[panagath]

Ok, following a previous Thread, I would like to ask with some "cleaner" results and symptoms. I have an e46 330ci

I usually had P0171 & P0174 (lean both banks) errors but could not find the vacuum leak. The car worked great all the time (I think).

Now I notice that when I first start it I might have some vibrations. Then it works fine, after 30+ minutes of driving, when I stop to a traffic light, the idle is a bit rough, or for example if I do a hard acceleration and then go to neutral. (This points me to not enough fuel?) .

If I turn the car off and leave it for half and hour and start it again...then it starts having frequent rough idle. If I leave it for a few hours (when I am at work for example or overnight) then everything goes back to the same as when I first start it.

Since the rough idle is not permanent, I think that it is not a vacuum leak. I tried to disconnect the MAF and spray intake cleaner fluid arround all the hoses etc visible from the top and nothing was noted. Could this be a fuel pump failing?

 

[dmax]

Not sure of prior thread, but that it happens when it's warmed up more, I'm kind of thinking fuel filter. At start up, it'll have a slightly higher idle.

But, if you haven't looked, it well might be an airleak...and while you're replacing the lower intake boot, I'd clean the ICV really well...and do all I could in that neighborhood....clean TB, replace its gasket...ditto the DISA. The ICV grommet will be fine, though if you want to spend another $20, do that too.

Also...run Techron in two consecutive fills...with super. Read the label...add at gas station before filling.

...and, all that said, it could be the fuel pump too...lots of simple things need to work for the car to work. Don't know the mileage or what you've done preventatively so far. Plugs, VCG. Anyway...a fuel filter will stop the car at 120K miles if not changed, but if it's been a while, you'll get better gas mileage when you change it...in all likelihood.

What maintenance have you done? Fuel pump and filter are both straightforward. For pump, you'll want one helper for about 3 mins. with a hammer and screwdriver to hammer on the opposite side of the locking ring to get it open.

 

[Hamsocne]

I think it is a vacuum leak.

Check all your hoses again.

Edit: Damn Doug types fast.

 

[Hamsocne]

I have re-read your post. I still think you have a vacuum issue. Those codes are the only ones that I have pulled and that was what it was both times. Mine was minor so no idle or other issues.

I am unsure if the SAP hoses will give you those codes, but I did replace mine. I am ready to get flamed but that one with ribs is notorious for hiding flaws.

Do you have maintenance records? I have every record since new and only have 80,000 miles so the very few issues I have had were easy to figure out.

With that being said, sometimes you wait and sometimes you don't. I am going to do my VCG and fuel pump/filter just because.

 

[panagath]

My car is at 137k miles. I don't have a full service record. I have the car for 8-9 months now. A few days after I bought it I had a huge issue with vacuum leak from the upper intake boot. I changed it and it started working fine, but it throws P0171 & P0174 after driving for like 50miles, then it might turn off after a bit etc. Now It turns on much faster and I also have a bit of rough idle here and there.

I ordered a fuel pressure gauge, hope it will be here by the weekend. I will take a look at the fuel pressure. If it is not ok I will replace the pump and the filter just to be sure. I also booked the car to a garage to do a smoke test and see where the leak comes from if it exists...but that garage is SO BUSY that the nearest appointment they had was on the 25th ( 22days from now ). Lets hope it won't die until then.

I sprayed a lot of intake cleaner on the lower hose (especially on the small hose it has) but the idle did not change.

Another symptom I have the last days is that when I start it from cold... initially it revs up to 1000rpm... then a few seconds later it goes to 1200rpm until it drops again down to 700. Before these issues, it wouldn't go above 1000rpm when cold.

 

[All2kool]

I also had the P0171/P0174 codes recently. I replaced the first boot off the MAF and it has not returned. I inspected the boot I removed and could see nothing wrong with it. Then it dawned on me - I likely created a vacuum leak when I lazily installed a new Air Filter shortly after purchase. I didn't see the clip nearest the engine and pried up the Air Box Lid a little to slide in the new filter. My codes came after I did that. I concluded that when I installed the Air Filter, I created a gap in the boot. I could be wrong but I'm sticking with it.

 

[panagath]

I also had the P0171/P0174 codes recently. I replaced the first boot off the MAF and it has not returned. I inspected the boot I removed and could see nothing wrong with it. Then it dawned on me - I likely created a vacuum leak when I lazily installed a new Air Filter shortly after purchase. I didn't see the clip nearest the engine and pried up the Air Box Lid a little to slide in the new filter. My codes came after I did that. I concluded that when I installed the Air Filter, I created a gap in the boot. I could be wrong but I'm sticking with it.

I had a similar issue after I installed the new upper intake boot. The clamp after the MAF to the upper intake boot was not that "strong" and If I screwed it a bit more it jumped from its teeth. So there was a small leak from there. I changed it to a reenforced clamp and now I am sure there is no leak from there

 

[markusmarkus]

OP, those codes are classic for vacuum leaks! Have the intake smoke tested. Visual inspections won't find the leaks.

 

[panagath]

OP, those codes are classic for vacuum leaks! Have the intake smoke tested. Visual inspections won't find the leaks.

I tried to disable the MAF and used Air Intake cleaner fluid...sprayed a lot of it around all the possible hoses and places I can see from the top of my engine but I couldn't detect any changes in the rpms. I will try to buy starting fluid and see if that does any difference.

I also ordered a "snake" telescopic camera so I can put it and see everything under my engine without having to lift my car and see for anything very obvious. If nothing of that helps...I will wait until the 25th when I have the smoke test booked.

 

[jfoj]

Classic case of someone not listening or searching.

ALMOST ALL the E46 vacuum leaks are from the underside of the engine/hoses. Spray do not usually work for locating them. Some cannot even be located with smoke testing.

If you are not willing to get dirty and under the car, take it to a shop.

I do not check fuel pressure on cars over 8-10 years old, just replace the fuel pump.

Otherwise read these threads -

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?p=16727145

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=929501

 

[panagath]

Classic case of someone not listening or searching.

ALMOST ALL the E46 vacuum leaks are from the underside of the engine/hoses. Spray do not usually work for locating them. Some cannot even be located with smoke testing.

If you are not willing to get dirty and under the car, take it to a shop.

I do not check fuel pressure on cars over 8-10 years old, just replace the fuel pump.

Otherwise read these threads -

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?p=16727145

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=929501

Of course I have searched. I have spent a lot of hours trying to find people with similar symptoms. I have read BOTH the threads from you signature, the one for the vacuum leaks and the other for the fuel pumps...How do you think I got the idea that the fuel pump could be causing the lean codes?

The car is driven daily, I leave early and come back late, there is not enough time to get under the car during weekdays and sometimes there is not enough time even at weekends. I do not have all the tools to lift the car and get under it properly (yet) and I do not have a closed garage, everything has to be done on the street.

The shop I booked the appointment does not have an available appointment before the 25th of this month...So I am trying to gather as much information as I can and display all the symptoms I have discovered in case I am lucky and I manage to find the problem in time before the car stops being drivable if it happens before the 25th. Its all I can do with limited resources in a city with limited space.

 

[D.javier17]

I had these codes and symptoms on cold starts, replaced my disa and the two codes have not returned.

 

[dwebb99]

Search....fuel pump, fuel filter, disa valve, idle control valve (clean it!), throttle body (clean it), intake boots (they crack...replace), CCV valve replacement. At this mileage it's time for all these things "assuming" they have not yet been done. Trust me on this. Plenty of youtube video's and DIY's on all these things. Also, become VERY familiar with BMW COOLING SYSTEMS! Welcome to the club....now.....Git-er-done.....

 

[Megalocnus]

Of course I have searched. I have spent a lot of hours trying to find people with similar symptoms. I have read BOTH the threads from you signature, the one for the vacuum leaks and the other for the fuel pumps...How do you think I got the idea that the fuel pump could be causing the lean codes?

The car is driven daily, I leave early and come back late, there is not enough time to get under the car during weekdays and sometimes there is not enough time even at weekends. I do not have all the tools to lift the car and get under it properly (yet) and I do not have a closed garage, everything has to be done on the street.

The shop I booked the appointment does not have an available appointment before the 25th of this month...So I am trying to gather as much information as I can and display all the symptoms I have discovered in case I am lucky and I manage to find the problem in time before the car stops being drivable if it happens before the 25th. Its all I can do with limited resources in a city with limited space.

Can't work on your car where you live and can't get an appointment at the shop earlier than April 25? It can be especially tough to own an old car in some cities, i.e. London UK, Manahttan NY and such.

A lot of people were able to get rid of these codes after finding tears in the intake boot and/or elbow, but others have less luck. I guess in your situation it is worth to check for vacuum leaks at the more obvious places, then just give up and let the shop find them. The fuel pump is something you can easily do on your own, but at this age it will be worth to replace the fuel filter as well, which is a bit more involved job...

Have you considered getting a newer car that will better fit your lifestyle?

 

[panagath]

Search....fuel pump, fuel filter, disa valve, idle control valve (clean it!), throttle body (clean it), intake boots (they crack...replace), CCV valve replacement. At this mileage it's time for all these things "assuming" they have not yet been done. Trust me on this. Plenty of youtube video's and DIY's on all these things. Also, become VERY familiar with BMW COOLING SYSTEMS! Welcome to the club....now.....Git-er-done.....

I have already searched for all these. I will start checking one by one from this weekend until I find my problem. For the cooling system I am ok for now, the previous owner had replaced the radiator and had serviced it (800pounds service If I remember well that I saw in the receipts). Hope it will last a little more.

Can't work on your car where you live and can't get an appointment at the shop earlier than April 25? It can be especially tough to own an old car in some cities, i.e. London UK, Manahttan NY and such.

A lot of people were able to get rid of these codes after finding tears in the intake boot and/or elbow, but others have less luck. I guess in your situation it is worth to check for vacuum leaks at the more obvious places, then just give up and let the shop find them. The fuel pump is something you can easily do on your own, but at this age it will be worth to replace the fuel filter as well, which is a bit more involved job...

Have you considered getting a newer car that will better fit your lifestyle?

Yes, being a petrolhead in a big city like London is not that easy. I have considered changing my car...BUT
- I can't change it before my current insurance contract ends because I need to get my 1st year of No Claims Discount (as I am new in the UK) and it is very important to reduce the next insurance quote
- With the same money I have I can get like a Toyota Yaris, or a Nissan Micra, or a Mercedes C180 etc... The e46 330 is the best car you can buy BUT you need to be able to work on it.
- I would like to get the M3 but it is much more expensive and I guess it will have the same or similar problems

 

[markusmarkus]

Have the intake system smoke tested!?? You can have 20/20 vision and you won't "see" vacuum leaks. The only sure way to find vacuum leaks is to smoke test the intake. Stop doing half measures and pull the trigger: smoke test! Jssssh!

 

[panagath]

Have the intake system smoke tested!?? You can have 20/20 vision and you won't "see" vacuum leaks. The only sure way to find vacuum leaks is to smoke test the intake. Stop doing half measures and pull the trigger: smoke test! Jssssh!

I have already booked an appointment to do a smoke test, but the shop was full until the 25th of this month...so the smoke test will be done in 20 days. I am just trying to find the main cause of the problem and fix it before that as the car is a daily driver and in 20 days a lot can happen...

 

[panagath]

Hello all again. Today I worked a bit on the car. These are my findings. Any suggestions will be very appreciated. Also, all the checks I did were from the "top" of the car as I do not have any stands yet.

1 - DISA valve looks ok, pin in position, flap is strong and you need to press it to move, no play etc. I only had to put a seal as it did not have one. Probably the previous owner replaced the DISA but did not put any seal.

2 - I removed to engine caps. The one hose that goes from the front of the intake manifold to the back, shown in the photos below looks in a very bad condition. I don't know if this is the protector only or the hose itself. I tried to pour some starting fluid on but did not have any change in RPM. Can someone help detect this hose in realoem? I can't find it. Could this be causing my vacuum leaks?

3 - Oily intake. After removing the DISA, all the intake inside was oily. Could this justify my excessive oil loss? Does it mean a bad CCV? Could it be related to the hose on top?

4 - Fuel pressure. I checked the fuel pressure. Before starting the engine (overnight engine off) pressure was almost 0. After I turned the key to pos. ON the pressure went to around 44 PSI (but no more). After a few minutes I started the engine, fuel pressure was again 44 PSI. During revving the engine pressure went like 10 psi more (could not see clear from inside the car) and when I stopped revving the pressure dropped to 35 psi. Is my fuel pump in soft fail mode?

5 - Upper intake boot is new ( I replaced it a few months ago) lower intake boot looks quite fresh too.

 

[panagath]

anyone?