Stranded on the Highway...

zkc · 04-16-2009, 08:47 AM

Last night my trusty 2002 330i w/136,000 miles that I've had since new stranded me for the first time. It's now at the mechanic's and I'm awating their call...

It has been starting a little hard for the past couple of weeks and while I was driving home on the interstate last night it started to hesitate and lose power. I pulled off at a truck weigh station so I wouldn't be on the shoulder and I had no warning lights etc... and it was still running but there was hardly any power. No leaks or anything else. Once I turned it off it wouldn't start again, it sounded like an old flooded car.

Any ideas of what the problem might be???

Thanks,
Zac

John_Peters · 04-16-2009, 08:49 AM

Did you run out of gas?

Jk Seriously though thats weird. Hope your mechanic can get you back on the road again soon.

zkc · 04-16-2009, 09:06 AM

I would feel stupid but that would definitely be the cheapest fix.

I'm pretty sure it had about 1/4 tank left and the OBC said 90 miles to empty...

Chris-TK · 04-16-2009, 09:57 AM

Could be that your coils went bad.

K:^P · 04-16-2009, 03:11 PM

Seriously, pour some gas into the tank. Your fuel level sensor maybe inaccurate.

SteveX82 · 04-16-2009, 03:16 PM

Sounds like an electrical charging problem to me.

backroadswest · 04-16-2009, 03:19 PM

Bad gas or water build-up in remaining 1/4 tank?
Do you often run the tank down below that level?
If not, chances are you might have water in there, and when it gets down that low it starts sucking the diluted fuel/water mix.

N89 · 04-16-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K:^P

Seriously, pour some gas into the tank. Your fuel level sensor maybe inaccurate.

That's what I'm thinking too... those instrument gauges after time need to be readjusted for accuracy. Perfect example of my car is that after 188,000 miles the tach shows about 500RPMs too low.

backroadswest · 04-16-2009, 03:20 PM

Speaking of which, is anyone changing fuel filters, or are we considering them "lifetime" as well?

semich4rmedlyfe · 04-16-2009, 03:23 PM

Absolutely change them. They are not life-time. I helped a friend change one and it came out black...

backroadswest · 04-16-2009, 03:27 PM

At what mileage?

tiloulou330i · 04-16-2009, 03:32 PM

Your alternator is gone buddy....

04-16-2009, 08:47 AM	#1
zkc Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: KC Posts: 33 My Ride: 2004 m3 View My Garage	Stranded on the Highway... Last night my trusty 2002 330i w/136,000 miles that I've had since new stranded me for the first time. It's now at the mechanic's and I'm awating their call... It has been starting a little hard for the past couple of weeks and while I was driving home on the interstate last night it started to hesitate and lose power. I pulled off at a truck weigh station so I wouldn't be on the shoulder and I had no warning lights etc... and it was still running but there was hardly any power. No leaks or anything else. Once I turned it off it wouldn't start again, it sounded like an old flooded car. Any ideas of what the problem might be??? Thanks, Zac

04-16-2009, 09:57 AM	#4
Chris-TK Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 16,308 My Ride: Mazda View My Garage	Could be that your coils went bad. __________________ K.

04-16-2009, 03:23 PM	#10
semich4rmedlyfe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa / Chapel Hill Posts: 203 My Ride: 02.330Ci.ACS.DINAN View My Garage	Absolutely change them. They are not life-time. I helped a friend change one and it came out black... __________________

04-16-2009, 03:32 PM	#12
tiloulou330i Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dumont,NJ Posts: 730 My Ride: 02 330i zsp View My Garage	Your alternator is gone buddy.... __________________ Filbert Originally Posted by nawmean? I know I sound naive, but some of the advice I've taken from this board has helped my life quite a bit

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04-16-2009, 08:49 AM	#2
John_Peters Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 230 My Ride: 2001 325i View My Garage	Did you run out of gas? Jk Seriously though thats weird. Hope your mechanic can get you back on the road again soon.

04-16-2009, 09:06 AM	#3
zkc Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: KC Posts: 33 My Ride: 2004 m3 View My Garage	I would feel stupid but that would definitely be the cheapest fix. I'm pretty sure it had about 1/4 tank left and the OBC said 90 miles to empty...

04-16-2009, 03:11 PM	#5
K:^P Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OCCal;BACal Posts: 651 My Ride: 00 323//65 Fastback View My Garage	Seriously, pour some gas into the tank. Your fuel level sensor maybe inaccurate.

04-16-2009, 03:16 PM	#6
SteveX82 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glendora, New Jersey Posts: 881 My Ride: 2001 325i View My Garage	Sounds like an electrical charging problem to me.

04-16-2009, 03:19 PM	#7
backroadswest Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: More Than 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 52 My Ride: '04 330Ci & '05 M3 View My Garage	Bad gas or water build-up in remaining 1/4 tank? Do you often run the tank down below that level? If not, chances are you might have water in there, and when it gets down that low it starts sucking the diluted fuel/water mix.

04-16-2009, 03:20 PM	#9
backroadswest Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: More Than 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 52 My Ride: '04 330Ci & '05 M3 View My Garage	Speaking of which, is anyone changing fuel filters, or are we considering them "lifetime" as well?

04-16-2009, 03:27 PM	#11
backroadswest Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: More Than 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 52 My Ride: '04 330Ci & '05 M3 View My Garage	At what mileage?