engine trembling/shivering

[Georges]

Hi
2 weeks ago my engine started to some kind of "cut off" every time i tried to start ruinning, I replace spark plugs and everything went OK.
Last week I began having this problem: engine running, no gears, rpm is around 700 stable, I can feel the engine trembling from time to time, and 2 to 3 times per day the engine stops sudenly when driving but it easily goes on again when I do it.
Any idea that may help?
what is the role of oxygen sensor, does it have any relation?
BTW 135000 KM is my mileage of 320IA 1997.

 

[MTBL525i]

I've read about a lot if problems with coils, especially on the 3series though I've never experienced it since I've never owned a 3 series. I had a similar problem on my 5 and it turned out to be coils among other things. Is it throwing any errors?
Is your check engine light on? does it happen more when you're at a stop or while driving?

 

[Detrich]

when your coils burn out, you lose power drastically. (it won't even be a question.)

shivering engine could be engine mounts or something else.

 

[Big Daddy]

Vacuum leak? Is your gas cap and oil filler cap on tight?

 

[E30m42cab]

Vacuum leak? Is your gas cap and oil filler cap on tight?

Sounds good, check all the hoses, see who's sucking air. Doesn't sound like coils to me.

 

[Georges]

Thx all of you,
I'll check all the hoses, don't think it's coil related.
for the errors I can not retreive in my car donno why, maybe lamp is broken?.
What about the Idle Control Valve? any relation?

 

[Georges]

Sounds good, check all the hoses, see who's sucking air. Doesn't sound like coils to me.

I've checked all the air sucking system till the intake manifold, everything OK.
gaz cap, oil filter cap are in place secured.
could not take out to clean the Idle control valve, it is connected to the mass airflow via a hose, and seems to the other side connected directly to the intake manifold from the bottom, very hard to know how to disassemble.Do i have to rmove all the manifold with the injectors etc. to reach?

 

[chief]

As wierd as it might sound, check the connection to the alternator. Although engine mounts would cause vibration. Reason why i offer the alternator is that on mine the positive post was broken. The car would go into safe mode, limp for a while, would restart and run fine [for awhile].
I also spent $1000 having the intake manifold gasket replaced. It turned out NOT to be a vaccum leak that caused the car to just shut down. It was the alternator.
Good Luck.