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Thread: Mad Cow Computer

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Foxboro, MA
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    1996 328is

    Mad Cow Computer

    I have an escalating issue with my 1996 328is, 284,000 miles. I’ll be driving along, and suddenly, it’s like it’s running on 3 cylinders. When I accelerate, it bucks around and runs rough. If I turn off the engine and back on (reboot) it has fixed the problem and will run smooth again. Lately, I’ve had to reboot several times and seems reluctant to restore. On the highway, it can be kind of a safety issue. I was going to re-seat the chip, but I’ve read that the ’96 computer has a soldered chip, not a press-in one. I don’t know what else to put in here, I just thought I’m not the only one who’s had this problem.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
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    Chicagoland area
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    EXOTICS
    I would suspect fuel pump going out. Check pressure at fuel rail, during good and bad running conditions to compare readings.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Foxboro, MA
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    My Cars
    1996 328is
    Quote Originally Posted by MIKYZZ4 View Post
    I would suspect fuel pump going out. Check pressure at fuel rail, during good and bad running conditions to compare readings.

    Wow, that didn't occur to me, but plausible. How would stopping then restarting the car fix a bad fuel pump?
    And thanks. I'm glad I didn't rip apart the computer to fix the fuel pump

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Canada
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    Are Slower than yours.
    Any codes?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
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    Arlington, VA
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    2018 BMW M240i
    Could be the fuel pump relay. That seems just as likely. If you plan on keeping the car replace the pump, the pump seal, the filter, the relay and the hoses+clamps at the filter

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Pennsyltucky
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    921
    My Cars
    6BT, 3VZE
    Quote Originally Posted by hajrb View Post
    Wow, that didn't occur to me, but plausible. How would stopping then restarting the car fix a bad fuel pump?
    And thanks. I'm glad I didn't rip apart the computer to fix the fuel pump
    Fuel filter.



  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Foxboro, MA
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    1996 328is
    Well, the car is down for the count now, until I can get it to my guy. The problem is full time. My PEAK tool did fine codes, including one that says the Check Engine light is out. No wonder I wasn't seeing anything. I'm rooting for the fuel filiter. The codes about the O2 sensors is not a surprise since there's no CAT in the system.

    14 check engine lamp
    FE. EVAP large leak detected
    E9 Catalyst below threshold cylinder 1-3
    3d After Cat oxy sensor heater cylinder 4-6
    DC. Not found on the chart 0C: Throttle position sensor?
    4F After Cat oxy sensor heater cylinder 1-3
    EE Misfire detected cylinder 1
    15 VANOS (solenoid)
    d4 VANOS mechanically stuck

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Foxboro, MA
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    1996 328is
    Turns out the ignition coil on cylinder 1 was bad. Restarting seemed to shock it back to life for a while. Back to running smoothly now.
    Thanks for the input

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
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    Unbelievable that a single coil caused all those codes.

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