motopokep

2004 E60, 100k miles, ignites, engine idles high, a bit over 1k rpm, then tries to die, then tries to save itself, the moment I give some gas, dies, let it idle for 2-3 minutes, same thing.. high emissions.

I'm thinking either spark plugs or my ignition coils are bad. I changed spark plugs at about 60k miles (now I'm at 100k). Just removed the plugs, don't look too bad, some usual grease, black debree, brown rust at the tip. How do I test them plugs?


I'm also thinking ignition coils need to be replaced. How do I test ignition coils? I found this site

http://autorepair.about.com/od/troub...l-test-ohm.htm

that tells how to bench test your coil, but the coil pictures is completely different from the Bosch 050 my car is using.

Before I spend $20-$30 for new sparks and $250 for new coils, anyone ever had a similar problem? How do I test them plugs or coils? Info I found online I don't understand.

Thanx

Masterspy

I don't think it is anything electrical. More likely it is your MAF(mass air flow sensor), maybe needs cleaning or defective. Also check your trottle body, see if anything loose. It could be vacuum hose loose or cracked. GL

motopokep

Al_Ongvano,

Thanx for the input.

Could you possibly tell me where the mass air flow sensor is, or the throttle body (i know, i'm a newbie, but once I learn where it is, i'm handy...i've done break disks, pads, bleed, spart plugs, oil, filter, etc).

thanx.

motopokep

You were right, it's not the ignition coils or spark plugs, I removed them, thoroughly cleaned plugs and coils inside, almost like new. Car starts, engine spins, idles high, a lot of exhaust, some smell from the engine (or maybe exhaust), and some weird noise in the engine, like hissing, or breathing, comes and goes, at regular intervals.

Again, if someone had a similar problem and solved it, I'd appreciate input. It's X-mas weekend, everything's closed, and Monday morning is work time. I'd like to see if I can solve this myself tomorrow. Which hoses do I check for cracks? Where's the throttle body, what do I check for there? Where mass air flow?

thanx.

Masterspy

[quote name='motopokep' timestamp='1293331197' post='1286795']
Al_Ongvano,

Thanx for the input.

Could you possibly tell me where the mass air flow sensor is, or the throttle body (i know, i'm a newbie, but once I learn where it is, i'm handy...i've done break disks, pads, bleed, spart plugs, oil, filter, etc).

thanx.
[/quote

From your air filter, follow the tube leading to your fuel injector. Close to the air filter look for a wire harness attached to a square 1"x1" held by 2 torx screw. That is your MAF. Carefully take the screw out and pull out the MAF. Be careful not to touch the inside of the MAF. You need a MAF cleaner which you can get at any autoparts store. Your throttle body is the end of the air filter tube next to fuel injector. You just need to spray it with a cleaner. For more details check this site http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do

motopokep

thank you, will try soon.

jay77

Unplug the MAF sensor as suggested above and see if the symptoms remain... else it sounds like a hose has come off or split (the hissing noise), check the hoses from the air box and see if any are split or loose.

motopokep

Progress:

I've unscrewed the MAF and removed it. Looks clean (but I'll clean it anyway). I removed the air filter and found a lot of debree and big leaves in there. I cleaned all that out and vacuumed inside the box (I'm curious how they get in there, I clean my air filter and box every couple of months)

The air filter box is open right now with no filter, MAF is off, and car is running, with no hissing noise. Could it be the leaves inside the air box?