Start Up Diagnostics

[D673UGT]

Hi,

I have an issue with the start up of my BMW 320i - I believe it runs on the first Motronics system.

Fuel and spark seems fine and I cleaned one of the CPS sensors the other day which seemed to give it more hope in starting.

I've included a link below as to what the car does when I try to start it - any help would be appreciated before things start coming apart...



Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

I'm partly deaf at the moment, and can't hear it properly with the noises around me, but that sounds like it's short on compression, which isn't good news at all.
Is the cam belt intact?

[Cloggy Saint]

I was going to suggest the same, that starter seems to be spinning too freely .

[Brianmoooore]

I was going to suggest the same, that starter seems to be spinning too freely .

And running on for too long when the starter is released.

[D673UGT]

When you say compression issue, does that mean a potentially cracked cylinder head? Or something else?

[Cloggy Saint]

A cracked head is possible but it could be a number of things, leaking valves, knackered rings etc. Is this a sudden problem or has it been gradually building up?

[D673UGT]

So I inherited the car as it is as a project and have been trying to figure out how to get it started. I cleaned the CPS a bit the other day and it seemed to do what it does now which is almost start, before it would just crank and not seem to want to fire up.

[boxclever1753]

You say you checked the spark, but did you clean up or replace the plugs? That would be high on my checklist to go through.

[Brianmoooore]

Distributor cap off, and check that the rotor rotates when the engine is cranked.