Subject: Trying to troubleshoot... Author: ssf1342 : member since January, 2008 : 23 posts Posted on: 2009-06-13 21:32:39

I'm trying to figure out my hard cold/warm start/rough idle/dying issue, and I noticed a few things:

1. When I start the car, sometimes I get a loud grinding/ringing sound. Is my starter ready to go?

2. All of my spark plugs were covered in dried black soot. Is this more of an oil leaking issue as opposed to excess fuel?

3. Erratic idle that sometimes fluctuates more when I turn on the lights or climate controls. Electrical problem/vacuum leak?

4. The 35-pin connector to my Motronic unit (the box above my glove compartment, I presume) is missing connections for pins 3, 5, 8, 11-13, 16, 17, 22, 30, 31, and 33. The unit itself is made by Bosch with p/n 0 265 100 0 21 (has these other numbers 5434166 and 085). I tried to follow the table for measured values in the Bentley manual for e28.

5. The chips are all soldered on. There are two 40-pin chips that both have SM209D and 8826516 on top (JC2 has p/n 2906 VV 8503 and JC3 has p/n 3970 VV 8437). JC1 is a 16-pin chip (0140 B438). I thought the chips were plug-in?

6. There are two modules under the steering wheel. Both black. The larger one has two green connectors. I pried it open and only saw two copper wire coils. The numbers on the case are 65.81-1 373 726; 01 4386 008 001; 0385/02. The smaller module (closest to the hood release and mounted vertically) had one white connector. The numbers on the case are 003; 201; 070 61.31 1 373 323. I couldn't pry that one open. What are they?

I apologize for being all over the place. The build date of the car is 05/1985; it is U.S. spec, automatic, and the odo stopped at 155,747 miles.

1985 e23 735i

• Trying to troubleshoot... - ssf1342 2009-06-13 21:32:39 (137 views)
  • Update - ssf1342 2009-11-21 20:08:20 (3 views)
  • Some answers... - demet 2009-06-15 11:33:01 (134 views)
    • Now I can't get the car to stay running... - ssf1342 2009-07-08 20:06:02 (61 views)
    • Re: Some answers... - clemsoncpa 2009-06-15 21:11:02 (111 views)
      • Thanks both... - ssf1342 2009-06-23 00:13:58 (93 views)
        • Re: Thanks both... - e23chris 2009-10-10 02:36:28 (12 views)