Author Topic: Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up  (Read 24168 times)

AcSchnitzer318is

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #45 on: October 08, 2008, 09:48:48 AM »
^LOL I don't know... but it's getting comical how many of us have this problem.  I bought another e30 so I might just drive up to Terry Sayther in austin and drop the car off there and say "fix this issue."  Then just leave it there for however long it takes to figure it out.  :)


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jrobie79

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #46 on: October 08, 2008, 06:00:23 PM »
get a detailed report of what he did and what he found the problem to be if you ever send it in, i also might be looking into another m42, however i dont want this pig to start doing this crazy shit, so id like to avoid the problem before finding it killing me every morning.

AcSchnitzer318is

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #47 on: October 14, 2008, 08:26:35 AM »
^LOL... it is pretty frustrating isn't it?


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Burnall4

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #48 on: October 27, 2008, 10:53:43 AM »
Interesting development....

My buddy has a 88 5 series, and he starting having the same exact problems as us, i mean down to the duration of the problem lasting. He came to me for advice and I had none, since he works at a repair shop he decided to figure it out....he said he replaced everything we have pretty much then he went to check the fuses...he noticed that there is a spade that the wires go into on the bottom of his fuse box so so he decided to check the connections...he pulled the box apart and the metal to the fuel pump had backed of the spade ( I haven't a clue what he is talking about since I haven't looked at our cars yet) he made the connection repair, problem solved. He said he has "two" fuel pumps, one that primes when the car starts and the main one, the priming fuel pump wire was the one that backed off, and on his car its the one that builds the pressure upon start up, or so you can start the car, and after a min or so it cuts off and the main pump is now supplying the engine....I am going to give it a try and see what i find out...wish me luck!!!
Current BMW: Looking
Current Truck: 06 Chevy 1500 4x4 Crew Cab
Current Motorcycle: 2005 CBR 600rr (race bike)
1991 318is sold
1990 325is sold

ak96ss

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #49 on: October 27, 2008, 12:34:42 PM »
Quote from: Burnall4;59556
Interesting development....

My buddy has a 88 5 series, and he starting having the same exact problems as us, i mean down to the duration of the problem lasting. He came to me for advice and I had none, since he works at a repair shop he decided to figure it out....he said he replaced everything we have pretty much then he went to check the fuses...he noticed that there is a spade that the wires go into on the bottom of his fuse box so so he decided to check the connections...he pulled the box apart and the metal to the fuel pump had backed of the spade ( I haven't a clue what he is talking about since I haven't looked at our cars yet) he made the connection repair, problem solved. He said he has "two" fuel pumps, one that primes when the car starts and the main one, the priming fuel pump wire was the one that backed off, and on his car its the one that builds the pressure upon start up, or so you can start the car, and after a min or so it cuts off and the main pump is now supplying the engine....I am going to give it a try and see what i find out...wish me luck!!!

Well, FWIW here is the backside of our fusebox, it is a PITA to get to:



EDIT: Oh, and we only have one pump, the in-tank one.
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We're here to preserve democracy, not practice it.
[INDENT]- Captain Frank Ramsey, Crimson Tide[/INDENT]
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John in MD
uh, it's a '91 318is, like everyone else...

Burnall4

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #50 on: October 27, 2008, 08:26:33 PM »
Holly fuck...it worked


I pulled the fuse box appart and the metal that goes to the fuel pump fuse was off the wire, i made a temporary fix since I was in my school parking lot. I will have to fix it properly this weekend but I haven't had a problem all day long!

I will give proper discription and write up if this holds out through a 24 hour period :)
Current BMW: Looking
Current Truck: 06 Chevy 1500 4x4 Crew Cab
Current Motorcycle: 2005 CBR 600rr (race bike)
1991 318is sold
1990 325is sold

AcSchnitzer318is

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« Reply #51 on: October 27, 2008, 10:13:56 PM »
HOLY SH*T MORE DETAILS PLEASE!!!

You will be my hero... I'll send you roses and other assorted flowers... ;)


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Cobra Jet

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #52 on: October 28, 2008, 07:52:08 AM »
Quote from: Burnall4;59590
Holly fuck...it worked


I pulled the fuse box appart and the metal that goes to the fuel pump fuse was off the wire, i made a temporary fix since I was in my school parking lot. I will have to fix it properly this weekend but I haven't had a problem all day long!

I will give proper discription and write up if this holds out through a 24 hour period :)


So, based on the above pic of the underside of the fuse box, which connection was the problematic area?  Why would the wire have backed off, is the factory wire too short, or do you think it backed off due to age/shrinkage/vibrations?

Do post up more "tech" about how you removed the fuse panel and the fix.

How's it been running since your post, any issues?
- Phil
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2011 Genesis Coupe
2011 Tucson GLS

Burnall4

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #53 on: October 28, 2008, 10:33:40 AM »
Quote from: Cobra Jet;59620
So, based on the above pic of the underside of the fuse box, which connection was the problematic area?  Why would the wire have backed off, is the factory wire too short, or do you think it backed off due to age/shrinkage/vibrations?

Do post up more "tech" about how you removed the fuse panel and the fix.

How's it been running since your post, any issues?


There are two areas that need attention on my car, the area with the stubs sticking out, the cluster of 5 and the center of the fuse panel to the left, the holes there one of the metal pieces had backed out of the hole.

I unscrewed the fuse box from where you can see the screws, it just came right out for me, be careful you don't yank the wires completely out of the back of the fuse panel. I think that over time the vibration, and the wires being pulled on might have caused this. Seems that the factory wire is to short and the connection was weak from the factory, there is a lot of tension on those wires, i also grab the cluster of wires and traced them back to the area of the wiring harness/where they disappeared and pulled on them to get a little more slack.

As for todays driving, it only hesitated once on start up and that was for 5 seconds than it just smoothed out, its been running a lot better as well with no rough idle. I know my connection that I made yesterday for a repair using a zippo lighter and the existing wires didn't hold but i did fix that metal that had backed out and that seemed to help as well. I think that metal goes directly to were the fuse plugs into. I will take pictures this weekend I promise. and do a step by step, but I am in the middle of mid terms and can't really worry about this now :cool:

Just go out there and give it a shot, whats the worst that can happen, it doesn't work? I am still replacing the ICV and hoses as maintenance along with plugs this weekend. I know the ICV valve needs to be replaced anyways, its old and beyond cleaning. And I do know that is part of the problem Didn't another member in our post just post the word "fuel"....or was that on R3vlimited? I might go as far as putting a new pump in.

It does make sense though, even though we don't have two pumps we still have a priming system, and if that doesn't build the pressure properly until the main supply of fuel is fed then I could see how this would happen because every time I "pushed" the car through this it always ran lean, then really rich, then it was normal.


Anyway, I hope this helps and this fixes the problem for good. Because you know what I have been able to enjoy my car a whole hell of a lot more in the past 14+ hours :) I took the long way home last night, parked my car, then walked up stairs took a piss and went back out just start it up and go to 7-11 :)
« Last Edit: October 28, 2008, 10:42:50 AM by Burnall4 »
Current BMW: Looking
Current Truck: 06 Chevy 1500 4x4 Crew Cab
Current Motorcycle: 2005 CBR 600rr (race bike)
1991 318is sold
1990 325is sold

AcSchnitzer318is

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #54 on: October 28, 2008, 01:47:17 PM »
Going to try this today... worth a shot.

You're right... being able to just walk out to the car and have it start right up is a nice bonus.  I've been enjoying that with the 325 I bought and wished my 318 was the same.  Maybe now it will be.


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AcSchnitzer318is

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #55 on: November 01, 2008, 08:48:33 AM »
Any updates Burn?  My brother in law got me sick and I haven't been able to work on the car...


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AcSchnitzer318is

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« Reply #56 on: November 11, 2008, 09:31:39 AM »
btt... for updates.


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Burnall4

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« Reply #57 on: November 11, 2008, 04:39:31 PM »
well I am afraid the problem is back. It is not as bad as it was before (wow english) but it still happens. I checked the fuse box again and the wire is fine after my repair job. So I am at a loss...however I did get this bit of information.

I emailed a local BMWCCA member and he knew of a gentlemen that is very knowledgeable in BMWs and writes a tech section in a very popular BMW magazine. Any how, after a very rude email reply back from him he did give some insight that might make sense to me but I don't know if would apply to everyone's problem, he said:

"After all of the above, my gut feeling is this engine is losing residual fuel pressure. Once again, there is a procedure for testing residual fuel pressure in the Bentley E36 3 Series Service Manual. Loss of residual fuel pressure is almost always caused by leaking fuel injectors, a faulty fuel pump, or both. Now, if he wants to replace the fuel injectors, it's "back to the dealer" for original BMW fuel injectors, please. Do not compound the problem by installing some hokey "wowie-neato" super duper fuel injectors. Stick with the OEM."

As you can see the tone of his email is laughable at best, and his name and magazine will remain nameless. But his theory does make sense given the problems/symptoms I described to him.

Burn
Current BMW: Looking
Current Truck: 06 Chevy 1500 4x4 Crew Cab
Current Motorcycle: 2005 CBR 600rr (race bike)
1991 318is sold
1990 325is sold

twright

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #58 on: November 11, 2008, 05:28:51 PM »
Please do not pooh-pooh the advise from this person.  I recognize his writing, and while he is not always correct, he has a lot of knowledge and experience and usually is very helpful in solving this kind of problem.

Stick a fuel pressure gauge on it and let us know if that helps.  (It didn't help mine.)

bearsbmw

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Car Running in "Limp Mode" on Start Up
« Reply #59 on: November 11, 2008, 05:36:28 PM »
I have the exact same symptoms and it's driving me nut's !! if I create a small vaccum leak the car will actulay idle perfectly in a cold start mode otherwise its exactly as you describe ... Im testing the injectors tonight by pulling the fuel pump fuse at operating temp and leting the car die out and then let the car sit over night with no fuel presure on the rail and try and start again and see if she behaves the same way for the first 3 mins of warm up