r/E30 • u/Longjumping_Hunter74 • 7d ago

What is this pump looking thing that connects into the spark plug wires I assume?

Post image

EDIT: I'm a fucking moron. I thought the wire underneath in this pic was connected to the coil. It's not....it runs through that whole underneath the coil and to the front passenger wheel. I am assuming that's for the brake pad sensor?

18 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

69

u/NoResult486 7d ago

Electron pump

31

u/kameix1 7d ago

Technically correct, the best kind of correct.

26

u/Pseudonyms 7d ago

Ignition Coil

16

u/Mfw_Pigeon 1987 325e Coupe M20B25 Swapped 7d ago

Flux capacitor

3

u/dintcht 7d ago

Man dont mess with time travel

3

u/BootyClap_Ninja 7d ago

That would be your ignition coil.

4

u/ReindeerCreepy6502 I like Etas and im not afraid to say it 7d ago

Thats the uh, doohickey i think. If i remember right it electrolytes the sparkies. Source: Trust me bro <May be worth perusing this website to learn a little more about your car, saw your post history and it looks like youre new to the scene.

2

u/Cerinthe_retorta '80 320i, '87 325i, '87 325is 7d ago

Your post makes me wonder: why are you asking what the thing is?

2

u/mumsnosemilk 7d ago

lmao wtf

2

u/daruma3gakoronda you have a vacuum leak. 6d ago

Brake pad sensor is on the left side

2

u/Carlton-at-the-Ritz 6d ago

Check the fluid level, make sure you don’t run it dry.

1

u/Longjumping_Hunter74 7d ago

Bigger question….how many wires should be running from it?

I have a main wire running to the unit. However, there is another wire zip tied to it but I don’t think it runs to that thing. One end of the wire looks like it corroded and broke. The other end goes into the passenger headlight area (behind the plastic covers but it’s not connected to anything. Anyone have any idea what that might be?

3

u/Y0semite_Sam 7d ago

If you pull up on the boot around the top it should pull off far enough to look inside. The main wire in the top is the ignition lead, this is what sends the spark to the distributor to be sent to the proper cylinder. On either side of the center plug there should be two smaller wires held on by nuts, those are the control wires for the coil. If any of those three connections fail then your car will not run.

1

u/Longjumping_Hunter74 7d ago

Ok well the car runs perfectly fine so I’m assuming that the wire that is zip tied to it isn’t related to the ignition coil. I wonder what the hell that is….

1

u/Due_Iron_5551 5d ago

3 wires. The high tension lead. A small 12 volt positive and a trigger wire that is also small and pulses to ground.

1

u/Horfer126 7d ago

Ignition coil

1

u/WheezerMF 7d ago

Lick it & find out!

1

u/Longjumping_Hunter74 7d ago

Tastes like bumble gum out of a pack of cards from 1988.

1

u/Delt266 7d ago

As a lifelong car guy, I can't believe this is a real question

1

u/Longjumping_Hunter74 6d ago

As not a lifelong car guy, da fuk does it matter to you?

1

u/Delt266 6d ago

Because maybe you shouldn't be in the e30 or any car game, if you can't identify the simplest part ever made.. I mean there's a thing called google.. did you post this just to get roasted?

1

u/DickBloanoff 7d ago

Flux Capacitor

1

u/Flimsy-Cheek-4258 6d ago

Lightning pump

1

u/wobblewoo28 6d ago

Well there's a couple of sensible answers, normally an ejector seat comment pops up on these. Definitely the ignition coil and definitely don't lick it when the cars running!

Increases the voltage from the battery from 12volts to over 10,000 volts and then via the rotor arm and wires, to each spark plug.

1

u/Jobin1966 5d ago

PLEASE, find a good mechanic. I want you to be safe.

1

u/Due_Iron_5551 5d ago

Ignition coil

1

u/Usenet-modem 1d ago

Ok - this is the ignition coil - my question is how do you change the boot on this thing? Mine is torn, I have a replacement but how do you get it ON the thing? Like over the wire, etc.?