Can't hold idle, dies immediatly

[Skunk]

Hi Chaps,

I'm having an issue where I start the car, it dies immediately.
When I give it lots of throttle upon starting I hear a massive whoosh as I fight it to keep it running, but immediately dies.

I did reseal the Vanos. So had all that apart and also had the Airbox and MAF out. MAF was wrapped in a towel sitting on the ground outside for the weekend.
First start with the engine back together and intake back on the car, it would die upon revving or trying to move it...but would hold a nice steady idle as long as I didn't touch the gas pedal..

Uplugged the MAF and the car idled and revved without dying. And this is with a heavily cracked intake boot and disconnected ICV to intake boot connection.
So i replaced the intake boot/ ICV hose, put it back together and its worse than ever now.

I don't see any loose hoses anywhere and everything is plugged back in.

About to go get MAF cleaner and waiting for roommate to get home so he can start the car/rev while I check where that whoosh is coming from.

Codes
P0101 -Mass Air Flow Sensor Circuit Range/Performance.
P1525 pending - Camshaft Position Actuator 'A' Control Open Circuit Bank 1 ( I had this code before the install as the vanos was unplagged- cleared codes, but its still there)

Any other ideas? thx.

[blckstrm]

Hi Chaps,

I'm having an issue where I start the car, it dies immediately.
When I give it lots of throttle upon starting I hear a massive whoosh as I fight it to keep it running, but immediately dies.

I did reseal the Vanos. So had all that apart and also had the Airbox and MAF out. MAF was wrapped in a towel sitting on the ground outside for the weekend.
First start with the engine back together and intake back on the car, it would die upon revving or trying to move it...but would hold a nice steady idle as long as I didn't touch the gas pedal..

Uplugged the MAF and the car idled and revved without dying. And this is with a heavily cracked intake boot and disconnected ICV to intake boot connection.
So i replaced the intake boot/ ICV hose, put it back together and its worse than ever now.

I don't see any loose hoses anywhere and everything is plugged back in.

About to go get MAF cleaner and waiting for roommate to get home so he can start the car/rev while I check where that whoosh is coming from.

Codes
P0101 -Mass Air Flow Sensor Circuit Range/Performance.
P1525 pending - Camshaft Position Actuator 'A' Control Open Circuit Bank 1 ( I had this code before the install as the vanos was unplagged- cleared codes, but its still there)

Any other ideas? thx.

That whoosh - It just sounds like you didn't plug something back in - like the brake booster or something else down below.

I forget the booster line all the time. Did you double check everything?

[Skunk]

I really don't see anything that's unplugged. Unless I bumped something loose.. i'll check again tomorrow though.

[blckstrm]

I really don't see anything that's unplugged. Unless I bumped something loose.. i'll check again tomorrow though.

Keep in mind that the break booster plugs in underneath the accordion intake boot - you can't see it normally, so you forget it's there. That's always the first place I look.

[John in Houston]

Keep in mind that the break booster plugs in underneath the accordion intake boot - you can't see it normally, so you forget it's there. That's always the first place I look.

Actually, the brake booster plugs into the nipple on the side of the intake, just rear of the throttle body. The IAC plugs in on the underside of the accordion boot and can definitely cause all of the issues mentioned above as un-metered air is getting past the MAF. And yeah... that's the one that I always forget to plug in as well.

[Skunk]

Correct.
Both lines are plugged in.
I'm guessing I threw my timing off when I did the vanos seals. I'm really not looking forward to this issue. Its a real *unt.

[Left Coast]

I just got done with this exact thing. Turned out to be my MAF. Kicker was I wasn't getting a p0101 code. But ordered on from fcp and it solved everything.

[Skunk]

I just got done with this exact thing. Turned out to be my MAF. Kicker was I wasn't getting a p0101 code. But ordered on from fcp and it solved everything.

Were you working on the vanos and your MAF took a dump?

[Left Coast]

Were you working on the vanos and your MAF took a dump?

Not vanos but was originally thinking it had something to do with my camshaft sensor. Ended up not changing it once I swapped out the maf. Also cant cheap out on this part I tried an Amazon special and an ebay oe used no go. Once I put in the VDO one. It cranked right up nice idle in neutral and drove like an M car should.

[Skunk]

Not vanos but was originally thinking it had something to do with my camshaft sensor. Ended up not changing it once I swapped out the maf. Also cant cheap out on this part I tried an Amazon special and an ebay oe used no go. Once I put in the VDO one. It cranked right up nice idle in neutral and drove like an M car should.

Ok. I'm going to double check the timing today and if that fails i'll order the MAF from autohauAZ. It has to be one of the 2.

[blckstrm]

Actually, the brake booster plugs into the nipple on the side of the intake, just rear of the throttle body. The IAC plugs in on the underside of the accordion boot and can definitely cause all of the issues mentioned above as un-metered air is getting past the MAF. And yeah... that's the one that I always forget to plug in as well.

DOH - yes, of course you're right.

Everyone forgets that bottom IAC line.

[Skunk]

Just closing out this thread.

Fixed the problem a while ago after doing more research on timing the vanos. My mistake was messing with 2 different systems at the same time so I didnt know where the problem was. I assumed it was the Vanos, which it was off a tooth in timing but I believe I disturbed the ICV when I was changing out the torn hose which created a massive air leak as well as timing being off.

There's little bits of critical info scattered all over the place.

In mybimmerspace's video he explained better than others what 'catching the first tooth of the Vanos Helical gear' actually means.

M3nace has a wealth of info also in clear tutorials.

Also my other mistake was not lining up the cam sprocket bolt holes in the center of the 'elongated holes'.

After I knew I did the timing perfectly I re did the intake system Up to the ICV. Cleaned ICV while I was at it.

Then she started up. Or he.. I dunno, I don't want to assume its gender.


Idles at 1000rpm which I don't like and will sort out later but runs smoother than before and doesn't start choking at mid range rpm. Haven't really tested it out yet.

[BMWManiac]

It took me awhile, but I am glad I finally bought one of those paint can/smoke machine on ebay for $70. It has been a huge help finding any vacuum leaks and instead of drowning everything in the engine bay with brake cleaner/wd-40, etc. No more guessing!