Please help, weird problem causes my 318ti stall
 

Hi guys, I have a 97' 318ti manual. Recently it gets some weird problem that I would like to find some help, please. Sometimes, when I put the car in neutral ( the problem only happens when it's neutral or idealing), the rev itself would move up and down strangely. The rev would drop to around 500 rpm and come back to 1000 rmp ( each up and down cycle would take 3-5 secs), and also I could feel some weird shakes from the engine while the rev was dropping.

And the problem turned worse today, when I turned the car on, the rev started to move up and down again. And after it dropped to 500 rpm twice, the car just stalled itself ( it was in neutral, and I didn't step on the accelerator). Then I turned the car on again, the rev was still moving up and down, but I just started to drive it before it could stall, it ran well. After I got my destination, I tried to turn the car on and off for a few times, everything was back to normal, the rev was steady and no sign of stalling.

I'm just wondering what could be happening on my car, anyone got any idea? Please enlighten me, thanks!

i had the exact problem check ur ICV (idol control valve) then check ur crank case vent valve is ur CEL turning on these are the only 2 main things that would cause your idol to act weird BTW how many miles do u have on ur TI hope this info helps


try this

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=454501

yeah, idle control valve or a leak in your boot

Great thanks Bobbak, I'll give a try tomorrow and let you guys know how it goes. And that page you provided is a great write up! My 318ti already has 190k kms.

BTW, PettieWC, what do you mean by "a leak in your boot"?

sorry, that vacuum boot that goes to the intake manifold. it's that big hose on the front lright of the engine compartment with the bumps on it. it's really good at hiding little leaks that could be a partial or even complete cause of the problem

+1, I had the same problem, when the car is cold the air leaks out of the crack, but as the engine gets warmer, the rubber expands, and seals the crack, use duct tape if your not concerned about appearance, otherwise, you'll need a new one

Sigh...

I'm stupid enough that after I opened the manifold, I still can't find the ICV, see the photo below:
http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pA...UaLQE9J8_7n_ak
It took me half an hour to reach there, but no ICV was found, D'oh!!!

But I also heard this "ICV on 96 M44 is mounted to throttle housing - in plain sight. After a painful, and embarrasing, search under upper intake I discovered the ICV right under my nose. Two torx screws and 5 minutes later I was done."

I think my 97 318ti should have the same pattern as the guy described above. So can someone show me a photo of where exectly is the ICV on an M44 please? I really want to have this thing done by myself.

Thanks, and happy Easter!!!

its number 9 in this diagram
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...02&hg=13&fg=15

when i had my m44 i took it off sprayed it a bunch with carb cleaner and then put it back in. problem solved.

the torque on these are only like 5 pds so dont crank on them to tight. just nice and snug.

also check the intake boot.
its number 3 here
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...18&hg=13&fg=15

Looks like your car is different. If you see the three circles arranged in a triangle, it should be located directly to the left of that. If it is under the manifold.

But these cars do differ from region to region. I would look against the firewall, the E30's used to have them located back there. That hose that is located next to the three circles, follow that hose and see where it goes.

The picture that midget showed has it on the side of the throttle body.. not under the intake though. Look there. You don't have that side of the TB shown in your picture.