316i starting problem?

[jpgreenwood]

My 1990 316i had a starting problem a while back (i.e. it wouldnt). I had it on a diagnostic and the fault was put down to a stuck airflow meter. That was rectified but not replaced. A couple of weeks later the car cut out on me and the RAC man told me to replace the fuel pump which was kapput. I replaced it with a recon unit and the car ran sweet for another couple of weeks. Now the car wont start again. It turns over but wont fire. It did seem to be running a bit rich and lumpy the day before it wouldnt start. Any one know what the cause could be? Is there a simple home diagnostic I could run through to ascertain the problem?

[Whitterz]

Im changing the fuel pump on mine tommorow, when u turn the key, does the fuel pump engage ?

[jpgreenwood]

Dunno? How can you tell?

[Gwynleym10]

Fuel pump os under the rear seat, you might be able to hear it clicking if you lifet the seat base up.

Its the starter motor spinning? Engine turing over at all?

Have you changed the air/fuel filter recently?

[jpgreenwood]

I replaced this fuel pump only last month as diagnosed by the RAC. The car has a full service history and I have only owned it 3 months. I bought it off my boss who loved and cherished it so I dont doubt the servicing records. The starter motor works fine and all the leads and plugs spark well. It just wont start. Some times it sounds as though its about to but it just keeps turning over.

[fatjapp]

Check the relay for the fuel injectors as well, they donÔš't take much to come lose.

Just cable tied mine in.

If the engines turning over, and youÔš've got a spark, chances are itÔš's a fuel problem.

[jonbuoy]

Pump's don't usually just go, chance's are you've sucked up a load of shit and blocked the fuel filter.

Pull the fuel pipe's off from the passenger side in the engine bay and get someone to turn it over......not for long tho! If fuel come's out then you need to replace that faulty air flow metre

[jpgreenwood]

thanks jonbouy. is there anything else that it could be if fuel comes through or is the afm the obvious fault? How much to replace-can i do it myself with basic spanners etc?

[stuartgallafant]

It did seem to be running a bit rich and lumpy the day before it wouldnt start

common fault of a knackered air flow meter...

the DME recieves a signal of how much air is entering the engine, and then tells the injectors to squirt to obtain the correct air/fuel ratio...

if the DME is receiving mixed signals, then it wont process the information correctly, in turn, sending out the wrong signals, hence your car ran lumpy and over-fuelled

my advice would be to change the airflow meter, as this is a common fault on cars of this age.

you'll get a 2nd hand one off here for pennies...

also, make sure you havnt got any air leaks in the intake system...

[316eyes]

Had similar symptoms last year. Turned out to be u/s crank sensor.

[jpgreenwood]

Just paid a tuning company Ԛ£52 to change the spark plugs. They came out to diagnose the problem, changed the plugs and it started 1st time. They tested the exhaust gasses and it was running spot on. I just hope it stays that way. I still think there might be an underlying problem but only driving it will show.

[Whitterz]

Mines gone again now

[Brianmoooore]

Pump's don't usually just go, :

That's exactly what they do! They develop werar in the gears, and typically start to jam at one point. If it stops at this point when the engine is switched off, it may not start the next time. May start and run perfectly for days or weeks, then jam again.

[Brianmoooore]

Just paid a tuning company Ԛ£52 to change the spark plugs. They came out to diagnose the problem, changed the plugs and it started 1st time. They tested the exhaust gasses and it was running spot on. I just hope it stays that way. I still think there might be an underlying problem but only driving it will show.

Hmmm, I'll change your plugs for Ԛ£52 any time!
Doubt if this is the real problem. E30s aren't exactly short of ignition power.
You've changed the fuel pump, but if it was second hand, it may still be suspect. Have you changed the pump relay? Or the DME relay?

[jonbuoy]

Pump's don't usually just go, :

That's exactly what they do! They develop werar in the gears, and typically start to jam at one point. If it stops at this point when the engine is switched off, it may not start the next time. May start and run perfectly for days or weeks, then jam again.

Fair play mate, my work buddy has an E36 318i and his has just give up the ghost
He also reckon's it's the shut off switch in the kick well for an incase of in a crash.
He went through a petrol station, come out the other side and his motor just cut out. It has'nt started since Monday last week It fire's up on Easy Start but he also run's it quite low on fuel alot of the time aswell

[Whitterz]

Pump's don't usually just go, :

That's exactly what they do! They develop werar in the gears, and typically start to jam at one point. If it stops at this point when the engine is switched off, it may not start the next time. May start and run perfectly for days or weeks, then jam again.

Fair play mate, my work buddy has an E36 318i and his has just give up the ghost
He also reckon's it's the shut off switch in the kick well for an incase of in a crash.
He went through a petrol station, come out the other side and his motor just cut out. It has'nt started since Monday last week It fire's up on Easy Start but he also run's it quite low on fuel alot of the time aswell

Same as mine pal.....

[jpgreenwood]

Insurance and tax has now elapsed so they need to be renewed before I take it for a spin. Jonbouy, anychance of posting a close up pic of your black/silver wheels (where the two colours meet at the rim). They look like my Fondmetal bmw rims but mine are all silver. The black looks mean.