86 325 Starts, shuts off, Starts shuts off. - BMW Forum

Terry Kay · 03-08-2011, 10:10 PM

Hi all,

I've had my 325 coupe for 12 years and it hasn't ever skipped a beat.
Been very faithful, and I've treated it right.

Current problem which has me pulling my hair out is;
I start the car , it shuts off.
This will happen 4-5 maybe 10 times, and it finally hits --Everything is OK, and it runs fine--except just lately it has been shutting itself off while driving down the road--and it starts while on the roll ( it's a 5 speed )

Both fuel pumps are new.
The gas tank is new.
The fuel pressure regulator is new.
The temperature sensor is new.
The plugs & wires are new.
New fuel filter

And to complicate this all--I just noticed the fuel economy gauge is pegging itself to 0 when and if the car starts--
Then it'll jump up--then to back to zero.
This just started yesterday.

I don't think the vaccum gauge is the problem--it has worked till yesterday.

Any clues whrere to start looking??

Grounds???

Thanks for any idea's, hints.

Terry

TravisW · 03-29-2011, 05:56 PM

when you replaced the plugs and wires did you replace the cap and rotor button? If you haven't pull them off and take a look at the contacts on the inside of the cap. any other issues such as excessive smoke coming out of the tail pipes? any vibrations?

Terry Kay · 03-29-2011, 10:38 PM

Yes, The cap & the rotor were also replaced .

No smoke, when it's running it rus like a top--no vibration,& I'm usually seeing 20--22 mpg around town.

Here's a twist to this.
As the temps are warming up, the car is giving me less starting problems.

Go figure.

terry717 · 03-30-2011, 05:15 PM

ECU or crank sensor possibly?

TravisW · 03-30-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry717

ECU or crank sensor possibly?

was thinking ecu too but since it runs great at times im leaning away from that. what year did bmw introduce the crank sensor into its line of vehicles?

i've heard of similar issues with older gm vehicles and it ends up being either the pick up coil or distributor ring gear. Im not real familiar with these motors yet so I'm not real sure how the distributor is made. I'll see what i can find on alldata and get back here if i find anything.

terry717 · 03-30-2011, 08:29 PM

Travis did you by chance download any of the manuals at the beginning of the class specific threads for our beemers? I have found the bently one to be the most helpful. It is a good sized download but worth it and they're free

Terry Kay · 03-30-2011, 11:55 PM

I've got a Bentley service manual.
But--I find that in many occasions it gives me just enough information to get me in more trouble than I'm already into with no paths to a bail out.

Like I said--the car now that it's warming up outside runs great.

I'm going on a ground cleaning mission just for the heck of of it--
Can't hurt any--