E30 Throttle Problem, update

theres one pump *inside* the tank, one outside, close to the tank, under the car, close to the left hand door. (on a coupe/cabrio anyway)

you might think of getting a workshop manual for this car... makes fault-finding and maintenance much more fun.

keith

Yeah, I know I need a manual... can't find one locally... anyway, there is no pump under my car on the left side, just a fuel filter.

AFAIK there are two fuel filters on the E30. One under the car, and one in the engine compartment. There is only one pump, AFAIK, and it resides in the tank.

The main fuel filter is located beneath the left rear of the car, just in front of the gas tank. The other filter is in the engine compartment, on the left side of the car, just behind and below the front shock tower.

my mistake: there is only one pump, as you correctly said: and indeed the large filter is under the car, near the pump.

keith

I only find the one filter behind the drivers door. I do not see another one and I believe that I have traced the fuel lines all the way from the tank to the fuel rail. It is a '91, so is this something that was changed later on in the E30 life span? Thanks

Yes it was changed in the later E30s. Your '91 has one in-tank fuel pump with a filter screen at the bottom and one external fuel filter. That's it. No second pump; no other filters.

And if you do find that it is the filter that is clogged, the filter screen at the bottom of the pump in the fuel tank is most likely damaged. Over time the plastic in the screen ages and becomes brittle. This along with chafing creates splits and holes in it.

The pump might also give out in the near future if it was clogged with muck from the bottom of the tank...

Yeah, Changed the filter and that made no difference, and when I pulled the pump the screen has some holes in it, so I am presuming the muck got the better of it. On my way to pick up a pump now, will let you know how it turns out. Thanks to all.

Matt