternator won't make power at 200rpm so the lights will dim.  Do the hose delete mod that's on this site.

I'm no expert on gearboxes but it doesn't sound like a tranny problem  It sounds to me like you might have starter that's hanging up.  BMW has a recall on ignition switches too, they hang up & keep the starter engaged to the flywheel.  If that's the trouble you'll need a new switch & lock.  Search this site for directions on pulling the lock cylinder out of the ignition switch.

Less likely...maybe a cracked throttle cable or cruise control cable is sticking the throttle open.  BMW put out a recall on broken cables at the plastic adjusting nut.  Check for binding or a cracked adjusting nut on the throttle body mounts.

Think of the bright side - you have a hybrid gas/electric car now...

[DesktopDave]

Just saw your new post.  Check the wiring on the starter; I'm not sure if it can be wired wrong...but it's possible.  Don't buy a new ICV until you check or replace all the vac hoses.  Did you use new paper gaskets on the intake?  That might be your trouble right there.  The metal TB gasket usually doesn't need replaced.

Get yourself a 9v battery & connect it to the ICV leads.  It'll hum & the little door will spin if it's good.

[92BMW318is]

Just saw your new post.  Check the wiring on the starter; I'm not sure if it can be wired wrong...but it's possible.  Don't buy a new ICV until you check or replace all the vac hoses.  Did you use new paper gaskets on the intake?  That might be your trouble right there.  The metal TB gasket usually doesn't need replaced.

Get yourself a 9v battery & connect it to the ICV leads.  It'll hum & the little door will spin if it's good.

when i put the intake manifold back on i used the old gasket, dude at wades foreign autos said that it would reseal. it was made out of metal wasnt paper.
im sorry but what is a ICV? nvm intake control value, thats a good idea tho

[92BMW318is]

I'm not sure...your post is hard to read.  I'm thinking you might have two problems:

A big vac leak or bad idle control valve making the engine idle bounce from 1k to 2k rpm.
Stuck starter.

The vac leak or bad ICV will make the engine idle unstable.  It'll almost stall, then go up to 2k, then back down.  The alternator won't make power at 200rpm so the lights will dim.  Do the hose delete mod that's on this site.

I'm no expert on gearboxes but it doesn't sound like a tranny problem  It sounds to me like you might have starter that's hanging up.  BMW has a recall on ignition switches too, they hang up & keep the starter engaged to the flywheel.  If that's the trouble you'll need a new switch & lock.  Search this site for directions on pulling the lock cylinder out of the ignition switch.

Less likely...maybe a cracked throttle cable or cruise control cable is sticking the throttle open.  BMW put out a recall on broken cables at the plastic adjusting nut.  Check for binding or a cracked adjusting nut on the throttle body mounts.

Think of the bright side - you have a hybrid gas/electric car now...

could the loud screeching noise be the alternator belt?

[DesktopDave]

when i put the intake manifold back on i used the old gasket, dude at wades foreign autos said that it would reseal. it was made out of metal wasnt paper.
im sorry but what is a ICV? nvm intake control value, thats a good idea tho

Yup, the Bosch Idle Control Valve.  They suck.  But a vac leak is far more likely, especially if the manifold was put back together wrong, or the mess of hoses is cracked.  It's a rat's nest under there...some hoses carry a vacuum, some carry coolant.  Do a search for hose delete mod...it'll lay out the problem for you.

The two lower manifold gaskets (upper to lower & lower to head) aren't metal.  They don't reseal.  There are two metal gaskets between the manifold/throttle body heater plates/upper manifold IIRC.  They are metal and can be re-used from what I've heard.

I don't want to sound like an opinionated prick, but please stop taking the car to a mechanic...you'll never be able to afford it (or it'll never be fixed).

[92BMW318is]

Yup, the Bosch Idle Control Valve.  They suck.  But a vac leak is far more likely, especially if the manifold was put back together wrong, or the mess of hoses is cracked.  It's a rat's nest under there...some hoses carry a vacuum, some carry coolant.  Do a search for hose delete mod...it'll lay out the problem for you.

The two lower manifold gaskets (upper to lower & lower to head) aren't metal.  They don't reseal.  There are two metal gaskets between the manifold/throttle body heater plates/upper manifold IIRC.  They are metal and can be re-used from what I've heard.

I don't want to sound like an opinionated prick, but please stop taking the car to a mechanic...you'll never be able to afford it (or it'll never be fixed).

im not sure if you are saying take it to a mechanic or dont take it to a mechanic, i haven't yet. i went to buy new gaskets and the guy said at wades said that i didn't need them, but thank you for all your suggestions and ideas

[92BMW318is]

Yup, the Bosch Idle Control Valve.  They suck.  But a vac leak is far more likely, especially if the manifold was put back together wrong, or the mess of hoses is cracked.  It's a rat's nest under there...some hoses carry a vacuum, some carry coolant.  Do a search for hose delete mod...it'll lay out the problem for you.

The two lower manifold gaskets (upper to lower & lower to head) aren't metal.  They don't reseal.  There are two metal gaskets between the manifold/throttle body heater plates/upper manifold IIRC.  They are metal and can be re-used from what I've heard.

I don't want to sound like an opinionated prick, but please stop taking the car to a mechanic...you'll never be able to afford it (or it'll never be fixed).

okay i have another question for you man, if the intake to the header isnt sealed then how far could one drive the car with out anything going worse with it or breaking

[Choking Hazard]

intake loose:  runs like shit.
exhaust loose: will mess up sealing surface on head to exhaust after awhile...

[DesktopDave]

It'll run but not well.  The less air getting in there, the better she'll run.  Unfiltered un-metered air isn't good for the motor, but BMW overbuilt them.  You should be OK.