Saying hello with a small problem - BMW Forum

myold318 · 09-20-2005, 09:28 PM

Hello all. I'm new to this forum having just purchased a 94 318is. I've owned a couple of E30s in the past but this is my first E36. The car is a high mileage one but still runs very well. The only real problem I've seen so far is occassionally when it starts it won't idle. It starts normally but unless I hold a foot on the gas pedal it will die. When this happens the check engine light stays on until I drive off. After about a half a block the light goes off and then it idles fiine. I've had the car about two weeks and this has only happened three or four times. I drive the car every day and have no other issues with it. It has 170K on it and is an automatic. I took it on a 1100 mile road trip this past weekend and averaged 32 mpg at 75 with a/c on. I love these cars!! Any ideas on the intermittant idle problem?? By the way I do all my own wrenching, I'm just not all that familiar with these yet. Thanks in advance for any suggestions on where to start.

97alpineM3 · 09-20-2005, 09:37 PM

Yup... it sounds like the idle control valve is dirty... a very common problem on these e36 cars.

There is a write up in FAQ/DIY forum... I'll find that for you in just a minute...

And welcome to the forum... nice to have you,

Les

97alpineM3 · 09-20-2005, 09:41 PM

Here you go

http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=444

This valve is often refered to as the ICV.

Good Luck and I hope this helps you,

Les

myold318 · 09-20-2005, 09:51 PM

Man, that was the quickest response I've ever gotten on any forum, And I've been on a lot of them! Thanks 97AlpineM3, I'll give that a shot and I'll post results.

97alpineM3 · 09-20-2005, 10:04 PM

Cool.. glad I could help... that little DIY should help you.... thats the main player in idle problems...

Good Luck,

Les

Cruzin 323is · 09-21-2005, 12:17 PM

yup.. i totally agree with les on that one...

myold318 · 09-22-2005, 10:17 AM

Well, I removed and cleaned the ICV. So Far so good. Idle seems more stable than before. The problem was very intermittant before so I'll give it a few more days before I consider it solved. Thanks again for the inputs. You guys rock!!

97alpineM3 · 09-22-2005, 11:13 AM

Cool... hope that helped....

Your welcome.. its what we love to do...

Les