Car stalls every now & then with power loss once at quarter tank.

[Hugh Jass]

Hey everyone. I have an 04 330Ci with 105k miles. Automatic.
Car has stalled on me a couple times every now & then when driving at a low speed while i accelerating or decelerating or mid-turn. (Around 35mph)
It has stalled on me before moving from a dead stop once & it has also stalled on me before moving from a dead stop while turning the steering wheel. Never stalled on me at high speeds before. (Knocks on wood) The other day i was driving down a busy main road & i had about a quarter tank of gas in the car (Moving at about 35mph) when suddenly the car started losing power. I felt the car jerk a couple times so i looked down at the dash and noticed the RPMS were dropping and and sort of jumping around. A friend of mine sitting passenger told me to pull over and add gas. So i pulled over and filled up & no RPM dropping/jumping/power loss after i filled up. First and last time that happened maybe because I haven't let my car go below a quarter tank since that power loss happened. But my car stalled on me the same day after that happened. Can't really predict when it's going to stall, it just happens. I also felt it almost stall on me yesterday when i left the parking lot at my job. Started the car, threw it in Drive, let go of the brake and turned the steering wheel and as soon as i gave it a little gas it felt like a little jerk & seemed like if i didn't give it gas right then & there it would have stalled.

SES light is on. I was told my car is running lean not too long ago. Haven't gotten the exact codes yet & haven't re-scanned in a couple weeks to see if anything new popped up.
Oh yeah & sometimes when I'm letting my car roll at a low speed after releasing off the gas pedal (Like 20mph) the car will kind've jerk like i downshifted or as if i tapped the brake real quick. Not sure what that is..

Anyone have any ideas as to what it could be thats causing these problems? Is it my car running lean thats causing all this or is there more to it?

One of my co workers told me it's the camshaft position sensors that caused my stalling and that power loss that one time. He said if i replace those two sensors my stalling and power loss i experienced that one time on the main road should be fixed.

I've got a long list of things i've replaced within the last 7,000 miles. I've only had the car for about 16,000miles.

i've replaced..

Fuel Pump
O2 Sensors
Oil Level Sensor
Oil Filter Housing Gasket
Vanos Feed Line
Thermostat
Expansion Tank
Fan Clutch
Water Pump
Idler Pulley
Pulley
Belt Tensioner
Fan Belts
Radiator
Upper & Lower Radiotor Hoses
Temperature Sensor
Engine Mounts

Oh yeah & my power steering is also giving in & out. Power steering doesn't work for the most part. When i turn the steering wheel the RPM seems to drop about a hair line or two.
Sometimes i feel like i bought a piece of sh*t car :(
Any help please? Thanks in advance.

[Dave1027]

Have you pulled codes yet? If so post them.

My first guess, crank position sensor, but it could be any number of things. Codes would help diagnose.

[johnrando]

You already replaced many things I would have suggested, so maybe what Dave said. And, I know it's a long shot, but how old is your battery? These cars do incredibly weird things when they are not getting enough juice. You'd be amazed, stuff that wouldn't seem to be related or even make sense.

[Hugh Jass]

You already replaced many things I would have suggested, so maybe what Dave said. And, I know it's a long shot, but how old is your battery? These cars do incredibly weird things when they are not getting enough juice. You'd be amazed, stuff that wouldn't seem to be related or even make sense.

i honesty have no idea how old the battery is but i haven't replaced it myself since i've gotten the car. i purchased the car at 89k miles. now i have almost 106k miles. I should be able to go to auto zone and get these codes read for free right? I have no idea how to read these codes myself or use that tool that they use to read them honestly. I JUST changed a flat tire for the first time in my life last month so I'm kind've dumb founded when it comes to things with my car. If it wasn't for these forums i wouldn't know half the stuff that i know. (I still don't know much)

[Vas]

I would go to an auto parts store and have them scan your car for the codes. Report back then.

[johnrando]

And have them check your battery.

[Hugh Jass]

The codes read
P0171
P0174

[danewilson77]

Intake leak.

"No flamesuit required"

[Vas]

Both of those codes are for system too lean. So you got an intake leak somewhere.

First guess is upper and lower intake boots.

[danewilson77]

I'm gonna guess right here:

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/02/4fffc7c7f36825f29c726f630f7f4d3b.jpg

"No flamesuit required"

[Hugh Jass]

I'm gonna guess right here:

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/02/4fffc7c7f36825f29c726f630f7f4d3b.jpg

"No flamesuit required"

Bullseye. Brought my car to the shop earlier today & they performed a smoke test. Lower intake boot cracked on that same small tube. Said they would replace that and perform another smoke test to see if there are any more leaks.

I'm also considering giving my car a tune up. A friend of mine is constantly suggesting that I do that since I'm at 106k miles now.
What should a tune up consist of & around how much should it be?

Oh yeah & one more thing thats been bothering me is the fact that my automatic wipers don't work. When I turn the windshield wiper stalk into it's 1st position (automatic position) it will wipe once to acknowledge the fact that i threw it in 'automatic mode' but won't wipe at all after. Wipes one time as well when i turn the 'scroll thingy' on the wiper stalk. I've heard about people saying that bubbles in the sensor thing on top of the rearview can cause this & from what I can see it kind've looks like a bubble there (Not sure if it's supposed to be there, will post a picture later when I get my car back) but I've also noticed that my windshield isn't a BMW windshield. Any ideas? Thanks for all the help so far fellas.

[danewilson77]

Plugs = $60.00

Fuel Filter = $100

Replace in cabin filter = $35.00

Replace intake filter = $35.00

Replace upper intake boot = $40.00

Fuel pump = $250.00

VANOS Overhaul = $160.00 DIY

Replace all three pulleys and both belts = $325.00

Cooling system overhaul (upper/lower radiator hose, tstat, water pump, temp sensor, exp tank, level sensor, new coolant) = $350

New brake rotors, wear sensors and pads, + fluid flush = $400.00

Replace suspension with BC racing coilovers = $1300.00 (Ask Ray)

DISA overhaul and ICV clean up = $200.00

Replace FCAB's, RTAB's, End links, RSM's and FSM's = $300.00

[Snuffalufigus]

Plugs = $60.00

Fuel Filter = $100

Replace in cabin filter = $35.00

Replace intake filter = $35.00

Replace upper intake boot = $40.00

Fuel pump = $250.00

VANOS Overhaul = $160.00 DIY

Replace all three pulleys and both belts = $325.00

Cooling system overhaul (upper/lower radiator hose, tstat, water pump, temp sensor, exp tank, level sensor, new coolant) = $350

New brake rotors, wear sensors and pads, + fluid flush = $400.00

Replace suspension with BC racing coilovers = $1300.00 (Ask Ray)

DISA overhaul and ICV clean up = $200.00

Replace FCAB's, RTAB's, End links, RSM's and FSM's = $300.00
Dane you're the man. This site wouldn't be what it is without all of you guys. Great work

[danewilson77]

Dane you're the man. This site wouldn't be what it is without all of you guys. Great work
You're the man. Thanks for hanging out with us.

"No flamesuit required"