dying car

#1

Over the weekend I raced in GTS at Phoenix Int’l Raceway. I’ll post a race summary in the general forum when I have a minute, but wanted to seek advice a problem I encountered over the weekend.

During qualifying on Saturday, the car stuttered a couple of times while on straightaways at WOT. By stuttered, I mean it temporarily lost power, and after I backed off on the throttle it resumed power & then ran fine. Well, it did this twice, and then died altogether. I was able to get the car started & back to the pits. It was down to ~ 1/4 tank of gas, so I figured that may have caused the problem. I filled the tank up to 3/4, and made it through the race fine. On Sunday, practice went fine & qualifying went fine. Then, during the pace lap of the race (with over 1/2 tank of gas), the car just died. I stuck my fist out the window & started looking for a place to pull over while trying to restart the car. A couple of cars went around me before I got it restarted. The car then ran fine for the race, but afterward wouldn’t start to drive it onto the trailer. And then it started right up to drive into the garage once I got home.

To reiterate - the stalling occured on straightaways, not on corners

I’m thinking it’s most likely a faulty fuel pump & am planning on starting there, but as I’ve said before I ain’t no mechanic (gross understatement!). I just replaced the fuel filter before the race - I think I got it on right way! Anyone have any thoughts?

Post edited by: sdais, at: 2005/12/20 12:42

#2

Just as a random thought – a friend of mine had an ignition problem that only showed itself on the straights at WOT at Summit Point: a connector in his 1990 325i’s steering column ignition switch had disintegrated, and above 4500 RPM, the vibration would shake the connection just loose enough that it would falter and stumble until he dropped back down. The problem never occurred in the turns.

#3

I’d bet good money transfer pump in the tank is dead. Pretty typical as level goes down to start losingpower if T-pump is dead.

I think this is the root of most fueling problems.

10 min job to swap one out. Don’t blow yourself up.

Ric

#4

Fuel pump on order.

Dan - I hadn’t thought of a loose connector, but that’s always a possibility. I’ll whip out the Bentley & figure out how to check the ignition switch as well.

#5

The only Spec e30 mechanical problem I have ever had at the track is a failing master cutoff switch. It was a quality switch but I’ve heard that these should be replaced every two years.

'Worth checking.

And give us a good report!

Carter

#6

Carter,

What switch is this?

#7

I think I bought it from Racer Wholesale. I bought the replacement switch there at OG Racing at Summit Point Raceway.

It’s been fine.

Carter

#8

Duh Sean… I thought you were referring to something factory installed, not the safety switch.