E36 Jerky ride

[lorensiuswlt]

Hello fellows,

I have problem with my 94 bmw e36 mt. The car feels jerky when i drive it on uneven road surface even when not accelerating while on downhill road. It also happens when the rear wheels hit a speed bump or a pothole. When it happens, the rpm needle will go up and down and the indicator lights on instrument cluster will turn on and off. It also happens on smooth road but more often on uneven road.

About a week ago i accidentally filled up the tank with octane 90 gasoline which is usually filled with 92 octane. I don't know if that was the cause. The car was running smoothly days after that.
The day before i washed the car as usual and on the next morning the engine was running smooth on idle when i started the car but then the problem happened when i started driving it. Btw my car also always have problem with the rough idle in the morning when i washed the car on previous day and let it sit overnight. But it wont last long and will disappear after about 2 km driving.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards.

[spyderg0d]

Sounds like bad engine ground strap or battery terminal or fuseable link.

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Or leads on the altinator are loose.

[lorensiuswlt]

Sounds like bad engine ground strap or battery terminal or fuseable link.

- - - Updated - - -

Or leads on the altinator are loose.

Hi spyderg0d, thank you for your reply. I just solved the problem. That was from the battery terminal as you said. I accidentally put the wheel wrench near the battery so one of the end of the wrench touch the positive lead and the other touch the body, it caused electrical short. Thats why the problem happened when my car hit the pothole or bumpy road.




Thanks.

[spyderg0d]

Be weary of future altinator or battery problems. Take care.