1987 325e sputtering then stop

[concort]

Hello all,

I replaced most everything related to the fuel system on my 87 e30 including: both fuel pumps, injectors (with quality bosch injectors), spark plugs and plug wires (yes there is spark) CPS, fuel filter, fuel lines, main relay, idle control module, i tested the fuel pump relay and its fine... fuel pump is running and there is pressure.

So after multiple test drives The car will start and idle (not super smooth) but when running down the road it will sputter a little when getting on the gas and then after 5-10 min i came to stop sign and it stopped... left me sit. Didnt want to start... just kept cranking with no start. Then after half hour it started but still with some sputtering here and there. This happened on couple different occasions. Thought maybe I just needed to run it but no... theres definitely a fuel or spark issues going on but what would cause it to just stall like that and NOT start again until like half hour later? Any ideas??

[tomstin]

A few thoughts, when it quits, do you have spark? Pull a plug wire, carefully ground it while you crank the engine. That will be the easiest thing to check. If no spark, I would suspect the crank position sensors are bad, one shows engine speed, one top dead center to the ECU. IT could be the coil is failing once hot, but make sure you have spark.

If you have spark, check the fuel pressure. I have seen cars that get starved for fuel by debris in the fuel tank collecting on the fuel pump sock after running, typically highway speeds. After the car sits for awhile, the debris falls off the sock and you have fuel pressure again.

[sienayr]

If you have spark, check the fuel pressure. I have seen cars that get starved for fuel by debris in the fuel tank collecting on the fuel pump sock after running, typically highway speeds. After the car sits for awhile, the debris falls off the sock and you have fuel pressure again.

+1 had similar symptoms on my e24 and rust in the gas tank was the culprit. Easy to check, look for rust residue on the fuel pump screen.