Warm starting problem

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Jami
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Post Thu Dec 29, 2005 3:50 pm

Heres a good one for you all. My BMW 320i, starts first time, even this morning when it was -2 outside and the battery was next to dead. Left her running until the temperature gauge was about half way, so nice and hot. Switched it off and then tried to restart it with no luck!!!!!!!!

Any suggestions?
Mops
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Post Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:47 pm

i get same problem, but less often, actually two different problems:

1. it will turn engine over, several times (definitely too long to be normal), but will eventually start.

aparently that could be caused by leaking injector, dirty fuel filter, bad ignition (read dizzy rotor arm)

2. it will NOT turn te engine. kinda feels like dead battery, or starter is dead. happened to me several times (quite rare), i dunno wtf is going on with that. - this is really strange i never seen anything like it !

ok, so it will not turn the engine, but will start on on push-start.
last time that happened, i turned key to 'start' position, all controls dim as the starter tries to turn.... I hold it there like 3 -4 seconds (very bad, can burn sterter pretty quick), then with great resistance it slowly turns over one compression (another seconds or so). then I relased the key, waited few secs and cranked it again, and if F**EN started like normall !

I was like OMG WTF !?!11???11??!!!
1985/E30/325i coupe/5 speed/125k miles/shortshift/megasquirt II ECU controlling fuel and spark with custom ignitor and ICV mods/LC-1 wbo2/collecting parts for FI
kingbreezer
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Post Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:04 pm

I have roughly the same thing: If the engine is warm, it won't start unless I turn it over, turn it all off again then turn it over a second time. It fires straight away then!
Woder if a Zone chip would help, as this seems like a mapping thing...
jonbuoy
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Post Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:10 pm

kingbreezer wrote:I have roughly the same thing: If the engine is warm, it won't start unless I turn it over, turn it all off again then turn it over a second time. It fires straight away then!
Woder if a Zone chip would help, as this seems like a mapping thing...
Try changing your fuel filter, it's cheaper than a chip :)

Jami wrote:
Heres a good one for you all. My BMW 320i, starts first time, even this morning when it was -2 outside and the battery was next to dead. Left her running until the temperature gauge was about half way, so nice and hot. Switched it off and then tried to restart it with no luck!!!!!!!!

Any suggestions?
Does the engine turn over?
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MONSPORT42
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Location: Portsmouth

Post Sat Dec 31, 2005 9:00 am

Mops, sounds like either bad earthing to body or battery or most probably your battery is on its last knockings. Your could try cleaning up the electrical connections to the starter motor (do you also have problems with your electric windows cos that circuit is earthed there too). Probably also a good idea to get a meter on the alternator to check the out put). Have you tried jump starting the car from someone else's batery/car? That might eliminate the battery problem.
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YOUR LEFT FOOT'S FOR BRAKING
Globulator
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Post Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:00 pm

I wonder if it's a little rich - cars that need two starts sometimes are. Try starting with about 1/3rd to 1/2 throttle next time and see if it picks straight up the first time.

If so, obvious culprits are ECU temp sensor, fuel rail pressure regulator, injectors - probably in that order!

PS don't forget to check that little vaccum tube from the manifold to the regulator either...