Car Won't Start.

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Black_Op_88
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Post Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:02 pm

Yesterday it was bucketing with rain and I had to take my 89 325i out on the road, immediately the car seemed to be chugging and miss firing with an excessive reak output from my exhaust. I returned home and let the car sit for 20 min and then returned to it to have a look between the showers of rain. But all seemed to be normal.

I had then driven to the nearest town with no problems with the car (dodgy petrol I thought) and did what I had to do, when returning to my vehicle trying to start it problems arose. The car was starting but as soon as it started it shortly died after a few seconds. I kept trying to start it and eventualy it did. 10 mins up the road and the car began to fail again. Basicallly it just cut out and came to a stop, and would not start again. Turning the key got me nowhere as the car just churned as if I had run out of fuel.

Any Ideas?

Also at this point I will let you know I have a 89 325i Sport with a e34 M30 535i conversion fitted. This is the first time it has ever let me down. :(

My first ideas have been:
Fuel Pump away.
Electrical problem, (Bad earth)
Battery Faulty
I haven't been able to get it looked at yet but I should over the weekend, but as said any help would be great.
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Grrrmachine
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Post Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:10 pm

Either not enough spark, or too much fuel. You can read more about these issues in the Wiki:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... n_Problems

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... n_Problems

Without testing, it could be the Blue Coolant Temperature Sensor and a cracked distributor cap or worn rotor, as well as the things you mentioned. The only way to be sure is to systematically test each part in turn.
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Black_Op_88
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Post Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:22 pm

diable wrote:Have you checked the fuse for the fuel pump?
Yes this was the first thing I checked as well as the rest of the fuses. I have drove the car again since but there has been no problem. There is a Diff mount to go in shortly so I'm looking to clear up both.
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Grrrmachine
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Post Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:51 pm

So have you checked for fuel and spark?
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Black_Op_88
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Post Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:26 am

Grrrmachine wrote:So have you checked for fuel and spark?
Yep also fine there is nothing wrong there.

Getting a mate to check the alternator tomorrow.
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Black_Op_88
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Post Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:18 pm

Well since the last post I have checked both parts of the fuel pump. And both are putting out fuel towards the engine. This really has baffled me. For instance I drove the car out last night and 5 minutes up the road the same thing happened. The car seemed to loss all power and eventually cut herself out as if she was running out of fuel. When I tried to start it again, there was some irregular noise from what seemed like the fuse box. (the clicking of Relay's)

The car would again refuse to start. This is what lead me to check the fuel pump, both parts. But as I have said, there fine.

Anyone any ideas? I have driven the car up and down the road and everything seems fine but I'm uneasy about driving too far from the house as it will probably happen again.

Anyone any opinion on what it could be,dirty fuel for example? Maybe it's in need of a new fuel filter? What is anyone's opinion, it really has me baffled.
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Speedtouch
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Post Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:23 pm

Sounds like a failing DME or fuel pump relay to me.

Also check the blue temperature sensor, if it's running too rich - it should measure about 3300 ohms cold, dropping to 600 ohms hot.
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
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Black_Op_88
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Post Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:22 pm

I have noticed that some fumes are escaping from the manifold on the exhaust. Upon starting it's running or idling terribly. Small chugs of fumes exiting the exhaust from the tail pipes and then leakage from the manifold.

Perhaps its a gasket problem with the exhaust?

And where exactly is the relay for the fuel pump? I can't see it on the diagram that I have.
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Speedtouch
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Post Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:17 pm

Fuel pump relay is located under the black plastic cover next to the passenger side suspension turret - it's the one in the middle.

DME (Main) relay is in front of it:

Image
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
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Daz666
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Post Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:41 pm

Did you find a solution to this?

I have got the same symptoms today. I haven't started to diagnose things yet. I have the OP's issues, chugging, hunting, strong smell of petrol but also its holding its revs up at about 1800rpm. It's also takes ages to get started. I'll start checking at the weekend once I can see what I am doing.
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Daz666
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Post Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:01 pm

Finally got round to looking at this.

Tested the resistance on the blue temp sensor and showed no resistance so got a new one. I plugged it in without fitting it first to see if it made a difference. Fired up and idled fine.

Next question - anyone know whats the simplest way to fit it? Its a sod to get to!

Sorry for the post hi jack but I think it's realalted to the OP's problem.

Cheers

Daz
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Brianmoooore
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Post Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:06 pm

Daz666 wrote: Next question - anyone know whats the simplest way to fit it? Its a sod to get to!
Depends if you're fitting it to a complete engine or two thirds of one.
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Daz666
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Post Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:17 pm

The engine is complete and in the car.
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Brianmoooore
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Post Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:49 pm

Sarcasm is wasted on some people! 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder?
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Daz666
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Post Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:50 pm

Sorry :o:

Its a 325 M20
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Grrrmachine
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Post Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:55 pm

This relates to the M20:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... #Replacing
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Daz666
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Post Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:01 pm

Thanks - I forgot about the wiki. Sorry been a bit thick today :mad:
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