Author Topic: engine needs to warm up (Read 3836 times)

polkadot_boxerman · « **on:** March 24, 2010, 10:38:55 AM »

ok, so here's some posts that I created over at e30tech. I haven't gotten any responses so I figured I'd give it a go here. Let me know what you guys think.

Just bought my car about three weeks ago and haven't even been driving it around. Waiting to sell my other car till I drive it. I'm trying to figure out and fix some things before I take the e30 on the road. I think the main thing that I need to fix is the fact that when I crank the car on I have to let it sit for a minute before it's drivable. If I crank it and try to take off right away it will loose it's power and not do anything, then I give it some gas and a couple seconds later it's revamped and can go.........

So now I'm driving the car full time because I sold my Mazda. Still having this issue. I have to crank the car and let it sit for a minute or rev it a little bit before I take off or it'll stay at about 1k rpms and not do anything and almost want to shut off, then It'll get power and be fine. What do you think this could be? fuel related? or maybe getting air somewhere? thanks guys

stomp test showed 1222.

dj91318is · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2010, 11:30:20 AM »

Ok! Not sure but it sounds like your engin dose not know that it is cold - 02 Sensor controls this. search here in the ''How To'' Section and test it, and do a stomp test to see what error codes you have. GL

polkadot_boxerman · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2010, 12:16:00 PM »

I'll search for the 02 sensor test. That's the first thing that I thought of, but I wanted to make sure before replacing.....also the stomp code i got was 1222.

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:10:38 PM »

http://m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9513

polkadot_boxerman · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:26:24 PM »

ok. So I'll pretty much go and replace what's cheap. I plan on doing an m50 swap later in the summer so I don't want to spend too much on this engine.

polkadot_boxerman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2010, 09:54:10 AM »

Could this possibly be a vacume leak somewhere also?

polkadot_boxerman · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2010, 10:07:09 PM »

also my girlfriend was driving behind me on the way home tonight and 2 times she saw red sparks come from my back end. She said she thought that I was smoking and threw out a cigarette.

fiftytakedowns · « **Reply #7 on:** April 03, 2010, 12:34:31 PM »

ive been having the same poblem for a while, never fixed it.
I jsut replaced the 02 sensor last week.

polkadot_boxerman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 03, 2010, 08:25:08 PM »

So I pulled out the spark plugs today and what do you know, the number 1 and 3 spark plugs had oil all over them. I'm totally going to blame all the start up issues on that. This has to be the valve cover gasket right? If so, how hard is that to replace?

polkadot_boxerman · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2010, 06:08:29 PM »

anyone? Just need to replace the "O" rings and the gasket? Do I need to replace the screws also? any specific tq rating?

BlueBMW · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2010, 06:53:04 PM »

If you get a valve cover gasket set it should have the main gasket as well as the rings for the plug holes. No need to replace screws. Tightness is really just good and tight. I usually snug the bolts up til they stop and then give em about a quarter turn.

polkadot_boxerman · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2010, 11:53:46 PM »

ok sounds good. I'm gonna buy a gasket set and of course some gasket sealer if it doesn't come with any.

polkadot_boxerman · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2010, 01:35:51 AM »

ok, so I replaced the valve cover gasket and the spark plug O rings, and spark plugs Friday night. After I replaced them I reset my ecu and took the car for a drive. Cranked up just fine and drove so much better then before, felt so much more powerful and rev happy. I got up this more (Saturday) at 6:45am to head to a work meeting and it cranked right up and drove to work fine. However, after the meeting it started to the same issue when I cranked it up. It wasn't as bad as before, but still looses power if I crank it and try to take off without letting it warm up. But this time it can drive a lot sooner then before.....also the code 1-2-2-2 popped back up so now I'm thinking O2 sensor again?