318 is acting weird

clementine · 10-19-2011, 01:43 AM

hello everyone. my car just recently started acting funny, it happened after a rainy day. it seems to loose power randomly when driving, and it idles really rough, to the point where sometimes it just turns of, also the check engine light will go on.
any suggestions?
thanks.

E36is · 10-19-2011, 05:42 AM

check for bad coils, arcing spark plug wires, or loose spark plugs. and make sure all high tension leads are secure.

BMe30 · 10-19-2011, 05:57 AM

Unplug the icv
See if that helps

Deetow · 10-19-2011, 11:02 AM

Unfortunately with that description almost anything could be wrong with your car. I would start by checking the vacuum hoses for leaks, then as has been said move onto the ignition/spark system. If those both check out move onto the fuel system. These 3 could be the culprits. The vacuum is easiest to troubleshoot and the fuel is the hardest.

I had a similar problem with my last 318 and it turned out to be the #4 injector which was shitting the bed and dumping way too much fuel into the cylinder.

Chris

Ceeker · 10-19-2011, 12:12 PM

^ I agree..start with the easiest and most cost efficient way first.

clementine · 10-19-2011, 05:33 PM

what ive done
spark plugs
ignition wires
and no change.
i also forgot to mention that i forgot to put my gas cap back on(thus loosing it), prior it raining, and think water may have entered the tank. but i have already put additive in there to get the water out and nothing has changed, and this is the third fill up.

BMe30 · 10-19-2011, 05:42 PM

unplug icv

MaxBell · 10-19-2011, 11:47 PM

Check that your battery is connected nice and tight. My car would do funny shit like that and that was the problem.

E30M42cab · 10-20-2011, 12:49 PM

But you've put another gas cap back on right?

clementine · 10-21-2011, 11:09 AM

hahaha
yes i have.

BMe30 · 10-21-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMe30

unplug icv

lol i have a feeling

E30M42cab · 10-21-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMe30

unplug icv

At what point does this become a mod? haha

Got a clogged fuel filter or failing pump?

BMe30 · 10-21-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E30M42cab

At what point does this become a mod? haha

Got a clogged fuel filter or failing pump?

it sounds exactly like the issue i had with my icv.. would idle so rough and sometimes stall out... even if that didnt happen i noticed that under slow driving conditions the motor would cut in and out and start to bog on me... i unplugged the icv and no issue since... and that was before the itb swap...

clementine · 10-22-2011, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMe30

unplug icv

hmm i dont think its that because even when im driving on the highway, i will try to keep a stable speed at 100km/h at roughly 3000rpm and my car will start to slowly decrease in rpm and speed until i give full throttle, then it will regain its speed again until the next spudder occurs. but i guess it wont hurt to unplug the icv.

thanks alot for all the suggestion, i appreciate it

clementine · 10-22-2011, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E30M42cab

At what point does this become a mod? haha

Got a clogged fuel filter or failing pump?

i changed the fuel filter and no change. but as for the pump i dont know. usually with a failing pump i find the idle is ok but when giving gas it struggles, for my issue its the total opposite.