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Random stalling and dies; it won't start
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sjw2152
New User
Apr 17, 2008, 5:55 PM
Post #1 of 7
(1849 views)
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Random stalling and dies; it won't start
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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.
(This post was edited by sjw2152 on Apr 17, 2008, 6:00 PM)
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dave284
Enthusiast
Apr 17, 2008, 9:16 PM
Post #2 of 7
(1843 views)
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Re: Random stalling and dies; it won't start
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What kind of damage was done to the power cable with it being wet?..what did you mean by (popped sections)?
It seems that your problems could be related to something else although similar to the first....Is the check engine light on again..or came on then went off? Theres a few things you can check when it happens...like seeing if there is fire at the plugs/do you hear the fuelpump come on?...the answer to these questions helps us to help you .
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sjw2152
New User
Apr 17, 2008, 9:49 PM
Post #3 of 7
(1842 views)
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Re: Random stalling and dies; it won't start
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I think there were rubbing against metal plate, where the cables were curved. So the plastic cover of main power cable was melted about 1 inch, and the cable to computer was blowed up/disconneted. I could smell something burnt and saw a smoke once. The mechanic finally found the broken cables and fixed them by wrapping tapes. Actually we found wet problem later; the hole in the top-container were choked, so water overflowed into the backseat and under the carpet.
The check engine is not on nowadays. The light, which is shown while stalling, instantly disappears. When the engine dies, all electrics are still working. I think we checked fire and battery voltage. I am not sure that fuelpump comes are on. The mechanic said that it would not be fuel problem because no sign shows so far. In fact, my car runs good usually. I do not feel any hesitating or weakness when I accelate from stops. I can say the engine goes off or stalls while I am still driving. Maybe the problems start when motor heats up. And here is one more thing. When I start up the car, the rpm goes up and goes down under 1, like dying, and comes back up.
Is there any possibility that air mass meter causes such problems. I am searching internet whole day to find connections between the problem and suspicious parts. I did not find any significant things yet. Thank you for your time, Dave.
(This post was edited by sjw2152 on Apr 17, 2008, 9:52 PM)
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brbettge
User
Apr 18, 2008, 6:32 AM
Post #4 of 7
(1829 views)
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Re: Random stalling and dies; it won't start
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if your computer got wet and stayed so for any length of time along with the wireing there will continue to be problems probably forever. what you have described are what we in the south call "classic flood victim" signs. unfortunately, our advice in this part of the country (and we have had alot of this problem) is to wave goodbye to that old friend of a car and never look back. the devil corrosion has invaded and it is an enemy best surrendered to unless you are prepared to replace the entire electrical system. i'm sorry to have to even write this; and i was always sorry to have to tell my customers this; but after hundreds of attempts to chase the goblin in flood victims i found it much better to just tell my customers the truth - it saved not only feelings but customers. again, sorry, rick
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dave284
Enthusiast
Apr 18, 2008, 6:57 AM
Post #5 of 7
(1828 views)
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Re: Random stalling and dies; it won't start
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http://www.autozone.com/.../repairInfoPages.htm Think your problem lies within the ECM...if the power supply to computer was shorted out..usasally you can expect damage to the computer as well,...these devices can't tolerate any kind of power overloads.I don't think the air mass sensor was damaged by carb cleaner.The ecm (computer) controls the fuel/timing/spark along with the air flow meter...the only way to be sure is have it tested and the troubles read again.The link above will give you some info you might can use,and others here will add to it...so hang in there.LOL.
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sjw2152
New User
Apr 23, 2008, 7:36 AM
Post #6 of 7
(1801 views)
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Re: Random stalling and dies; it won't start
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oaky I changed MAF and did test drive. 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???
(This post was edited by sjw2152 on Apr 23, 2008, 7:41 AM)
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dave284
Enthusiast
Apr 23, 2008, 12:31 PM
Post #7 of 7
(1796 views)
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Re: Random stalling and dies; it won't start
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Thats great,.....fuel filter wouldn't cause the (check engine light) to summit a trouble code.Since you had many problems with this it would be a good idea to have the codes read again and I know its a pain not having a scanner on hand when that dang light comes on.....but it beats replacing sensors that are good.
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