325i Sport wont start. Please help.

[GraniteE30]

Hi all,

Right i went away for the weekend and left the car at home. I went to start it on the Tuesday morning expecting it to fire up straight away (it had only been sat there for 3 days) and it wouldn't start!

So started to look for problems:

- I can hear the starter motor so thats ok.
- Looked at all the fuses and relays, they all seem fine.
- I can hear the fuel pump.
- There is fuel going up the lines to the engine.
- Its had a recent oil and filter change.
- I replaced the dizzy cap and rotor arm last week as the old ones were ruined.
- I replaced the spark plugs with new ones.
- Removed plugs 1, 3, & 6 and checked for spark, which they have.
- Changed the coil for another.
- Tryed jumps leads on the battery.

After all this the car still doesn't start. Like i said before i can hear the starter motor, but the it just doesn't catch and fire! I can smell petrol after trying to start it too.

I've called a breakdown company out this morning and they checked all the same things and said that its probably flooded!

I'm gonna try and sort this out tonight, but is the anything else it could be and how can i check if the engine is flooded and whats the best way to sort it??

Thanks all.

[Chase007]

Fuck after all that and still no start! I cant think of anything it must be flooded!

[GraniteE30]

Yep thats all that i can think of too. My mate scared me abit by saying that i might have blown the engine and i should do a copression test , but then i thought well it was running ok then it just sat there over the weekend so theres no way it could have blown. I'll still do the compression test anyway tho, just to be sure! Lol.

What the best way to get it sorted if its flooded then???

[siddiqi1]

you no what!

it could be your ICV not allowing any air in mate!!! i was having that problem too! try this little trick that may work for you!!

put the igniton on with the dash lights come on; then go and unplug the ICV, what this does i beilve is leave it in the open position; and then try and start it.

im thinking theres a lack of air somewhere! has a rat infested your airbox maybe !

Check your air passage; i know youve checked everything else; but if say your AFM flap is jammed shut; fuel without air wont go bang! you may have a major air leak somewhere; start from the airbox; chekc the AFM flap is operating smoothly; chek the rubber boot; im thinking its the ICV persnally!!!

try that and let us know! youve checked everything practically; i think maybe the rain has got somewhere! ECU ok? not damp is it?

Saboor

[blingsta]

have you checked or changed your crank sensor?? my monies on that !!!

[GraniteE30]

Ok, i'll give that a go, but i have changed the ICV and AFM recently too due to the previous running problems i was having, but its worth a go, Lol!

[siddiqi1]

have you checked or changed your crank sensor?? my monies on that !!!

oooooooooooh! BANG ON!!!! good one fella!"!!! can i change my bet!

how does one check the crank pos is working though; but it cant have just decided to go on holiday over the weekend!!!

[siddiqi1]

im working on logic....you most def getting spark becuase youve chekced!

air plus fuel plus spark, only thing missing really in that eqn is the air!

[GraniteE30]

have you checked or changed your crank sensor?? my monies on that !!!

Hmm, good one, i didn't think of that.

But yeah, how do you check it???

Looks like theres a few more things for me to check then, the list goes on, lol!

[siddiqi1]

lol; the list never ends my friend; stop thinking of a list; think of it as a marathon that you will conquer!!!!

maybe!!!! you could disconnect the fuel pump fuse; no 11 i think, but check it n your manual; then this way you wont floo your engine any more

get a multimeter on the CPS connector and then crank and see what voltage if any you pick up???????

[GraniteE30]

lol; the list never ends my friend; stop thinking of a list; think of it as a marathon that you will conquer!!!!

maybe!!!! you could disconnect the fuel pump fuse; no 11 i think, but check it n your manual; then this way you wont floo your engine any more

get a multimeter on the CPS connector and then crank and see what voltage if any you pick up???????

Hahaha, i'm no good at marathons!!!

CPS connector?? Maybe i'm being stupid but whats this???

[siddiqi1]

as in the crank pos sensor is located right next to the radiator; almost under the fan from the drivers side!

follow thr wire to where it travels and im sure its connected tothe rest of the loom via a conncector ply; unplug it from there and then you can test it maybe!

the crank pos sensor sends elctrical signals via a magnet i belive; so you should get some sort of dispaly or current whgislt its cranking i think!!

[kipper]

have you checked or changed your crank sensor?? my monies on that !!!

as far as i know the crank sensor tell the engine the the postion...which lets the engine know which pistons etc are in which position for firing.... if its was gone then there would be no spark... or suppose it could be firing on wrong cylinder which would cause it to flood...

[GraniteE30]

Right, i've got spark, fuel ant the ICV and AFM are ok so i've theres air too and no leaks, it turns over but doesn't even give a sign of firing up! Now the car was running absolutly great before the weekend and friday, i parked it on the drive and it sat there untill tuesday morning when it wouldn't start, even bumping it and jumping it wouldn't work!!

So i'm completely lost on this! i still need to check the CPS, if anyone has any pics of it location and where it plugs into that would be great (i think i've found it just wanna be sure) and when checking it with a multimeter, what current will go through it when the engine is being cranked?
Oh and could the main/DME relay cause this none start?

This is really beginning to get me very i'm i'm near
I don't get how i car can breakdown when it hasn't even been used for a few days!!!

[siddiqi1]

Calm it calm it

deep breaths; ddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breaths! good cup o tea and a few biscuits is what you need chappy at such a time!!! Ive had plenty of those i assure you tooo!!!

Well excellent; thats knocked a fewm ore things off the list now!

Firstly to address the location of the CPS; its in at a RIGHT ANGLE right underneath the dizzy cap; you wont miss it; nothing else there; drivers side view near the oil cap look towards the RAD and youll see it at the bottom; may be silver in colour!

Take it off; and give it a good old clean and try that; magnet maybe dirrty!!!

Also; the relays you mention; why do you mention those; they look burnt to you???? the DME one is the white one bang in the middle of the three i belive

but i very much doubt its that; no need for it to be on an off day! clean this crank sensor and try starting!possibility!

current wise; you wont get a consitent 12v i dont think; you get somewhat pulses i.e. induced current due to the magnet picking up metal and braking when the chipped tooth comes around!

but Brianmooore hopefully will come and shut me up as per usual

keep at it mate; dont worry! joys of the lovely Sport heaven!

[bmwscorpion]

I am keen to keep an eye on this thread, the same has happened to mine, although it has been 1 month since I used it, tried the same as you and also swopped fuel pump etc, I have a spark, and fuel,
its as if the injectors are not fuelling.
Ive swapped my CPS, and the ECU and the chip in the ecu, it has got to be something stupid.. just cannot understand it.

[SPADGE]

Guys when you say you are 'getting fuel' do you mean at the fuel rail or are the plugs wet with fuel???

[siddiqi1]

am keen to keep an eye on this thread, the same has happened to mine, although it has been 1 month since I used it, tried the same as you and also swopped fuel pump etc, I have a spark, and fuel,
its as if the injectors are not fuelling.
Ive swapped my CPS, and the ECU and the chip in the ecu, it has got to be something stupid.. just cannot understand it.

oh god not youuuuu tooooo!!!!!!! E30 flu going around! sooon mine will be on the list too!!!wont be surprised!

[GraniteE30]

I know, i know mate. It just really winds me up coz i know its probably gonna be something really silly! Thats why i don't wanna resort to taking it to the garage and paying loads out!
I start to find myself reaching for the hammer! Lol!

I only mention the relay as i thought it could be another possibility, i have already taken all the relay (and fuses) out and they all look fine buddy.

Ok perfect i thought that was the CPS i was looking at I'll take that off tomorrow and clean it up then check for the current. Oh, do you know where the other end goes, i think i followed it through the engine bay ok but i'm not sure, i think i connects to a plug fixed to the diagnostic plug/socket??? could be wrong though, Lol!

But if the CPS if fine, what else could it possible be?? ECU?? Oh i have a clifford 650 alarm and immobiliser, It wouldn't be the immobiliser playing up would it???

[GraniteE30]

oh god not youuuuu tooooo!!!!!!! E30 flu going around! sooon mine will be on the list too!!!wont be surprised!

Hahaha! Its spreading!
Don't think mines every been fit and healthy, lol!

[siddiqi1]

Don't think mines every been fit and healthy, lol!

+1 to that for me toooo!

i learnt not to be depressed; just another thing to fix another problem to solve! i become acustomed to it so much now that when the car runs well for months on end i think........hmmmmmmmm this isnt right; and low and behold next day somethings happened!

[GraniteE30]

Guys when you say you are 'getting fuel' do you mean at the fuel rail or are the plugs wet with fuel???

Hi SPADGE, I'm getting fuel at the fuel rail for sure, checked the this morning. But i also noticed that the was alot of fuel on the plugs, which is why i thought the engine was flooded! So i cleaned all the plugs up and warmed them in the oven (gas mark 5 for 5 minutes, Lol ) anyway while the plugs where out i turned the engine over to flush any excess fuel out of the spark plug holes. Then back in with the plugs and it was still exactly the same

[GraniteE30]

+1 to that for me toooo!

i learnt not to be depressed; just another thing to fix another problem to solve! i become acustomed to it so much now that when the car runs well for months on end i think........hmmmmmmmm this isnt right; and low and behold next day somethings happened!

I know i should be used to it by now too. I owned a 320BHP Nissan Pulsar before my E30 and i was forever working on that changing turbo's and what not. So i sold it and wanted to by something fun, that wasn't a turbo and that wouldn't have me outside working on it all the time, so i thought "yeah i'll get an E30 sport, that'll be spot on" Oh dear! Hahaha!

[siddiqi1]

gas mark 5 for 5 minutes, Lol

where they crispy brown?lol well cooked or raw?

[siddiqi1]

ahhh the pulsar is a great car; i sat in one for the first time a few months ago; was pushing 1.2 bar; but omg i was crapping myslef! you have to really be about your wits to control that sort of mad acceleration.

im sure as you know; in the wet it will happily spin all its wheels!!!madness that little pocket rocket, but if i may be so bold; not as good looking i think as the e30, far far to masculine, in your face styling, e30 is way more subtle!

but the stisfaction of when you do fix the problem is great isnt it! its much better i bleive than having some poxy computer telling you..."excuse me driver your o2 sensors not working" itsn ice to use what lil brains we all have and work together for a solutin!

i dont like comps; too much gadgetry just to go wrong!!!

[GraniteE30]

Yep i completely agree, Pulsars are UGLY little cars, but there unusal and hell do they move!! Yep my little pocket rocket loved spin all four corners in the wet!! i scared the Sh1t out of soooooo many people when i took them for a spin in it, lol! That was, when it worked, Hahaha!
I would love to get a turbo'd engine in my E30, but i know it would just be a huge headache and moneypit!

[siddiqi1]

well it woudnt be really you know. a friend said and made quite a valid point mistakebly

everything in this car is 20 years old; things wear; things age, theres brand new cars that come of the line that dont start, dont work so what makes this invincible; andin fact what we are doing is replenishing our cars of the old sensors with the new; so in fact though we feel a decline in reliabilty; we are actually making them far more reliable than most cars full of their fancy computers and all the sort!

once youve conqured this; the turbo scene isnt as frightening as you belive; with the likes of custom management and live mapping and 14psi of booost! comon man; dont tell me you wouldnt want to! i cant wait!!!!!

hereing the chatter of a wastegate from an impreza is old news; from an e30 is jsut the dogs danglies that is!!!!

[GraniteE30]

But if the CPS if fine, what else could it possible be?? ECU?? Oh i have a clifford 650 alarm and immobiliser, It wouldn't be the immobiliser playing up would it???

Bump

[jonnie]

I've got exactly the same problem!!!! I've got a crank sensor on its way to see if its that, then the next step is ECU!!

Amazing how many of us have this problem at the mo!

[GraniteE30]

How long you had this problem for fella?? Did your's just give up one day or did it die whilst in use??

Its a joke ain't it, you'd expect it to be quite a straight forward fault to figure out, but everything it check that it could be seems fine!

[jonnie]

Just gave up, totally out of the blue!

I read on here a trick is also to unplug and plug back in the ECU!?!? Haven't tried it yet myself, but am going to later and hopefully will have my new crank sensor today aswell, I'll let you know if any progress!!

[GraniteE30]

Just gave up, totally out of the blue!

I read on here a trick is also to unplug and plug back in the ECU!?!? Haven't tried it yet myself, but am going to later and hopefully will have my new crank sensor today aswell, I'll let you know if any progress!!

Ah ok, no i haven't tried unplugging the ECU, but i'll try that later too!
Well good luck fella, hope we both get this sorted soon! I'll keep an eye out for your progress and let you know if i get mine sorted.

[GraniteE30]

well it woudnt be really you know. a friend said and made quite a valid point mistakebly

everything in this car is 20 years old; things wear; things age, theres brand new cars that come of the line that dont start, dont work so what makes this invincible; andin fact what we are doing is replenishing our cars of the old sensors with the new; so in fact though we feel a decline in reliabilty; we are actually making them far more reliable than most cars full of their fancy computers and all the sort!

once youve conqured this; the turbo scene isnt as frightening as you belive; with the likes of custom management and live mapping and 14psi of booost! comon man; dont tell me you wouldnt want to! i cant wait!!!!!

hereing the chatter of a wastegate from an impreza is old news; from an e30 is jsut the dogs danglies that is!!!!

I know what your saying, if i was to turbo my M20 it probably wouldn't cost me a packet, but i was quite keen on dropping a S50 lump in then getting that turbo'd. This cost would be far too high!
I've also been looking at dropping a factory turbo'd engine in there too, like a supra turbo lump! I just get far too carried away! Lol!

[bmwscorpion]

Still struggling with mine, I took the battery off when it is was off the road, reconnected the battery it started for a few seconds and then stopped, suggesting using fuel already in the pots and no more is getting through.
it's frustrating as hell.
Im not going to carry on working things out now until Saturday. its going to be something stupid...
Luckly this is not my every day transport..
Ive tried a different ECU and Chip in my ECU still nothing..

[jonnie]

Just gave up, totally out of the blue!

I read on here a trick is also to unplug and plug back in the ECU!?!? Haven't tried it yet myself, but am going to later and hopefully will have my new crank sensor today aswell, I'll let you know if any progress!!

Ah ok, no i haven't tried unplugging the ECU, but i'll try that later too!
Well good luck fella, hope we both get this sorted soon! I'll keep an eye out for your progress and let you know if i get mine sorted.

Right mine is sorted!!

Changed the crank sensor lead and then it started straight up. One thing I would do before changing the sensor, is unbolt it and clean it!! Mine was covered in crap and can't of been helping!

Let me kwow how you get on!