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nuQ »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/nuq-u4532.html
Wed Jun 24, 2020 11:58 am
Hey guys..I am getting my 2003 M45 back up to 100% and almost there...but there is a nagging issue. A little background...
I purchased it in 2013 and due to a variety of issues (many personal) the car was not driven much in the time since. I've only put on about 3K miles since 2013, so a lot of time the fuel became old. I replaced all fluids when I got it and changed the plugs, and cleaned the MAF but neglected to hook up the harness and started it. I immediately knew the problem and hooked it up but the check engine immediately lit up.
So we come to now. The check engine light will pop on, and usually stay on (until cleared) but sometime (like today) will turn off on it's own. Sometimes the VK will run smooth as silk and feel very responsive, but then I can feel the engine "rumble" a little and obviously not as smooth. Not horrible and the RPM's will not budge when it does this. I have done the idle reset and that will immediately lower it to the 650rpm range, but then will drift up to around 900 (the 507 code likely).
The codes that are popping up is P0308 and P0507. My friend (a mobile repair guy/tech) figured the 308 was a bad coil and/or plug. The car sat for almost a year until now, but last year at this point a code showed the #3 cylinder, but not anymore. He found the coil was good but we changed the plug anyway, but the old plug doesn't look bad at all (remember, only about 3K miles on it since 2013). All the injectors seem to be functioning (listening to them), but he thinks it may be the issue may be clogged injectors due to all that sitting, or an air leak in the exhaust manifold, and install a new gasket.
I don't want to keep throwing new parts on, as 8 new injectors are $$$, and all that work for a new gasket may not solve it. I've thought about doing a fuel rail cleaning, or removing the injectors to be bench cleaned, as well. Any thoughts on these symptoms and where I should try next? As with many of us, money is tight right now, so I want to, hopefully, zero in on a fix. Thanks guys!