My ti won't idle!
 

Help me! I drove my '95 ti into town the other day. After running an errand my car started fine but would not hold the idle. CEL came on and no matter how many times I started the engine and revved it, each time I took my foot off the gas it died. Had it towed to the shop, but the car started fine for them and held idle.

This is an off and on problem for me. Tonight, again my car wouldn't idle so I drove with two feet until I got the RPM's to where the CEL turned off and then the car ran fine...any ideas? I have cleaned the throttle body. My idle is always a bit rough and hunts quite a bit even if it doesn't stall out all the time.

'95 ti with 148k

Any insight would be helpful :redface:
Thanks

Have you checked for vacuum leaks, or looked at the spark plugs?

Check for intake leaks, if none. Disconnect the MAF at the wire and see if it gives you an unstable idle but will continue to run. The other thing is it could be a dirty idle control valve.

They tend to get oily and gum up, cleaning it will help.

I know these issues all too well. I would definitely clean the idle control valve (here's the write-up http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=454501 , check for leaks (with the car running, spray brake cleaner around the tb, intake, hoses, etc - if there's a surge, then its a leak), if that seems to work, check the AFM - I have one for sale BTW. Let me know if this works...

I'll second this, I had the same problem with my 95 and it was because the hose for my intake had a crack in between two of the ridges, about a foot of duct tape later, my car idled just fine :) the hose is about $25 new if you don't like duct tape under your hood

Update?

If the CEL turned on then there should be a code stored for the issue. Not 100% sure since I think 1995 is OBDI. Did you scan it for a error code?

Thanks for all the input!
 

I'm still planing on cleaning out the ICV since this sounds like a common issue for many of you. The write up looks pretty straightforward and I'll give it a shot this weekend now that I have the gaskets that I need. This idle issue has been very intermittent so it's an easy one to procrastinate on :redface: Thanks for all your input and I'll post back once I get this thing figured out. Stay tuned...