Random Stalling and dies; it won't start

[sjw2152]

1994 BMW 325 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Manual 170000 miles
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My car usually drives well. But randomly it stalls w/ light showing real quick. Sometimes, the engine just dies without any stalling or hesitating while I am still driving i.e. 40m/h without speed changes. Most time, I have to wait to start again. It won't start right away. All the electrical functions still work, even if the engine goes off.

Here are some suspect things. My car has soft-top and got wet last winter due to overflows from top-container. So water overflowed into bottom of the car. At the same time, I found the main power cable and the power cable to computer were damaged. So my mechanic fixed popped section of the cables. Since that, the problems started happening. After I dried my car under sunlight w/blow drier, the problems were gone for a while. About 3 weeks ago, I saw check engine light on. The code said 1221, which was oxygen sensor. And this is a key thing: I was stupid. I sprayed carb cleaner through air mass meter. The check engine light was gone. Everything looked fine. Two days later it stalled and died randomly. Somebody said it would damage the sensor. I went to mechanics, and he said examined values of air mass meter was 8; values should be between 8 and 20. I have changed oxygen sensor. Still no light. Working good for 2 days. The problems popped up again.

I remember the symptoms have been very similar since first happening.
So, could you give me some answers, even clues what is going on my car? I really appreciate your time and advice.

[agtur2001]

Hello, My 325ic started doing something very similar. I eliminated the oxygen scensor since it had already been replaced 6 months earlier during a smog check.

Eventually it got to the point that I had to put the car in nuetral when stopping at a red light to avoid stalling. I had some BMW guru's check it out with their computer. Turned out to be the MAF... I replaced it (very, very, very EASY to replace... six pack of beer and 15 min) and my beemer ran like new again. No problems since the MAF replacement... it's been about a year now.

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

you sprayed carb cleaner in the MAF? and it went away? sounds like the MAF is gone/going try cleaing it the MAF cleaner(i just used carb cleaner...)

[agtur2001]

Hello... I tried cleaning my MAF first. However that did not help. A new MAF is pretty expensive. Believe it or not... I ended up buying a "rebuild" from Kragen auto parts for about $120.00 bucks. Yes... I know... rebuilt! I was told that a MAF can not be rebuilt... you either buy new or used from a BMW dismantler. The Kragen "rebuilt" was cheaper than both options and I was low... low... low on funds at the time.

Good LUCK!

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

yeah id all depends on your funding.... but if it is REALLY dirty it can cause errors and poor performance.... replacement is highly sugested though....

[sjw2152]

Actually somebody told me how to test AMM (air mass meter), and I tested: no go. I am not sure that's right way to test it tho. Disconnect it from air-fiterside. Start and rev it over 2500 rpm. Then shut if off. The hot wires in AMM should glow red after 4 seconds. I didn't see any glowing inside. Did I do right? BTW AMM is MAS, isn't it??

Anyway, did your car just die while you were driving? I do not have any stalling or hesitating now. The engine just goes off, as it I turned off my key. It seems it happens when engine(or something else) gets warm/hot, because I can start my car w/o difficulty. However, I cannot start right back, after the engine dies itself.
So I have tested many different ways. I repeat accelating and releasing the pedal constantly. It seems working but suddenly dying as usually. Does bad MAS(AMM) cause those things?
LOL I have spent a whole week to find out what the problem is. I have tried to find similar case. Actually I found one , and it was crankshaft sensor. But not exactly same symptoms. Do you think crank sensor would be a problem? I do not think it's fuel problem because I do not see problems uphill driving or poor performance usually. I just lose the power while I am driving. Please help me...

[sjw2152]

Originally Posted by AlpineSixAndSeven

sounds like the MAF is gone/going try cleaing it the MAF cleaner(i just used carb cleaner...)

do you mean you ever sprayed carb cleaner on the MAF in your car?? if so, didnt it cause any problem?

[sjw2152]

Originally Posted by agtur2001

You either buy new or used from a BMW dismantler. The Kragen "rebuilt" was cheaper than both options and I was low... low... low on funds at the time.

Is your MAF still working good? I am not sure that the rebuilt means. I guess it is better (more reliable) than used one in junk shops.

[sjw2152]

oaky I changed MAF and test-drove. I don't experience engine died. But my car stalled a little bit with instant check engine light. Do you think it is fuel filter or crankshaft sensor???

[Delmarco]

O2 sensor. Change it. AMF doesn't make your check engine light come on intermittenly