Intermitent staring problem.

[Hinton Chetwood]

Hi All, I have had my Z3 a few months now, and have started to have a problem.
Its a 2000 1.9.
If i have been driving for an hour or so, and i stop for a few minutes, when i try to start the car, it starts, the rev counter goes up to 1000, then it dies.
If i try to start it and blip the throttle, there is no response, and it does the same, up to 1000 revs and it dies.
If i then leave it a minute or so it starts and seems to run fine.
It has also stalled twice, when sat idling in traffic recently, in neutral, foot on the brake.

Anyone come up against this or has anyone any ideas?

Thanks in advance guys

 

[colb]

You need to put a code reader on it to see if there are any fault codes set.
May be a camshaft sensor playing up, if so there will be codes set when you read them.
Other possible faults could be the cause, check out the idle control valve is not gummed up, you can clean it out with some carb cleaner spray. Also check all rubber pipework on the engine for splits or cracks and replace any suspect hoses. These engines are dependent on sound components on the intake side of the engine, air leaks are one of the regular causes of faults.

Let us know what engine you have either M43 or M44.

 

[buze]

I had that exact same symptom (starting then stopping immediately) when my MAF died. Try unplugging it and running without it for a while to see if it 'cures' it...

 

[colb]

MAF might be the problem, if you unplug it the car will go into a default setting to enable it to run in the absence of a MAF signal. Try it and see if that makes a difference. If you replace the MAF do not buy a cheapo ebay one they are of doubtful quality and rarely last long if they work at all. Replace with a Bosch or Siemens brand, not cheap but bound to work out of the box.
My MAF failed on my 1.8 M43 just rough running with mine and poor power, cleaning it with electronic cleaner killed it
completely new one fitted and problem went straight away.

 

[Hinton Chetwood]

So im new to BMW ownership, My Z is my first, so im not sure how to identify what my engine is, is there an easy way???

 

[Brian4]

Hot starting problem is usually cam sensor faulty and engine dying from idle is air leak in the inlet hoses.

Check all the rubber hoses to the intake manifold for splits and other faults will need a code reader to point you in the right direction.

 

[Jimmy Weston]

As above Brian's spot on, inlet cam sensor,or exhaust cam sensor,I had the same problems a few months ago, then replaced them,and no problems thankfully,a competent diy mechanic is more than capable off doing these jobs.but buy oem replacement ones from euro car parts or outlets,as they last a lot longer then non oem ones.
Jimmy

 

[colb]

To confirm build details of your car visit here
http://bimmer.work/
Put in last 7 digits of your Vin number and your build data will be displayed for your actual car.

Get yourself a code reader and an airbag reset tool it will save you the outlay first time you use it rather than pay a garage to read codes. Cheapest way is to go for a WI-Fi ELM 327 Interface and a BMW 20 pin to 16 pin OBD2 cable and an App on your phone.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELM327-Wi...393208&hash=item28354abeef:g:S7YAAOSwq1JZL7OH

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28cm-NEW-...400488&hash=item4669ef063e:g:YewAAOSwMf1ZnVTC

http://www.palmerperformance.com/products/dashcommand
(Other Apps are available for download, some people are using Torque)
https://torque-bhp.com/

Once your proficient at code reading you might consider getting the BMW software that you can use on a laptop it is far more sophisticated and can do a lot more than a generic code reader. It takes a lot of space up on your laptop so some people get an old laptop and keep the software on that.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-DIAGN...524309&hash=item25c30b1cce:g:BBcAAOSwH09ZIMjC

You need the same 20pin to 16pin cable to use the software and always use the round diagnostic socket under the bonnet in the engine bay. If you have a 16pin OBD socket under the steering wheel that will only read the engine module.

As to airbag reset tool, best have one to hand just in case you need it. Again connect via the 20pin to 16pin socket using the round diagnostic socket.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Air-bag-F...886205?hash=item466870137d:g:u8YAAOSwEatZfvCA

They are cheaper from China but I got mine from a UK seller.

If you want to have everything then a Service reset tool would complete your set of tools, you can reset the service lights by using a paperclip to short some terminals in the round socket but less messing if you have the tool.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-E...489556?hash=item5d4c441814:g:zUsAAOSwzJ5XU0t5

Any problems the forum usually has the answers, loads of past posts on code reading etc, worth having a search and a good read.

 

[colb]

Until your kitted out with code readers its always worth giving a shout on here for anyone close to you who has some kit to and is able to meet up with you. Over on zroadster.net forum they have a sticky with a map of members with diagnostic kit, had a look here and a couple not too far from you. http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=36055

 

[gookah]

I cant help staring at my z intermittently either..

 

[mrscalex]

If this is one of your first ventures into fixing a mechanical problem it's not the most straightforward thing for someone with no knowledge/experience.

Yes, you absolutely have to start with the codes. It doesn't matter what engine you have as they use a common code reader interface. That's the easy bit.

It's then what you do with that information (the codes) that is the tricky bit. There is a lot of information out there on this forum and others. You need to engross yourself in that, probably for many hours. Then you may find the fix itself is actually a 20 min job.

You can blindly chuck relatively cheap fixes at it like MAFs and spark plugs and it may get fixed. But much better to take direction from the codes.

 

[Steve Medlock]

I have the intermittent staring problem. I'll just be walking past and then I just have to stop and admire those lines.....

 

[Jimmy Weston]

Sometimes even computers can't pin point the exact thing wrong,it just come back with DME motors electronics,eg ecu, it was only forum members who pointed me in the right direction , who had these previous issues,and after following there advice,and replacing the parts ,it's all ok now,
Jimmy.

 

[colb]

Agree code readers are good to have but always remember one sensor that is faulty can often upset other sensors in the line from MAF to Exhaust causing faults to be logged. Bit of lateral thinking needed to interpret codes.