Need Help! Car Is Barely Drivable - BMW Forum

komodo · 03-22-2005, 05:33 PM

I'm posting this here rather than E36 for exposure.

This started about a week and a half ago as a small tremble at idle. Now it's gotten worse. Whenever I'm at a redlight, in traffic, or a stop sign, or anything else requiring slowing down and stopping, my car starts violently shaking and smelling bad (kicking stuff out of exhaust i guess). It starts whenever the RPMs drop below about 1,200. If I'm at a redlight or something, I have to drop it into neutral and hold down the gas revving it up to around 1,500 or 2,000 until it changes where i drop it back into drive and quickly go.

If I'm too slow on my neutral revving technique, the car starts lerching violently and threatens to stall (as it has a few times before).

I've cleaned my idle control valve and that did absolutely nothing.

What else can it be? Help! I need a car. heh =/

Slvr e39 · 03-22-2005, 05:47 PM

could it be the lack of side mirror?

jk in other words i dont know

Torque · 03-22-2005, 05:56 PM

dying tranny ?

komodo · 03-22-2005, 05:58 PM

This doesn't feel like a dying tranny. This feels like something deep inside the engine... =/

Slvr e39 · 03-22-2005, 06:02 PM

well, I would stop driving it for sure, could it be a really bad piston misfire?

Torque · 03-22-2005, 06:04 PM

maybe your ECU is fucked... take it to a dealership and have them run diagnostic tests (should cost around 100)

guywithblack88e30 · 03-22-2005, 06:07 PM

not enough fuel 2 engine

komodo · 03-22-2005, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by guywithblack88e30@Mar 22 2005, 06:07 PM
not enough fuel 2 engine

[snapback]316619[/snapback]

What could cause that?

And about the ECU... how could it just mess up like that? I have it sharked, but it wouldn't just change one day would it? Doesn't make sense.

Torque · 03-22-2005, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by komodo9+Mar 22 2005, 08:10 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(komodo9 @ Mar 22 2005, 08:10 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-guywithblack88e30@Mar 22 2005, 06:07 PM
not enough fuel 2 engine

[snapback]316619[/snapback]

What could cause that?

And about the ECU... how could it just mess up like that? I have it sharked, but it wouldn't just change one day would it? Doesn't make sense.

[snapback]316621[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]
this man might be right. i would start by replacing the fuel filter if it hasnt been replaced recently... after i changed mine the car sputter for a few moments just as you described until it got enough fuel... clogged one might be doing the same thing

komodo · 03-22-2005, 07:02 PM

Would that make sense that higher rpms are smooth as can be? It's only idle that sucks.

spieluhr · 03-22-2005, 07:04 PM

check injectors maybe. replace plugs. give it a fuel injection system fuel additive. sounds like regular everyday stuff but hell, could it hurt?

Slvr e39 · 03-22-2005, 08:06 PM

there are too many things it could be, sounds like a fuel problem of some sort, i would just go to a mechanic

komodo · 03-22-2005, 08:09 PM

I'm dropping it off at Harrison Motorsports tomorrow afternoon =/

http://www.harrisonmotorsports.com

They're about 15 miles from my house.

EnvyM3 · 03-22-2005, 08:22 PM

Sounds like it may even be the alternator b/c it has trouble keeping the battery charged up when idling, but is fine when the car is running hard. Maybe a clogged cat Who knows

komodo · 03-22-2005, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnvyM3@Mar 22 2005, 08:22 PM
Sounds like it may even be the alternator b/c it has trouble keeping the battery charged up when idling, but is fine when the car is running hard. Maybe a clogged cat Who knows

[snapback]316715[/snapback]

Haha, I don't think it's the alternator, cause at one point i got pissed at it and BLASTED my subs on the way home... without a problem. lol

And I'm pretty sure it's not my cat.... considering I'm running a borla off-road xpipe (no cat). hehe

Any other ideas?