car stalling when cold

[tiger8mush]

My check engine light came on a couple days ago, and yesterday morning (it was cold here in Connecticut) I started it up, let it idle for 20 seconds like I normally do, and drove it down the street. As I came to the stop sign to enter the main road, I push the brake and the clutch in and the car stalls. But after restarting, driving a few miles, and repeating, its fine. Happened to me this morning too. But after it warms up, it seems to be fine. I took it to the stealership, they ran some checks and said my 02 sensors are fine and no air leaks. I replaced my spark plugs last Fall so I don't think thats the issue. Think its something electrical? Thanks for any ideas!

Rob

[dinaneurobmw]

What was the check engine light for? How old is ur battery (look at the top of the negitive post if its a BMW original part battery ) the top 2 numbers are the week produced and the bottom two are the year produced. If you have a weak battery u may tend to start to flood your car. put a good charge on the battery or replace it if its over 4 years (average life is 4-5 for a bmw battery) just a starting point though....*note*bmw factory battery will give u less problem if u just cough up the dough

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by dinaneurobmw

What was the check engine light for?

Sorry about that. They said it was for a rich mixture, so I'm assuming a high gas-to-oxygen ratio?

My battery is at least 5 years old, cuz I've had the car for 5 years and still using the same battery.

Thanks!
Rob

[Manolito]

Rich mixture means that the O2 sensors are not seeing enough available oxygen.

My first suspect is the water temperature sensor that feeds water temperature info to the fuel injection logic, or the lead from that sensor.

Check first that the connection is clean. Then get a manual and find the spec, and check with an Ohm meter that the resistance corresponds to the water temperature.

I wish I could tell you where that sensor is, so you could find the lead easily, but I have never had need to look for mine on the e36s. On most cars, these sensors are on the head in an inconvenient location beneath the intake manifold. It should have a two-wire computer-style (low voltage, waterproof) plug on it.

Keep in mind that the stalling may be the result of the computer running open-loop in 'limp home' mode. The computer will do this if it detected a fatal error. It goes to all default settings and sets the check engine light. The stalling may therefore have little or nothing to do with the actual problem with the car,