My car keeps turning off.

Tiny
SNDPAPR1
  • MEMBER
  • 1987 BMW 325
  • 15,000 MILES
I just got the fuel pump replaced, (the one in the gas tank), thinking tha *** will stop my car from randomly turning off. It is a stick shift. It doesnt; hestitate or suffer at all if I am in going too slow on a high gear like a normal stick would, it just turns off
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 2:26 AM

16 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Does it start back up right away? Is the new fuel pump producing pressure within the manufacturer's specs? Have you checked the fuel pump regulator? Is the check engine light on?
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 2:29 AM
Tiny
SNDPAPR1
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The car immediately starts right back up. The check engine doesn't turn on, but I have 3 random lights that turn on, that my mechanic told me tha I have to pay to change out my cluster items. Not sure about the within spec thing. The fuel pump regulator is good according to my mechanic. He said that after he replaced the fuel pump in the gas tank. He said I should change the second fuel pump.
I also have another issue, which I think is related. When I turn my air-conditioning on, the engine revs up high and low, constantly, and I know that is helping to the turning off.
Thanks for the help!
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 2:48 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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That problem sounds like the idle air control valve. It regulates the vehicle's idle. The AC, by design, requires the idle to be set a little higher.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 2:54 AM
Tiny
SNDPAPR1
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  • 9 POSTS
Thought so. My mechanic said that he really can't check the idle or what needs checking for those issues because the gauge in my instrument cluster has to be changed. I think I will just take the car into him this weekend for him to change the second fuel pump. Maybe that will solve the whole turning off issue, don't you think?
Thanks again for all of your advice.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 3:05 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
It could. I hate to make a promise when I'm not there. I would ask him if he guarantees the repair will fix the problem.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 3:26 AM
Tiny
SNDPAPR1
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  • 9 POSTS
I will ask him about a guarantee. Thanks again, you have been most helpful. Have a good day.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 4:25 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Glad to help. Let me know how things go for you.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 12:15 PM
Tiny
SNDPAPR1
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
A few messages ago, you were asking if it starts right up again. Tell me what your idea is of this. The car does a thunk sound, but it's more of a feeling of the engine going dead. I have tried to pop it back into gear with no luck. So I am stuck on the middle of the road or freeway restarting the engine. Then it's good to go. It characteristically turns off 1 or 2 more times before it doesn't do it anymore.
The other type of turning off is where I'm coming to a stop sign. By the time I come to a full stop, the whole set of display lights of completely on. So I know it stalled. It improves this with the gas tank fuel pump being changed. Then it took a week or 2 for it to turn off again. Does that all make sense that I need to change my second fuel pump?
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 4:25 PM
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,603 POSTS
I would start with replacement of the main and fuel pump relays.
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Friday, October 7th, 2011 AT 8:07 PM
Tiny
SNDPAPR1
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
That's a good idea, we have spent so much money just guessing on every new idea. My instrument cluster is defective and all of the gauges don't read. That's the reason the mechanic we use is just guessing on what is making the car turn off.
I think once he can simmulate the correct RPM's so he can actually diag ode it for the first time in 4 years that we've been taking the car in.
Does that sound like a good idea?
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Saturday, October 8th, 2011 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
SNDPAPR1
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That's a good idea, we have spent so much money just guessing on every new idea. My instrument cluster is defective and all of the gauges don't read. That's the reason the mechanic we use is just guessing on what is making the car turn off.
I think once he can simmulate the correct RPM's so he can actually diagnose it for the first time in 4 years that we've been taking the car in.
Does that sound like a good idea?
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Saturday, October 8th, 2011 AT 9:25 PM
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
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Hard to say if that method will be effective or not. Is it an "E" or an "I" car? What are the last 7 of the VIN?
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Saturday, October 8th, 2011 AT 9:41 PM
Tiny
SNDPAPR1
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  • 9 POSTS
It's a 325 and the last are9808235. Why will this help you?
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 12:35 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
It's so he can identify the engine you have.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 12:45 AM
Tiny
SNDPAPR1
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Ok, sounds good. Thank you.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 1:26 AM
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,603 POSTS
An ETA motor. Fixing the instrument cluster is not the issue. I would tend to believe the "mechanic" you have been seeing should be communicating with me rather than through you. I can't fix the car unless I get a clear picture of all that is going on, and the format we are communicating through here is too limiting. How shall we proceed?
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 5:01 PM

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