Author Topic: ignition problems...car dying... (Read 2327 times)

mikeltang · « **on:** May 28, 2007, 04:36:27 PM »

on thursday night i was on my way home from work and started the car let it warm up for 1-2 minutes b4 driving and everything sounded fine. i got out of the parking lot and hit a stop sign and as i started to turn after the sign my car just died it wouldnt start up after that, so i had it towed home and ive been trying to diagnose the problem ever since.

so far:
- my spark plugs came out soaked in gas, so im thinking coil packs might have gone bad, but they look fine.
- my fuse #3 also looks like it melted...wtf?
- yesterday I tried cranking the car again and it ran VERY rough and sounded like some cylinders weren't compressing
- my friends dad suggested that my timing could be off, although he hasn't seen the car yet (i dunno if this might be the problem)

any ideas as to what might be wrong with it?
TIA for any help.
- Mike

kowalski · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2007, 04:51:44 PM »

well you don't have a timing belt so unless your chain slipped thats not the problem. if your chain slipped you would have more then a rough running problem. If your plugs are soaked in gas in which cylinders? how are your plug wires looking? Do a compression test. Also check the resistance for each coil to rule out that problem.

mikeltang · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2007, 04:55:20 PM »

all my cylinders had gas soaked plug, and my wires look stock, how do i do a compression test, and check for the resistance of each coil? sorry im still a noob with this stuff...

kowalski · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2007, 07:09:56 PM »

you will need a multi meter, search the site or buy a bently for an early e36 318 and it will have everything you need step by step. anyways, a compression test can be done by buying a compression tester from your local auto store. anyways firstly i duno why this didn't come to mind, but get a friend to sit in the car, and take off a wire at a time, with a spark plug on it, and (using a towel or a rubber glove to hold the wire) move the plug to something that will ground it like the valve cover. This will tell you if your getting any spark, or how much spark your getting.

let me know what happens after this.