E36 328i redlines at +-5250 RPM
 

Hey guys,

This is my first post on the forum. I have been the owner of an E36 328i sedan since last July and I am truly happy with it.

Here are the mods done so far:
-M3 exhaust
-LSD
-Bilstein shocks and sway bar, H&R Springs
-Staggered M3 wheel setup for summer
And other minor things

The car has pulled very hard in every gear since I've owned it. However, in the past few weeks, the car won't pull behind around 5250 RPM (the furthest I have been able to go has been 5400). I can't figure out why, as there is no evident cause of it. The only thing I've done to the car in the past 2 months was changing the alternator, and the car still pulled to the redline and beyond after that. As there is nothing I have done that could mess with the car should I do?

I currently am in cold weather as I live in Montreal, although I don't see how that could have affected it since it has been alright until only about 3 weeks ago.

Thanks!

Francis

Any check engine lights maybe its cutting the fuel or the spark for some reason

Do you have a check engine light? If so get it scanned.

When my crank sensor went, my motor was very sluggish to rev. But my problem was intermittent. It was an odd way for a crank sensor to go, but a new one cured it. If it wasn't for the code I pulled, I would have thought it was something else.

Could also be a cam sensor I had a bad misfire when it was bad and it was very slow to rev

How's the cranking time does it fire right up or take a lot off cranking
Lots of cranking is signs of cam and crank sensor like said above

There has been one ever since I bought the car because of the catalytic converter. Therefore I cannot associate this problem with the light, but maybe I should. Thanks, I'll look into it!

Francis

The thing is, it's not sluggish at all. Everything is normal except for the redline, it hits 5250 RPM with the limiter as if it had always been the actual redline. As mentioned above, I have had a check engine light on for a while, so checking for new codes is a good idea!

Thanks,

Francis

Oddly enough, the cranking time is perfectly normal. Also, it is as fast to rev as it has ever been before, which is what confuses me so much. There are no other symptoms than this weird redline. However, I will check the cam and crank sensors just in case. Thanks!

Francis

I forgot to tell you guys, but when I depress the clutch or when the car is on neutral, the car can rev until the actual redline (around 6500 RPM). Could this make any difference in your diagnostics?

Thanks again,

Francis

i dont know why it would do that but still you should get the dme scanned for codes if you haven't done that already

Does your speedometer work? I vote speed sensor in the diff is kaput. Or the signal is not getting to the DME.

Haven't done it, I'm looking for someone with the tool or somewhere to buy it. If you guys know anyone in Montreal or any site or retail store I can buy it from, please tell me! I am of no use when it comes to electronic stuff, I don't even know what this tool looks like...

Speedometer works, although maybe a speed sensor is broken somewhere because my cruise control doesn't work!

partsource will scan codes for free if they have partsource in montreal they should

Crankshaft sensor or camshaft sensor, or wiring between the two (which was recalled on m52's)

Crank Sensor