Author Topic: 318is sputtering problem (Read 6776 times)

HHH_SSS · « **on:** April 01, 2010, 03:34:29 PM »

I have a 91 318is, I filled up gas the other day at work and i notice that the car starts to sputter, when accelerating. It loses power in certain rpms and then shoots back up and then starts to lose power and sputter again. Now it has gotten worse and has just started to sputter and lose power throughout the whole rpm band. It also now idles really rough. When idling the rpms keep going down like its about to turn off and then it goes back up. The muffler is also making weird sounds as if something is popping sometimes when accelerating. Does anyone have any idea what this could be? I thought it would be fuel related, or vaccuum leak. My friend tells me its just the spark plugs. Im stuck at work for a couple of days and im not going to be able to take it to a mechanic for a little while so i can feel it getting progressively worse as i drive it. Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

///m42 sport · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2010, 03:47:48 PM »

those were similar symptoms to mine when one of my ignition coils went bad. Check your spark plugs. and anything else easy to get to.

dj91318is · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2010, 04:12:23 PM »

Yep ^ + Do a stomp test to get any codes. The exhaust sounds like unburned gas igniting from certain cylinders not firing Coils / Fouled out plugs / Bad wires??? GL

dvmotorsports · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2010, 08:11:37 PM »

Quote from: ///m42 sport;90331

those were similar symptoms to mine when one of my ignition coils went bad. Check your spark plugs. and anything else easy to get to.

this

HHH_SSS · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2010, 12:01:40 PM »

Thank you guys for the help, I finally got some time off work last night and I changed the spark plugs. It solved the problem instantly! The car was just behaving so badly before that i thought it had to be something more of a pain to change. My old spark plugs were BLACK tho! Is that a bad sign?

///m42 sport · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2010, 01:03:01 PM »

go ahead and check the ignition coils too. Thats likely the cause of the problem. I too changed my spark plugs. It drove better for a day or two, then crapped out again.

This
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10286
Or you can get COP kit that replaces all 4 coils and is about the same price as one OEM ignition coil.

HHH_SSS · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2010, 12:15:31 AM »

You were right it looks like you had the same problem. It ran good for two days and then it crapped on me again. How would i be able to test the ignition coils to see which one I would have to change?

///m42 sport · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2010, 12:14:09 PM »

check the spark plugs or check the voltage at the coils

HHH_SSS · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2010, 12:31:13 PM »

Well I changed an ignition coil, and i tested the other ones i dont think thats the problem because my car is still doing the same thing. Should i just go ahead and get new spark plug wires? You think that should do the trick?

dvmotorsports · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2010, 06:12:44 PM »

Try swapping out the DME with one you know that is good.

fiftytakedowns · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2010, 03:27:05 AM »

how do you know if a coil is going bad?

dvmotorsports · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2010, 11:29:33 AM »

Quote from: fiftytakedowns;90911

how do you know if a coil is going bad?

Check the resistance. Remember that thread I had about my wifes 318is not running right back in december? I think I posted what my resistance values for the coil were and what they should have been.

dvmotorsports · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2010, 11:39:26 AM »

Here are the values I posted over at R3V

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1796214&postcount=8