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Hi

My 1983 e21 316 1.8 has been off the road for a couple of years while restoring and now wont idle.

it ran and drove fine before

I can drive it and get it warm (drives a bit rough and smokey) but as soon as i stop it cuts out


Any ideas ?

cheers Iain

A broken idle solenoidvalve or the fuse is broken.

In the pre 79 cars, the idle fuse, if I am not mistaken, has also connected the rear reverse lights (white), so if you check these and are not working, this might be a sign it 's a broken fuse.
I had a similar issue in the past.

If I am not mistaken a 316 1,8 has to be post 81. Before would be 1,6.

My money is on bad earth connection, fuse, or bad fuse connection.

Check battery connection, fuses in the fuse box, and their connections.

I was experiencing very similar symptoms and all it was, was a fuse that had popped out

Let us know how it goes.

Was the fuse connections very different from early to late cars?

My problem was also a blown fuse: However, when I replaced the fuse, it was breaking again. In the end I found that the reverse light wire was the issue: It was damaged, so it was blowing the fuse again and again.

Ive had the issue before and it was the fuse not making a good connection, ive checked it and its ok so do i need to be looking at the reverse light loom?

Hi Guys,

Ive got it running! it was a bad earth to the idle shut off. Bit lumpy, carb needs a tweek but it idles

Cheers for the help

Iain

Very good!

UPDATE....

Well it still is not running right!

After playing with the carb I investigated further and found that the flange mount is totally perished meaning that the carb is sucking in way too much air!

Service kit and flange now ordered, Hope this helps anyone with the same problems

Cheers Iain