Help! e36 318i AFM problem

[pharoah]

hi all,I've been driving my e36 around for a few months now and I loved every second of it. Then it happened. just 2 days ago, my car suddenly started dying on me at traffic stops and yesterday it got so bad that it dies when the car is in motion. Today's the worst, the car won't even start now. took the car to BMW specialist shop yesterday and he said that that the problem was with the AFM (Air Flow Meter). he said that i could still drive but there'll be intermittent breakdowns. I'm like "wt...." I'm a car idiot so if anybody out there would be so kind as to advise me on:1. where i can buy (or if anybody reading has) a AFM. 318i, 97' M432. is it truly an AFM problem? could it be a hole in the tubing? i'm a car idiot, really hope you guys can advise...

 

[ashleyteecee]

bro, check your timing sensor and your icv..... there is a guy in kelana jaya( taman mayang ) that could look into your afm and do some adjustments.....my number is (010) 231- 3450.....ashley here..... had the similar problem not too long ago

 

[Russie]

Try to search for some threads in this forum about M43 AFM issues. Eventually u will get answers. Try to service your AFM, refer to this:-

http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28110&highlight=AFM+M43

goodluck

 

[blackrobe]

I drive the same. HAd that same problem every year or so..jus take it to your shop, get them to open the unit up and clean the carbon build up with sandpaper...works fine...and negligible cost...dun fret bro..

P.S. I took mine to the Chinese mechanic (me forget his name at the moment) behind the petrol kiosk next to EPF Jalan GAsing. He does it well, and quickly too.

 

[pharoah]

bro, check your timing sensor and your icv..... there is a guy in kelana jaya( taman mayang ) that could look into your afm and do some adjustments.....my number is (010) 231- 3450.....ashley here..... had the similar problem not too long ago

hey ashley, good talking to you and thanks for the advice. hope the new AFM works.
and yeah, very nice ride

 

[pharoah]

Try to search for some threads in this forum about M43 AFM issues. Eventually u will get answers. Try to service your AFM, refer to this:-

http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28110&highlight=AFM+M43

goodluck

can't seem to get into the link. needs some kind of membership status?

 

[pharoah]

I drive the same. HAd that same problem every year or so..jus take it to your shop, get them to open the unit up and clean the carbon build up with sandpaper...works fine...and negligible cost...dun fret bro..

P.S. I took mine to the Chinese mechanic (me forget his name at the moment) behind the petrol kiosk next to EPF Jalan GAsing. He does it well, and quickly too.

thanks man! the workshop i went to simply told me to change one. sigh, not very helpful.
your workshop sounds good, how quickly are we talking about bro?

 

[elwine30]

a few things you will need to check

1) when you say your car can't start, is it no cranking sound or no sound at all.
2) when car died during traffic stops, do you notice your rev meter drops and didn't go back up?

So, you may have the following problem

1) sticky and deform AFM. You can have two options, one is to service it and 2nd is to replace it. It's a known problem or rather tear and wear for all BMW with AFM especially for E36. The metal for the AFM will actually goes out of shape over the years and it will impact on the flap. New one will cost you RM 1.2k. You can opt for 2nd hand one but will not gurantee it will work. You can try the option of servicing the AFM but it will not be a long term solution.

2) Car cannot start. It can be your battery or yr crankshaft sensor. It's also a known culprit for E36 M43. Either you call Tow Truck to tow your car to workshop and get them diagnose your problem.

 

[pharoah]

a few things you will need to check

1) when you say your car can't start, is it no cranking sound or no sound at all.
2) when car died during traffic stops, do you notice your rev meter drops and didn't go back up?

So, you may have the following problem

1) sticky and deform AFM. You can have two options, one is to service it and 2nd is to replace it. It's a known problem or rather tear and wear for all BMW with AFM especially for E36. The metal for the AFM will actually goes out of shape over the years and it will impact on the flap. New one will cost you RM 1.2k. You can opt for 2nd hand one but will not gurantee it will work. You can try the option of servicing the AFM but it will not be a long term solution.

2) Car cannot start. It can be your battery or yr crankshaft sensor. It's also a known culprit for E36 M43. Either you call Tow Truck to tow your car to workshop and get them diagnose your problem.

hi there,

thanks for replying.
1) there is a cranking sound when i try to start. so it should be fine, i hope.
2 spot on - rev meters drops and doesn't go back up. i reckon it's the AFM then isn't it? the metal for the AFM does look quite old actually. the flap does seem to be opening and closing easily enough.

 

[Hellraiser]

flap may open and close but your syntoms sound erratic. either do normal service where the mech will use sandpaper and wd-40 as advise by the bros above or change 2nd hand AFM. i changed it for my former E36 , cost me about RM 550 1.5 years ago. no problems after that. worked like a charm..!

 

[jarance]

Not the AFM lah..

Check your vacuum hose first.

Then check your crankshaft sensor.

 

[jarance]

can't seem to get into the link. needs some kind of membership status?

just PM russie.. I think he also post it on another forum.:listen:

 

[hamzah]

Bro, why not u try check yr heat sensor ( hope right word ). My last problem like that too. When cool can start but in few minute it stop. Start again it work but few minute again it stop. May this help. thks

 

[jarance]

Bro, why not u try check yr heat sensor ( hope right word ). My last problem like that too. When cool can start but in few minute it stop. Start again it work but few minute again it stop. May this help. thks

Confuse lah.. Heat sensor?? Pls show picture of the sensor. :wink:

 

[pharoah]

flap may open and close but your syntoms sound erratic. either do normal service where the mech will use sandpaper and wd-40 as advise by the bros above or change 2nd hand AFM. i changed it for my former E36 , cost me about RM 550 1.5 years ago. no problems after that. worked like a charm..!

hey bro, the mechanic came this afternoon to my car with a half-cut AFM. what i feared was true, the car still wouldn't start. he said it could be the crank "something" or the sensor, saying it's probably the sensor. man, i really am at a loss.

 

[jarance]

hey bro, the mechanic came this afternoon to my car with a half-cut AFM. what i feared was true, the car still wouldn't start. he said it could be the crank "something" or the sensor, saying it's probably the sensor. man, i really am at a loss.

It called the crankshaft sensor. Cost about Rm180 to change. Do not use recon or half cut sensor cos new sensor is relatively cheap.

See post #11. I already said it is NOT the AFM..

 

[pharoah]

It called the crankshaft sensor. Cost about Rm180 to change. Do not use recon or half cut sensor cos new sensor is relatively cheap.

See post #11. I already said it is NOT the AFM..

the guy was telling me it's the 'timing' sensor. this could be a stupid question but is that the same as the crankshaft sensor? 180 sounds alright though...

the guy was also telling there's 2 of these sensors, one top one and one bottom one. shouldn't there be just one?

 

[hamzah]

Jarance, i not sure my word heat sensor right or not. It like one black cable macam brake basikal. It connect bottom engine to trottle part. It cost me RM450.00 including labour charge. It i m wrong right me plse. Thks

 

[jarance]

the guy was telling me it's the 'timing' sensor. this could be a stupid question but is that the same as the crankshaft sensor? 180 sounds alright though...

the guy was also telling there's 2 of these sensors, one top one and one bottom one. shouldn't there be just one?

In some cars, there are two sensors. One is the crankshaft sensor and the other is the knock sensor sensor.

Crankshaft sensor or some people call it timing sensor sense the TDC of the crankshaft. This will enable the ecu to precisely fired the spark plugs. If this sensor fail, then the ignition and fuel system is disable. This is a fail-safe feature of the Ignition system.

The knock sensor prevent the engine from knocking due to low content of lead in the petrol.

There are also other sensors like the Oxygen O2 Sensors which help to optimise the firing of the fuel. Some cars have 2 sensor and some car have 1 sensor.

 

[jarance]

Just found out depending on your engine, some car got 4 sensors.

2 crankshaft and 2 knock sensors..