ASKED BY: culby3bjg 0 0 0 1 0 0 14 ASK DATE: Apr. 28, 2005 CATEGORY: Mechanical | Engine Engine Acts Fuel Starved Vehicle: 83 BMW 528E My 83 BMW 528E is acting as if it is fuel starved. It started to hessitate while on the hiway and then died like it was out of gas. I put in a gallon to enusre that the gas gage wasn't broken and it still wouldn't run. Also, I replaced the fule filter because I thought it may be clogged. I can get it to start and it will run for anywhere from 5- 30 seconds. At one point I was able to get it to run for almost 10 minutes but have been unable to get it to start again. Any ideas? ACCEPTED ANSWER COMMENT BY: joe allen 0 6 7 9 8 3 89 COMMENT DATE: Apr. 28, 12:47 AM QUALIFICATIONS: ASE Certified Site Rank: 1 A car this old i would say this maybe caused by the catalitic converter. Is there an engine light on. When was the last tune up? And how long have you had the vehicle. You caould test the cat by disconnecting it and seeing if the car runs. Let us know what you think. COMMENT BY: joe allen 0 6 7 9 8 3 89 COMMENT DATE: May. 3, 12:47 AM QUALIFICATIONS: ASE Certified Site Rank: 1 I hope this post has helped you out. I just wanted to check with you to see if there was anything more i could do to help you out. COMMENT BY: culby3bjg 0 0 0 1 0 0 14 COMMENT DATE: May. 3, 9:07 AM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 477 I appreciate the help. I have been trying to figure out how to disconnect the Catalytic converter. I think I know what to do now, I just won't get a chance to do it until Friday. I will let you know this weekend. Again, thanks! COMMENT BY: jason 0 0 0 1 1 5 30 COMMENT DATE: May. 4, 11:17 AM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 85 IT MAY BE YOUR FUEL PUMP CHECK THE FUSES IF NOT THE FUSES THEN CHECK IF YOU ARE GETTING GAS TO THE MOTOR BY TAKING GAS LINE LOOSE AND TURNING KEY IN ON POSITION DO NOT CRANK MOTOR YOU WILL NEED HELP IN DOING THIS YOU MAY NEED TO TURN KEY OFF REALLY FAST.IF NO GAS THEN THATS YOUR PROBLEM. COMMENT BY: mustanggirl 0 0 0 3 6 1 32 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 3, 4:13 PM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 23 oh that but let's see if i can help you out to!!!! it can also be a vapor lock it makes your spuder which is like your car is out of gas but it is not!!!! take a hammer and tap ypur carbulatar just a tap so that it will open up the valve that is in there!!!! COMMENT BY: joe allen 0 6 7 9 8 3 89 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 4, 3:00 PM QUALIFICATIONS: ASE Certified Site Rank: 1 Have you found anything on this yet. COMMENT BY: culby3bjg 0 0 0 1 0 0 14 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 4, 5:20 PM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 477 Ok. I have eliminated the fuel pump, cloged fuel line, catalytic converter, all fuses, and there are no engine lights on. Does anyone have any more suggestions? COMMENT BY: joe allen 0 6 7 9 8 3 89 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 4, 8:11 PM QUALIFICATIONS: ASE Certified Site Rank: 1 There is an artical under the other tab at the top of the page. This artical is labled help my car wont start. this should help you out. Check this out and let us know if you have any guestions from there. COMMENT BY: mustanggirl 0 0 0 3 6 1 32 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 4, 8:36 PM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 23 try your carburator!!!!! COMMENT BY: culby3bjg 0 0 0 1 0 0 14 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 5, 1:49 AM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 477 It is fuel injected COMMENT BY: joe allen 0 6 7 9 8 3 89 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 5, 7:17 PM QUALIFICATIONS: ASE Certified Site Rank: 1 Did this artical help. COMMENT BY: RBHRacing 0 0 1 0 9 8 67 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 9, 2:26 AM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 10 Even though the fuel pump may be runnng that doesn't mean that it is creating enough pressure. I would first and foremost check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail. 10:1 odds says it low. If the car ran for 10 minutes at one point it was probably in open loop and allowing the injectors to remain open for a longer period of time to aid in warming the engine. Just knowing that fuel is getting there doesn't mean that it can run the car off what it is getting. COMMENT BY: mustanggirl 0 0 0 3 6 1 32 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 9, 12:09 PM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 23 even if it is fuel injected you still have to check it trust me!!! i have a fuek injected carbuator!! here do this follow RBHRacing advice if do not want to listen to mine!! or joe allen advice as well!! COMMENT BY: culby3bjg 0 0 0 1 0 0 14 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 9, 12:50 PM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 477 It isn't that I don't want to listen, I just don't know much about this and I don't always understand the advise. It takes me a little time to read the manual and figure out how to try what people are telling me. I didn't even know that a fuel injected car had a carburator. I will have to read to figure out how to check it. Also I don't know what RBHRacing is? I will check the fuel pressure this weekend, I just have to read about how first. I do appreciate everyone's help! COMMENT BY: RBHRacing 0 0 1 0 9 8 67 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 9, 5:32 PM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 10 lol, RBHRacing is me, I am also an ASE certified Auto Tech, and enjoy helping people that I don't have to charge to make a living. Although it being an 83' the chances are slim, There may be a schrader valve on the injection rail itself(something you should be able to find in a Chiltons). There should also be a section on how to test the fuel pressure. I am a HUGE fan of AllData although sometimes they seem more like SomeData. They have a site setup for the DIY'er. www.alldatadiy.com You input your vehicle info and pay the $14.95(less than a paper manual) and get everypiece of info you can or can't imagine for your vehicle for a year. This includes test procedures, diagnostic routines, diagrams, typical sensor input and output values, on and on and on. Check it out and get back with us, we can help you on anything that you may not understand. COMMENT BY: RBHRacing 0 0 1 0 9 8 67 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 9, 5:36 PM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 10 Oh yeah, and it may have what is being refered to as a carburetor, but it's more likely to be a Throttle Body Injection unit(TBI). It looks umm something like a carb, but will have 1-4 large injectors mounted above the throttle blade(s). This also operates off of an electric fuel pump and has to have a minimum pressure as well(9-13psi typical) COMMENT BY: mustanggirl 0 0 0 3 6 1 32 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 9, 7:30 PM QUALIFICATIONS: Site Rank: 23 i have my certified since i was 18 yrs old.. iwas working on cars since i was 8yrs old.... i am sorry i wrote like that...it is not me i had a tough week...... no days off can get to you!!! COMMENT BY: joe allen 0 6 7 9 8 3 89 COMMENT DATE: Aug. 10, 4:54 PM QUALIFICATIONS: ASE Certified Site Rank: 1 I agree with that mustang girl. Thanks for the great post and advice. 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