Help E30!

**Chris** · 10-05-2005, 04:09 PM

My friend Eric, who some of you met at the last Summit race just bought an 84 325E from his boss for $300! He couldn't pass it up, even though he was going to get a miata in a few months. So it has sat for 10 months and turns over, but if the gas is not held it dies. He was able to get it home by keeping the gas down a bit. I haven't seen it yet, but he keeps saying the guy had some cold air induction that is just hanging off now.

Any ideas as to what could keep it from idiling? He'll prob just get this fixed at a shop so we can start working on it.

Also, I've heard Autopower makes a good bolt in roll bar?

I forsee another Chan...

.RJ · 10-05-2005, 04:12 PM

Help computer!

Sijray21 · 10-05-2005, 04:12 PM

there's probably some sort of Idle Air Control Valve, but i'm not familiar with e30s.

i know this is a problem with my '86 vw until it warms up - which could be attributed to bad injector seals, spark plug seals, or the ICV

**Mike** · 10-05-2005, 04:18 PM

maybe it has shitty fuel in it?

navin · 10-05-2005, 05:06 PM

Timing?

.RJ · 10-05-2005, 05:10 PM

Bad MAF is my guess, if its not bad fuel or fuel filter.

Evan · 10-05-2005, 05:16 PM

its an E30. by definition, it must suck

Nick325is · 10-05-2005, 05:46 PM

.RJ Wrote:Bad MAF is my guess, if its not bad fuel or fuel filter.

e30s don't have MAFs. It could be an AFM problem or perhapsa horrible vaccum leak which could be attributed to this cold air intake you mentioned.

more from me later.

Nick

BLINGMW · 10-05-2005, 05:49 PM

my guess is that the boot between the AFM and the throttle body is ripped. Remove and inspect it as it likes to rip in between the pleats and it's hard to see. Start there, then look for vaccuum leaks in other places if that's not it. All those hard hoses coming in/out of the idle control valve on top are suspect, as well as the valve itself, checking its operation is pretty easy. Talk him in to buying a Bently manual for the car, they're like $30 and absolutly REQUIRED. :wink:

Nick325is · 10-06-2005, 01:11 AM

Definitly check the boot between the AFM and the throttle body. I had a small tear in mine and it was causing my car to run like shit.

Nick

**Chris** · 10-06-2005, 01:45 AM

Nick325is Wrote:Definitly check the boot between the AFM and the throttle body. I had a small tear in mine and it was causing my car to run like shit.

Nick

would you guys mind explaining this a little more? Sorry, I'm a bit confused as to what the parts look like.

So get this! I went and checked it out tonight and we tried a few things to get it to run better. Its an 84 and is in really great shape except the 2 front fenders are from a junked car, it was hit on one side and then hit another car in a minor accident. Other than that it has 51K miles!!!

No thats not a typo... unbelievable. The original owner had it in NC and then my friend's boss has had it for a couple years just sitting around for the most part. The interior is in good shape and will make for some nice ebay sales! (anyone in need of parts speak up)

So to get it to run we had to crank it and hold the throttle spring in the engine bay. It dies unless its over 2500 rpms. We'll be back at it on Sunday.

.RJ · 10-06-2005, 01:47 AM

The afm is the little box in the air intake, should be something plugged into it. There's a rubber b00t/h0se/etc between that an the go switch.

**Chris** · 10-06-2005, 01:49 AM

Oh and Chan, we open the trunk and what happens to be there- one of those Bentely manuals you mentioned!

**Chris** · 10-06-2005, 01:52 AM

.RJ Wrote:The afm is the little box in the air intake, should be something plugged into it. There's a rubber b00t/h0se/etc between that an the go switch.

ok I konw what you mean... the problem is the previous owner attached this weird thing... from the hose/boot from the throttle it goes to this big ass metal box- says Bousch on it, with a plug- we think its a kind of performance chip and then from that box there is the air filer cone attached.

We're just going to get a stock airbox off ebay and replace the damn thing.

**Jeff** · 10-06-2005, 01:55 AM

DOn't remove the bling!!!!111!!!1!

.RJ · 10-06-2005, 10:47 AM

Chris Wrote:ok I konw what you mean... the problem is the previous owner attached this weird thing... from the hose/boot from the throttle it goes to this big ass metal box- says Bousch on it, with a plug

Got a pic? Isnt that the stock AFM (maf, same thing)

**Chris** · 10-06-2005, 11:10 AM

.RJ Wrote:
Chris Wrote:ok I konw what you mean... the problem is the previous owner attached this weird thing... from the hose/boot from the throttle it goes to this big ass metal box- says Bousch on it, with a plug

Got a pic? Isnt that the stock AFM (maf, same thing)

we're working on that, maybe by Sunday.

Sijray21 · 10-06-2005, 11:44 AM

just hit it a few times with a wooden cane, it should be fine after that :wink:

PDenbigh · 10-06-2005, 01:32 PM

.RJ Wrote:
Chris Wrote:ok I konw what you mean... the problem is the previous owner attached this weird thing... from the hose/boot from the throttle it goes to this big ass metal box- says Bousch on it, with a plug

Got a pic? Isnt that the stock AFM (maf, same thing)

Does it look something like one of these? :http://www.fordturbo.com/vam.html

If so, it's called a VAM, (not MAF!). Older technology. I know Seans' car has one, that is the same part # as the one that used to be on the Merkur. It's used to measure how much air the car is bringing in.

Regarding your idling problem, be sure to check the TPS - throttle position sensor. The manual will give you directions and voltages. If that isn't it, look for anything that would be allowing the engine to bring in more air than it is measuring through the VAM. A cracked hose after the VAM, vacuum leaks, a stiky door on the VAM, etc.

BLINGMW · 10-06-2005, 01:45 PM

51k miles? You sure the odo isn't busted? that's crazy.

And free manual. Can't beat that with a cane!

I'm not sure wtf you're describing with the intake there, but it should be, well.... like this

[Image: SparcoNo2.jpg]

I would GUESS that he installed some thing foward of the AFM (yes, they look exactly like the ones Pete posted), if you want to ditch the custom stuff, I've got some stock airboxes.

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