Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

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1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
Posts: 90

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

1999 2litr
Ok, my niggling problem is, my car starts fine, drives fine, no problems...but, sometimes, not every time, when I stop, say, to get some fuel, might be a couple of minutes, it won't start right away, just cuts out as soon as I let go of the ignition key, it will then start on 2nd attempt, but I know it WILL die on me as soon as I pull away from the forecourt and at every junction unless a lot of throttle is used, feel like a complete muppet!. Sometimes just turning the engine off and on again, it's ok, and it's ALWAYS ok the following day when it's cold, like I said it's not every time I stop for a couple of minutes when it's warm, but I just know when it doesn't start 1st time, after I stop for a couple if minutes, I WILL have stalling problems at junctions where I have to stop...anybody have same problem and a cure?
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
Posts: 2225

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by BladeRunner919 »

You need to get it on diagnostics to see what is going on. I'd suspect a faulty sensor (camshaft or throttle) but unless you want to just swap parts to find the fault, you need to see what's going on.
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colb
Joined: Sat 05 May, 2012 22:46
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  Z3 roadster 1.8 TU
Location: Newport South Wales UK

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by colb »

Agree with BladeRunner, check for codes set to point you in the right direction, possible Cam sensor or gummed up idle control valve are possible causes. If its the Camshaft sensor then I would expect to see codes. If its the idle control valve then take it off and clean it by spraying carb cleaner into the workings and drain and dry it before refitting and testing it on the car.
Colb
1999 BMW 1.8 Z3
2003 BMW 2.5 Z4
1998 Honda Deauville NT650V
1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
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  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

Ah, I'm glad we are all on the same page, I was thinking dirty/sticky ICV....I know when you clean it, it says you have to remove the valve, can I just spray something into the air cleaner, Redex maybe? Or something similar to clean it...then take it for a little blast to blow it through, or do I really need to remove it?
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by Del »

From past experience my guess would also be "heat soak" into a failing cam sensor.
1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
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  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

Del wrote:From past experience my guess would also be "heat soak" into a failing cam sensor.
whats "heat soak" mean?....sensor breaking down when hot?
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
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  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by BladeRunner919 »

Yes, basically that. It refers to how heat 'soaks' into components from a hot engine when it isn't running, which are normally kept cool by the forward motion/fan/etc.
1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
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  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

BladeRunner919 wrote:Yes, basically that. It refers to how heat 'soaks' into components from a hot engine when it isn't running, which are normally kept cool by the forward motion/fan/etc.
Ok, thanks :dunce:
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by Del »

I'd still recommend getting the car plugged into a diagnostic tool first - doesn't need to be anything fancy. As you have a 1999 car it may be "borderline" in terms of whether it has a warning light on the display to signify something like a failing sensor - my 1998 car hasn't.
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Robert T
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Joined: Mon 12 Jun, 2006 10:35
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  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by Robert T »

Coils are known to be heat sensitive, but I would expect a misfire when warm, rather than not running.

Problems with the MAF can cause non-starting. Unplugging it and letting it run on default settings is the test for this.

Failing camshaft sensors have a variety of symptoms, ranging from complete refusal to run to a slight lack of power. They don't always log error codes, but if it is enough to stall the engine, I would hope it would.

Cheers R.

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1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
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  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

Ok gents, thanks for the input, think I'll try Redex in the intake 1st to see if that clears a sticky valve, and go from there.
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c_w
Joined: Thu 19 Aug, 2004 16:50
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  M roadster S50

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by c_w »

I would descibre a difference between the car stalling when the revs drop too quick/engine doesn't catch it and cutting out. The latter would normally be from an electrical/firing problem. If it stalls easy especially when started from semi warm etc, I would suspect an idle control valve or vacuum pipe/leak.
Brian4
Joined: Mon 19 Dec, 2011 19:02
Posts: 541

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Hinckley

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by Brian4 »

Had similar on our 3.0 started off as difficult to start and then stalling when pulling away from lights this turned out to be a cracked/perished intake hose just after the MAF/air filter which cured the stalling. The difficult start was the intake cam sensor. The car also seemed slow to pull full revs but cam sensor seems to have cured this as well.

Have a check of the intake hoses for cracks or perishing and a short term fix is to tape up any you find.
Brian
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2000 E36/7 Z3 3.0i
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therealdb1
Joined: Tue 25 Jun, 2013 21:47
Posts: 263

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by therealdb1 »

I wouldn't recommend squirting anything into the air intake. If you gunk up the MAF you may need a new one of those too when there may be nothing wrong (at the moment) with the one you have fitted.
For the sake of an hour of time why not do the job properly, take the ICV off to see if it is sticking, and clean the dirty parts in the comfort of your workshop / kitchen?
Look at the volume of rubber hose from the air inlet to the inlet manifold; how much Redex do you think you shall need to squirt in there before any reaches the ICV?
BMW rubber hoses appear to perish quickly enough as it is without coating the insides of them with oil.
First job is read for codes. If it says cam sensor and a replacement fixes the issue then there is no need to worry further.
By randomly experimenting you could cause faults that are not present already.
1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
Posts: 90

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

Ok, don't think I'll try anything into the air intake, I think a trip to my local garage and plug it in to a 'puter and see what, if any, codes comes up, I can see my self wasting a lot of time poking and hoping, thanks again for the suggestions.
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colb
Joined: Sat 05 May, 2012 22:46
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  Z3 roadster 1.8 TU
Location: Newport South Wales UK

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by colb »

Treat yourself to a code reader to save time and money taking it to a garage, cheapest way to go is a Wifi ELM 327 interface and a download of Dash Command App to your phone or Ipad and a converter cable BMW Round to 16pin OBD2, otherwise go the whole hog and get the BMW INPA software and put it on a Laptop.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELM327-WiFi-O ... SwGzlTwoH-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-20-PIN-TO ... SwKIpWBqhP

Cable INPA software and converter cable package here
http://www.bcables.com/

Dash Command App available here for phone & Ipad
http://www.palmerperformance.com/products/dashcommand/
Colb
1999 BMW 1.8 Z3
2003 BMW 2.5 Z4
1998 Honda Deauville NT650V
therealdb1
Joined: Tue 25 Jun, 2013 21:47
Posts: 263

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by therealdb1 »

For the cost of a single trip to the garage to get codes read then buy the INPA set up as colb suggests.
It is not just a code reader but you can see what the sensors etc are doing in real time, perform adaptions, and plenty more.
The downside is you need a laptop but they are not such a rarity these days and it does not need to be latest spec. I first ran INPA on an 8 year old machine running Windows XP!
1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
Posts: 90

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

I might look into getting the sotware etc...I do have a redundant laptop which would be ideal...in the mean time, the car is booked in for next Thursday, and the mechanic (who has looked after all my cars for the last 20 odd years) says he's 95% sure it will be the crank sensor breaking down.
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
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  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by BladeRunner919 »

If he replaces the crank or cam sensor make sure it is a genuine BMW one. Aftermarket ones have proved to be a false economy.
1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
Posts: 90

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

Just dropped of my car at the garage, and the chap said "could be the vanos"....( he hasn't looked at it yet)...I said I didn't think the 2ltr had the vanos fitted, am I right?, does a 1999 2ltr 6 have the vanos fitted or not?
bowei001
Joined: Mon 13 Apr, 2009 16:38
Posts: 211

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Sudbury

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by bowei001 »

It does have Vanos. It should be the M52TU engine which has Vanos on both inlet & exhaust. (Ours is a 1999 2.0)
1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
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  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

bowei001 wrote:It does have Vanos. It should be the M52TU engine which has Vanos on both inlet & exhaust. (Ours is a 1999 2.0)
Oh, thanks...could be expensive then, hope it's not that, and just a sensor playing up when hot.
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by bertiejaffa »

If he says it is the Vanos I would ask for a 2nd opinion from Dr Vanos to be certain
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1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
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  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

bertiejaffa wrote:If he says it is the Vanos I would ask for a 2nd opinion from Dr Vanos to be certain
Ok.....who's Dr Vanos
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Robert T
Site Admin
Joined: Mon 12 Jun, 2006 10:35
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  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by Robert T »

I think you mean Mr. Vanos. :wink:

Dr. Vanos is in the US: www.drvanos.com

Mr. Vanos is in the UK: www.mrvanos.com

Easy mistakea to makea...

Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
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  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

'Tis the camshaft sensor and exhaust sensor, just waiting for BMW to deliver the parts :D .
Brian4
Joined: Mon 19 Dec, 2011 19:02
Posts: 541

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Hinckley

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by Brian4 »

1963paul wrote:'Tis the camshaft sensor and exhaust sensor, just waiting for BMW to deliver the parts :D .
Good simple repair and you will find the performance you had lost unknowingly.
Brian
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2000 E36/7 Z3 3.0i
2016 F31 335d
2015 F21 118i
1963paul
Joined: Sat 19 Jul, 2014 13:19
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  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Stalls when warms up....occasionally.

Post by 1963paul »

Brian4 wrote:
1963paul wrote:'Tis the camshaft sensor and exhaust sensor, just waiting for BMW to deliver the parts :D .
Good simple repair and you will find the performance you had lost unknowingly.

That's so true!...drove to work this morning....sooooo nice :D
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