Turn engine on and it just keeps reving max

Hi,

My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was flat
and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?

Thanks,

Andy

news.altohiway.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was flat
> and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
> accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andy
>
>
Accelerator stuck probably. Open the hood and pull the back. Maybe lube
it a bit.

> My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was flat
> and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
> accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?

Stuck open idle control valve?

--
Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-)
Email: , John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland
Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage!
Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html

It sounds like the throttle is stuck open. You need to raise the hood and
look at the throttle linkage and I suspect you will see the problem.



"news.altohiway.com" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was
> flat and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
> accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andy
>

"John Burns" > wrote in message
...
> > My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was
flat
> > and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
> > accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?
>
> Stuck open idle control valve?
>

Idle control only controls air, no way it could rev you to max.

Throttle cable/linkage/return spring are likely at fault.

-Russ.

"Somebody." > wrote in message
et.ca...
>
> "John Burns" > wrote in message
> ...
>> > My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was
> flat
>> > and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
>> > accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?
>>
>> Stuck open idle control valve?
>>
>
> Idle control only controls air, no way it could rev you to max.
>
> Throttle cable/linkage/return spring are likely at fault.
>
> -Russ.
>

I agree. There is a Recall on something in this area too. The OP can take
his VIN to his local dealership and they can determine if his car is
affected by the recall, and if the recall was ever done.





>

The return spring on the accelerator pedal came adrift on mine once and
cause the same thing.

--
Cheers

Rick

http://www.aqua-maniac.co.uk
http://bmw.aqua-maniac.co.uk
"news.altohiway.com" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was
flat
> and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
> accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andy
>
>

Thanks, that sorted it

Andy

"JimV" > wrote in message
...
> news.altohiway.com wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was
>> flat and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
>> accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Andy
> Accelerator stuck probably. Open the hood and pull the back. Maybe lube it
> a bit.

Ouch - no lubrication for a month and a half, then an instant 6,800
rpm. I'm surprised the engine didn't seize/explode. The throttle is
probably stuck open at the throttle body, leaving only the (rather
weak, by comparison) gas pedal return spring to keep the pedal from
simply flopping onto the floor. Unsticking the throttle at the engine
end should restore the proper idle speed - if there's still anything
left of the cylinder bores that is...!

put in gear - that should correct it !

"news.altohiway.com" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> My brothers bmw e36 325i hasn't been used for 6 weeks. The battery was
> flat and we've started the engine, but it just revs at it's maximum. The
> accelerator pedal feels loose. Any ideas what may have happened?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andy
>