Yesterday in an effort to find a faulty coil, I did the home made version of checking them without diagnostic equipment. You know the one where you start the engine, take note of the current bad idle condition then go about disconnecting one coil at a time (with the engine off, then restart) in an effort to find a faulty coil. I should add that I recently replaced all plugs, so I knew they weren't the culprit. I thought I found a faulty coil, simply by sound, engine reaction and watching the vibrations of the open bonnet. The faulty coil part was right, the location was wrong.
In order to confirm my findings I took the car into a local well respected auto electrician. He's been in business for 32 years, he knows his stuff. He ran codes then came up with an 'Unknown Code'. Apparently this code comes up with e39's sometimes.
He started with the coils and soon came up with a faulty one, drivers side nearest the front. He confirmed it by removing and swapping with another.
New matching oem coil will be in this time tomorrow. Looking forward to all pots firing.
Another problem solvered.
So guys, before you go tipping a ton of folding into your ride with a bad idle by blindly replacing fuel filter, pump, vacuum seals, fuel, maf sensor, camshaft p s, etc etc maybe take an easier route and check out the coils, preferably with the help of your indy/dealer.
I'm not saying that all bad idles will end this way obviously, what I am saying is that there are easy, less expensive ways to find the fault.
GL to all you bad idlers out there.
I should at this time also add bb's invaluable link to all things misfiring. So in case you've missed it and maybe need it, here it is: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5804284&postcount=15
In order to confirm my findings I took the car into a local well respected auto electrician. He's been in business for 32 years, he knows his stuff. He ran codes then came up with an 'Unknown Code'. Apparently this code comes up with e39's sometimes.
He started with the coils and soon came up with a faulty one, drivers side nearest the front. He confirmed it by removing and swapping with another.
New matching oem coil will be in this time tomorrow. Looking forward to all pots firing.
Another problem solvered.
So guys, before you go tipping a ton of folding into your ride with a bad idle by blindly replacing fuel filter, pump, vacuum seals, fuel, maf sensor, camshaft p s, etc etc maybe take an easier route and check out the coils, preferably with the help of your indy/dealer.
I'm not saying that all bad idles will end this way obviously, what I am saying is that there are easy, less expensive ways to find the fault.
GL to all you bad idlers out there.
I should at this time also add bb's invaluable link to all things misfiring. So in case you've missed it and maybe need it, here it is: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5804284&postcount=15
