Ignition problem...

Post Sun Mar 06, 2005 11:20 pm

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and E30's, I got myself a 1986 325 about 3 months ago and must say it's a top motor, the most fun car I've driven.

Anyway, I've got a problem when starting the engine when it's warm. I un-immobilse it, turn the key (all the usual dash lights come on) but when when I try to start it nothing happens, the starter motor doesn't do a thing. if I keep trying it will eventually start but this can take some time...

I know the battery is fine. I thought at first it was a loose connection somewhere but the weird thing is is that when the engine is cold it starts every time, first time. I now think it's something to do with the immobiliser thats playing up.

Has anyone else ecountered this or could shed some light onto what might be causing this?

Cheers,

Adrian

Post Sun Mar 06, 2005 11:23 pm

Unfortunately this is one of those problems that could be any number of things. Someone I know had this exact problem and they tested the battery which seemed fine but upon replacing the battery with a new one, it solved the problem.

It could also be a dodgy starter motor or faulty wiring with your immobiliser. can you get hold of a different battery to test out, maybe borrow one from somone else and see if that fixes it??

Post Sun Mar 06, 2005 11:45 pm

I had exactly the same problem a while back, turn the key and nothing happened. My initial thought was the battery, but that seemed fine, so then I thought it might be the starter solenoid - I was getting ready to spend money on a new one....
This was until one day when it did it again, I happened to have a spare battery in the boot at the time, and I don't really know what prompted me, but I connected it up to my battery with jump leads and the car started straight away!!
Next day, I put the spare battery in and dumped the old one in the garage, and it's been fine ever since

Post Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:29 pm

When this first happened I examined the battery and saw that it was seven years old so I thought it must be that that was dodgy and bought a new one. After coming out of the shop with the new battery it wouldn't start so I put the new battery in there and then and it started first time and I thought I had sorted it, but apparently not...

Cheers for the replies...

Adrian