Car stalls will not go higher that 1000RPM

[kennethc]

Car stalls will not go higher than 1000RPM

I drive an E46 316i (2002). Recently, after pulling onto the highway and stepping on the gas, the car stuttered and practically stalled. I was barely able to pull over on to the emergency lane because of a total loss of power. The car started idling very rough in park and will not respond to the gas pedal beyond 1000RPM with the Tach fluctuating +/- 300RPM. There was what sounded like an occassional backfiring noise coming from the engine. The car is currently starting and stopping normal except it goes back immediately into this mode. A friend of mine told me that the problem might be the throttle actuator assembly or the mass air flow meter. I'm not sure and would appreciate all the help I can get.

Regards,
Kenneth

 

[Doughnut]

First place id is cheak fuel pump operation and replace fuel filter before pulling the whole throttle actuator off.

see how you go.

 

[kennethc]

Thank you for the response. I'll check the fuel pump operation and replace the filter and get back to you.

 

[Doughnut]

First place id is cheak fuel pump operation and replace fuel filter before pulling the whole throttle actuator off.

Oops, so many spelling mistakes in that post, sorry.
Not a problem kennethc, i didnt welcome you either.

So, welcome to the board

 

[Kirby]

If checking the fuel delivery does not turn up anything, the next thing to check is the Mass Air Flow meter/connections. If the computer does not get an air flow indication, it will try to run in the "limp home" mode, similar to your description.

First off, just check all the wires and connectors around the meter. Maybe you have a bad connection.

 

[kennethc]

The diagnostic Tech checked the error codes and found the following:

1) Throttle actuator - position monitoring
2) Throttle actuator - spring test
3) Differential pressure sensor, intake manifold plausibility

After several checks, error codes 2 and 3 were resetting so the problem pointed to the throttle actuator. This was switched and the problem solved.

The car is now working as before. I'm very thankful to all who responded.

KC