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Idle/starting Issues 1976 2002

Johnts808

By Johnts808
in BMW 2002 and other '02

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Johnts808 Apprentice

Johnts808

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Hi Everyone,

I have just become the owner of a 1976 BMW 2002. It had been sitting unused in a garage for 7 years and after I changed the oil, topped off the coolant, and replaced the battery, she started right up! This was a few weeks ago, and I have been driving the car almost everyday (at least around the block) and it ran great until two days ago. The night before, I had driven the car (admittedly pretty agressively) and in the morning, it had a very, very hard time starting up. The starter sounded weak and there was a rattling noise coming from the engine bay. After a few minutes though, it started and sounded fine above 1000 RPM. However, at idle, the engine would slow down dramatically, sputter and cough, and eventually die. Has anyone experienced this problem before or know what might be wrong? I have been running the car on the same gas that had been sitting in the tank since the previous owner left it, so my first order of business will be to drain the old gas, put in fresh gas, replace the fuel filter, and run the engine while spraying a lot of carburetor cleaner into the carb. From what I have read, it sounds like the old gas may have clogged up the idle jet in the carburetor, but this doesn't explain why the car has so much trouble starting (unless the starter motor could be going as well?). Any help would be much appreciated! I'm new to the forum and fairly competent at working on cars. My 2002 has stock everything with the 4-speed manual.

Stock solex carburetor throat:post-45574-0-12827200-1375698239_thumb.j

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Simeon Grand Master

Simeon

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You may find that your fuel pump is less than perfect. The diaphragms don't like standing still for 7 years before being spurred back into life.

You need to be prepared for a number of things like this happening as cars really like to be driven.

Change all the fluids (including brake fluid). Watch rubber components like brake cylinders and coolant hoses.

rtheriaque wrote:

Carbs: They're necessary and barely controlled fuel leaks that sometimes match the air passing through them.

My build blog:http://www.bmw2002faq.com/blog/163-simeons-blog/

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Simeon Grand Master

Simeon

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Oh yeah, welcome and have fun!

This is my favourite bit of a new (to me) car. Doing small jobs from a list, feeling the car run better and feel stronger. Don't lose heart, like I say you might find a series of annoying failures after bringing your car back to life. Try and get 'ahead of it' by planning on replacing all common service parts. Start with the 'stoppers ' (brakes), ignition, your fuel issues and go on from there. Take lots of notes and have fun!

rtheriaque wrote:

Carbs: They're necessary and barely controlled fuel leaks that sometimes match the air passing through them.

My build blog:http://www.bmw2002faq.com/blog/163-simeons-blog/

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Johnts808 Apprentice

Johnts808

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Check the spark plugs and distributor. Definitely clean the fuel system including the intank fuel pickup filter. Also re-time the engine.

Thanks for all your help everyone! Stevenc22, do you think it would be an electrical issue even if it runs smoothly at higher rpm's?

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paulram Community Regular

paulram

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I had a really hard time starting my car.  It always eventually ran after incessant cranking but the problem was a vacuum hose that was disconnected from my fuel line.  I don't know what the part is called but it looks to be some type of check valve in the fuel line right before the carb.  Now that it is connected it starts immediately.  My idle is really crappy once any vacuum is disconnected.

 

Just a thought.  

post-45331-0-72686500-1375734255_thumb.j

Edited by paulram
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Johnts808 Apprentice

Johnts808

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Just an update, the hoses all seem to be connected properly to the fuel pump. I removed the gas tank tonight and drained all the fuel out, which didn't look all that dirty. There was a part just hanging out in the tank though...here's a picture, can anyone tell me what it is/if it is the cause of my problem? Looks like some type of filter to me.post-45574-0-70498000-1375785285_thumb.j

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Stevenc22 Grand Master

Stevenc22

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John, very difficult to tell from the picture what im looking at?

 

My car had a Weber carb from the day i got it so i have never messed with the solex HOWEVER when ever im having problems starting the car, its choke related. I would check out whether the choke is closing correctly on a cold car ect.

1976 BMW 2002 Chamonix. My first love.

1972 BMW 2002tii Polaris. My new side piece.

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Johnts808 Apprentice

Johnts808

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John, very difficult to tell from the picture what im looking at?

 

My car had a Weber carb from the day i got it so i have never messed with the solex HOWEVER when ever im having problems starting the car, its choke related. I would check out whether the choke is closing correctly on a cold car ect.

Steven,

I noticed that on my car, the choke knob is missing from the steering column...and I'm not sure why that is.  My thinking was that maybe since the car would be in warm weather year-round (Hawaii), the previous owner didn't get one included with his 2002?  Regardless, I'm not sure how this works out at the carburetor, ie. whether or not the choke mechanism is even there, but you're right, that's definitely something I should check out!

 

Sorry for the confusing photo.  It is a picture taken down the fill throat of the gas tank, and the part in question is the (dark purple) circular part at the bottom of the tank!  Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it

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Johnts808 Apprentice

Johnts808

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The cylindrical fuel sender you removed from the fuel tank to take the photo should have a mesh filter snapped onto the bottom.  Can't tell from your photo if that is what we're seeing.

John,

Is this the fuel sender you're talking about? I didn't take it out because it has some sort of liquid gasket around the edge of it.post-45574-0-75510200-1375821176_thumb.j

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John_in_VA Grand Master

John_in_VA

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John,

Is this the fuel sender you're talking about? I didn't take it out because it has some sort of liquid gasket around the edge of it.

Yes - sorry, got distracted and overlooked the fact that you took the picture through the fuel filler neck.  There is an o-ring that squeezes between the sender and tank.  The liquid gasket was someone else's idea.

 

16-11-1-744-369 = O-Ring for Fuel Tank Sending Unit/Suction Device

Edited by John_in_VA

John in VA

'74 tii "Juanita"  '85 535i "Goldie"  '86 535i "M-POSSTR"  

'03 530i "Titan"  '06 330ci "ZHPY"

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