The car runs but has no power, it feels like it may stall but does not, just puts along. Any suggestions?
43 Answers
littlehorn answered 17 years ago
The catalytic convertor may be clogged. Take it to a mechanic and have them test the emissions at the tailpipe, or look under the vehicle and see if the catalytic convertor glows red after driving at highway speeds or for extended periods of time.
Have you checked throttle cable, I had that replaced when it broke and the car then had fullpower.
the question is very vague, need more details of wat is happening, but, check your throttle cable, also check your cat, fuel filter,fuel line, is the clutch good ? worst case, might be a head gasket causing it to loose compression.
cheak one of the fuel injetors it maybe cloged
check for air leaks around the intake boot
like everyone else is syin it could be quite a few things, dont guess just take it to your garage for a check up.
i agree alot of times in these older cars it can be a problem with vacuum and its a pain in the ass to trace however take 15-20 minutes follow the vacuum lines if you see one unplugged and an obvious place to put it try that first then if not replace the fuel filter it will never hurt to replace a filter of any kind and its easy if still no good try the shop
My guess would be a vacuum leak as well. You can check for vacuum leaks by spraying carb cleaner around possable leaky areas ie around the intake boot and other connections. If the idle jumps you knnw you have a leak in that area. also check the gap on your spark plugs many shops say they are pre gapped but it is no always the right gap. also clean out your idle control valve with the carb cleaner. If no of this helps come on over to e30tech.com tell them bottlecape30 sent you.
I had a similar problem with a 240SX when i changed the spark plugs and knocked into the distributor cap knocking one of the plugs out. Which cause the fourth pistion from firing. My question to you is does ur exhaust ping or pop when idle or accelerating?
I had a similar problem with my 320 - It was ok on a cold start but one walm lacked power. I took it to the local dealer and diags showed it had a faulty crank shaft sensor. It cost about £30 but it was well worth it. As other's have said, get it on a diagnostics machine, so many engine faults are logged there before you notice a problem...
canalbreath answered 12 years ago
You didn't mention if it was a manual or automatic transmission. If manual sounds like clutch to me from the simple description.
check the catlytic convetor,check the air filter if it was clogged thn there is no power
Give it a tune up. Oil, oil filter change. Also air and fuel filter. Remove intake boot and clean out throttle body. Change spark plugs and ignition cap & rotor. Use MAF cleaner to clean out AFM and/or IAT sensors.
fierogtchuck answered 12 years ago
INJECTORS INJECTORS INJECTORS. Perhaps I wasn't clear on this matter. Nothing else -- if your cat was clogged, a vac gauge on your intake would have shown this. INJECTORS go bad, kill your mileage, and never set a goddamn thing (computer adjusts, adjusts, adjust some more for clogs --huge value map--then you give up and sell me the car for pennies). thanks
fierogtchuck answered 12 years ago
Ps. How the hell would an oil change help power? And plugs do not cause a miss at idle; neither do plug wires. Bet -- clogged cat. What caused the cat to clog boys and girls?? Bad carburetor -- oops, I mean BAD INJECTORS, more than likely leaky injectors. That is our business -- injectors, but we could care less if you buy from us or not. Poor old BMW used SIEMENS for a few years -- a pox on siemens for their substandard metals -- our electron microscope shows ball and seat corrosion you see in no other injectors. Replace em. Period. For the record --BOSCH RULES. And always has. Thank you for your support.
fierogtchuck answered 12 years ago
PS. Cats will glow red after a hard highway run NORMALLY. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WILL ALSO BE RED. Scope analysis will show if the oxy sensor pre cat response is identical or close to that of post cat. If it is, the cat no longer is capable of storing oxygen to oxidize the excess fuel. So -- why do cats go bad? Too many dogs chasing them around -- clogged crappy Siemens injectors. Whew. Now I rest.
Hmm, out of 9 BMWs owned, never had injector problems, even with two e30s 280k miles and another E34 with 235k miles. Usually it's plugs, fuel pump, ICV, PCV, or failing MAF/AFM. ☺
fierogtchuck answered 12 years ago
Our business is FUEL INJECTION SPECIALISTS. Injectors are all we do -- before and after pics, code PO301 clearing, etc. Plugs make misses, air filters drop mpg maybe, bad Mass Air, vac leaks, etc. are possible. We love it when owners dump $500 in parts to try to chase a rough idle or hard cold start. REPEAT AGAIN AND AGAIN -- rough idle ain't plugs, plug wires, coils or map sensors. If you are unlucky you will have a bad cold start sensor but your mileage will be 8 instead of 20. We also love the chemical cleaners (Rislone is best --"quiets" noisy fuel systems. Check out the label. Priceless). Injectors go bad because of hot soak -- olefins, varnishes, waxes, polyesthers, alcohol residues and octane improvers remain after the higher volatile liquids --gasoline-- evaporate. All day long we see mileage improvement from 19 to 25 or more. We don't care if you send us injector number one. We have been in business in Europe for over 30 years, in over 100 countries, and done over a million injectors. In Europe alone. ASNU is the company. Have fun -- maybe lack of Nitrogen in your tires is the cause of bad cold start issues. Although a miss could be related to a full ash tray. And, maybe an off brand oil filter is why the car smokes on startup. Then again, since injectors are built by aliens (100% perfection indefinitely), injectors cannot be the source of any car problems.
fierogtchuck answered 12 years ago
P.S. Check out our 745i (circa 1985) with 295 horse at the REAR WHEELS --thanks gearhead hq. KKK27 is a beautiful device, so is the upgraded chip. With automatic we run 13.2. And guess what -- the first thing we rebuilt was THE INJECTORS (seeing as how they were unobtainium -- a rare and precious metal).
tamyoung11 answered 10 years ago
Hi I have a bmw 3series e46 2001 and when am driving about its just not got any power and when going up a hull am in 1st gear n struggling
Phillipine answered 8 years ago
HI I DRIV A BMW E90 2009 it shows a sigh of engine malfunction and when I drive even full speed it doesn't have power, when I drive on stip or hill I cant pass first gear
Check you air filter .a change transmission fuel
320injectors answered 8 years ago
Ok just bought a 07 320i with same symptoms as an old 03 petrol astra, so this is not just a diesel problem. chugging feeling when driving along as if the engine wants more juice. I'm going to focus on injector cleaner and good fuel source for a couple weeks then get them cleaned or replaced if not to expensive as me budget is low after my unlucky purchase. I'll be back with results.
320injectors answered 8 years ago
So i put injector cleaner in with a full tank of fuel and sent it to a experienced mechanic in the meantime. He inspected the new spark plugs replaced by the previous owner all good, then checked the ignition coils on all four cylinders. While taking them out he noticed one was not inserted properly. So after a through inspetion noticing some other mechanic must have wrecked his head trying to find and clean out the problem he put all carefully back together and bam, so far so good. One of the cylinders was misfiring because of the ignition coils not being properly inserted. Hope the problem does not come back fingers crossed.
Do u still own the car? Haha
My E49 520i auto loses power after long travel of about 4 to 5 hour.Normally i wait for 30min to cool it down and proceed.
Concord_1052 answered 7 years ago
hi my bmw 320d 2008 E90 it has no power it only drive till 100 on the speedo meter and yesterday as i was driving off i heard a sound but i'm able to change gears its only the speed i'm concerned about please assit what could the fault be
Ja6onthego answered 7 years ago
I replaced gas tank on 2001 325I using the same pump that was working before and now I have no throttle and car starts and dies soon as I hit gas pedal. I have full fuel pressure so I decided to change plugs and do an oil change finding out the previous owner had 8 quarts of oil in now it starts and I have throttle but it putts and I have to feather gas pedal to get full pedal as I hear an light whistle I recon vacuum leak any help is appreciated
I changed the spark plugs and the power, especially uphill returned.
hi iv got a bmw e46... and ok take off iv got no power then it picks up... it runs fine for a while then goes back.... i did put oil in my radiator but didn’t start my car and sent it off to garage who then cleaned the header tank for me and sent me on my way... i did lose oil as my cap wasn’t put on properly... any ideas plz what my problem could be before i send this to bmw heaven .... i have had the car for 4 yrs amd spent on it
I have 2005 BMW 325i I have no power when I push gas the engine is so weak !!!
Hi I took my car to to the garage for ball joints went to check it and my BMW e46 diesel 2004 has all of a sudden has no power it's like the engine revs are down pls help
Hi I have a 2006 (E90) 320i Automatic which is moking and has no power at all. I in Johannesburg shouth and need a reputable mechanic. Any pointers?
It's your mass air flow
I am driving an e46 320 petrol it drives nice nd on fuel its ncwaaa bt wen approaching an up hill it reduces de speed nd i changed de plugs bt de problem still persist so nids to b done guyz?
Dazza24769 answered 5 years ago
I have a similar problem that. My 323i runs fine even when hot but if I turn it off and start it again then I have a lack of power and sometimes just dies when not in gear but will always start again any idears please
Khoiculture answered 5 years ago
Hi there.Ive got a 323i e46. My car just died on me on my way home from work on an uphill.It cranks fine and strong but does not start up at all.Anyone eith some help please?
If the Check Engine Light is on, it may be a small vacuum line that controls the Blow Off Valve for the Turbo. It's on the LF inner-fender. If the engine code says "Blow Off Valve is stuck closed", check that vacuum hose. It also tends to blow the ≈3" diameter tube between high and low stage turbo off, since too much pressure accumulates in that tube.
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