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Thread: Coolant temp sensor

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    12

    Default Coolant temp sensor

    Ive got a 91 535i that runs very rough when it is started cold in the mornings. i replaced the headgasket on it about 100km ago. I have read up on what could cause this, and one thing is it could be the coolant temp sensor. i just measured it then and it got a reading of 3.57K. this was taken with the motor stone cold (hasnt been started for a few days) and it was only a max of 14degrees celcius today. i do not think it is anything to do with the headgasket, as when i rev it it blows a dask colour smoke (not white steam).if i rev it and keep it at about 1500rpm for about 30secs it will then idle fine. i have had it upto its proper operating temperature and the system was pressurized as normal, i then parked the car and felt the hoses 2 days later and they were still sort of hard so i dont beleive there is a leak of any sort. If anyone could help me it would be appreciated.
    535i, M30B35, auto, jan91, rhd, australia

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Wellington,New Zealand
    Posts
    3,868

    Default

    i am very interested in this,because this is the exact trouble i am having with my car...however my hoses are very soft the next day.I was thinking today that it could be the temp sensor,quite a petrol smell when starting although i thought the exhaust was normal when the car was hot....I am gooing to try to clean the sensor connections for a start
    Gone but not forgotten

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Chicago, Il. U.S.A.
    Posts
    4,243

    Default

    Temp sensor seems within normal range. Definately too rich if black smoke.
    It may be injector(s) leaking down after shut off or maybe a pressure regulator gone south.
    "The gas pedal wouldn't go to the floor if it weren't meant to be there"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    12

    Default

    one thing i have noticed, is that if i start the car and leave it in neutral it will idle fine, but if i start it and put it straight into drive, it really starts idling rough and shakes and almost stalls at times.however after a while it comes good.i tried the "stomp" test but my car doesnt seem to have an engine light?is there any way to check the pressure regulator without a fuel pressure gauge?ive got a hand vacuum pump so i can check for whether it holds vacuum i suppose?
    535i, M30B35, auto, jan91, rhd, australia

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    879

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryan12345d View Post
    one thing i have noticed, is that if i start the car and leave it in neutral it will idle fine, but if i start it and put it straight into drive, it really starts idling rough and shakes and almost stalls at times.however after a while it comes good.i tried the "stomp" test but my car doesnt seem to have an engine light?is there any way to check the pressure regulator without a fuel pressure gauge?ive got a hand vacuum pump so i can check for whether it holds vacuum i suppose?
    that stomp test is really handy, it diagnosed an oxygen sensor problem for me. not sure about australian models, the european models don't have it i believe. but if it's just the bulb i'd be borrowing the dash parking brake light bulb to try it out, it might pinpoint your problem right away. when i bought my car the CE bulb had just been removed for obvious reasons.

    there is a good photo of the back of the cluster on bruno's wiki site. you should be able to reach the bulbs without taking out the steering wheel, but put a cloth on the steering column so you don't scratch the cluster face.

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