1986 BMW 325es - IDLE IS ROUGH UPON START

ANDREWOMAN

MEMBER
1986 BMW 325

AND needs to warm up for at least a few minutes or it will die. As it warms I need to tap the gas peddle to remind it not to fall back to sleep. If I "force" it to run sooner, by gassing it more, it will run but hesitate and require more gas than normal. It is an automatic 6 cyl & 229,000 miles. I bought the car recently and the car started without even pumping the gas; however, I managed to leave the hazards on one night and the battery required a jump. Since then the start requires gas for a about 5 seconds before it starts. The warming up issue has been present before and after the battery fiasco. The previous owner replaced the fuel filter and air filter.
Thank you :) :)

3 Replies

DOCHAGERTY

MECHANIC
9,601 POSTS

Sounds like the cold start system isn't working. It might be the thermal time switch on the thermostat housing. Repost if more information is needed

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Saturday, July 21st, 2007 AT 4:44 PM

ANDREWOMAN

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Interestingly, I was wondering if the overheating was related to this dysfunction. Just yesterday I had a VERY fried thermostat replaced, yet it still overheats after about 15-20 minutes of city driving, in the daytime here in Phoenix.

Is the thermal time switch part of the cold start system? And does the fact that it overheats play into the diagnosis of how it starts up? Actually, I tried to add the overheat issue to the last post but, just browsing at the "Add a Smiley" sent my post before I was finished with my questions.

Thank you for your response!