325i sport intermitant starting problem

[shelle-smokeahama]

i have just bought a 325i sport. it an mtec 2 e reg, its the later engine as it has 1 crank sensor.

the guy i bought it off said that for a year or so it would start and be fine, but once switched off yo had to wait 5 mins or so for it to start. over the last few months he said it became start 1 a day, then when it felt like it.

i have been playing with it and had it start once or twice and when it runs its sweet., no problems but only starts when it wants

parts i have replaced,

coil, plug leads/coil lead, dizzy cap and arm, ecu (working with correct code), crank sensor.

i have power to the coil.

any1 got any i deas at all. i am running out and thinking about checkin all wire.KNIGHTMARE!!!

also i have been told that there is a wire from the ignition barrel to the ecu to tell it to start or something like that? is this true? seems as though i got nothin switch in the spark on and off possibly.

please any ideas at all

[Sooty]

Idle Control Valve full of crud?
Coolant temp sensor failing (or intermittent break in the wire)?

[shelle-smokeahama]

where is the idle control valve? and would the Coolant temp sensor failing stop it starting? and where is it?

[Guest]

check the wiring under the inlet manifold,theres a black plug with a screw top,pull apart and check connections arnt green and corroded.also could b faulty air flow meter.when car wont start ,is it turning over but just not catching?

[Sooty]

ICV is the 'T' shaped, black & silver item that sits next to the throttle body.
Take it out & spray clean the internals with carb & brake cleaner...NOT WD40. Don't be tempted to stick anything in there to scrape the crud out.
Coolant temp sensor provides a signal to the ECU so that it can gauge how much fuel to supply for any given water temp (i.e colder needs more fuel, warmer needs less).
If it's failed, you could be overfuelling when it's warm or underfuelling when it's cold.
HTH
Coolant temp sensors are at the top, front of the cylinder head, driver's side. The blue one is for the ECU & the brown one is for the temp gauge.

[Demlotcrew]

Check the relays under the black cover on the left side of the engine bay next to the strut.

Andrew

[shelle-smokeahama]

i will give those a go tomoorow. yes it does turn over fine but does not catch.

[shelle-smokeahama]

Check the relays under the black cover on the left side of the engine bay next to the strut.

Andrew

changed em wit new to be sure

[Sooty]

Check the relays under the black cover on the left side of the engine bay next to the strut.

DOH....forgot about them little buggers

[shelle-smokeahama]

ICV? got a a pipe in and out with a plug on the end.???

[Sooty]

That's the one.

[shelle-smokeahama]

brand new

[cuk325]

ive got a aspare icv here if you need to try one bud

[shelle-smokeahama]

all right mate hows tricks? still aint got my car back yet.

got nw 1 on it. gonna try those sensors.

[chris325]

mate.
I had the exact problem.
Most of the time it doesnt start yeah? and tries to catch but doesnt, and if it does it stops....
You will need to replace the inlet manifold gaskets...or if you want a quick fix providing they are ok and not cracked (might be the problem) undo all of the 12 bolts holding the inlet manifold on (you will need to unhook a pipe whitch is for the coolent, then take of the AFM, and pipe going to the throttle body to give you room...
Basically, undo all of the 12 bolts, and do them up starting from the middle and work your way out towards the front and back of car, so as to not stress the manifold...

If you have any questions feel free to ring me..07740189930
as its a lot easier to explain over the phone!
hope this helps!
Chris

[shelle-smokeahama]

ok then. new gasket on the inlet. ripped out imobiliser still shit all.

[shelle-smokeahama]

i'm still on this. problem is i'm not gettin a spark. please some1 help. i cut out all the imobilser and alarm coz i thought it was that and still it does not start. i changed the fuses and all the relays wit new 1's. still nothing. every so oftern it'll spark. but like i said its intermittant.

[johnono]

well out of my leauge here but could it be a fuel issue? pump or sumin?

i dunno really, but i get this too

its always the same though,

get in , turn to 1, get lights, bong if cold

turn to 2, engine turns over , medium turn 3 seconds, fast turn 3 seconds

then a quick tap on the juice to help (?)

and we have lift off....

some days sheԚ´s moody and i get a grumper where its mis timed and smelly, but not dirty or smokey

other days its as if sheԚ´s alrady warmed. but the best one is when its freezing outside, around 1 degree or so, she turns over straight away, almost instantly (those days i really love her)

for the rest of the day sheԚ´s fine, starts good and propper, but if i leave her for anything longer than an hour, we go through the motions again

and the longer i leave her the longer she takes to start untill we get to the 3 second by 3 second stage again.

peh, lots of writing

[telski789]

just to add that i had a similiar problem and it turned out that the 2.0 cam belt has either one less or more tooth that the 2.5,changed it and it was much better,just a thought

[E30Adam]

I can't belive no-ones mentioned spark plugs and you don't say that you've tried changing them.

[shelle-smokeahama]

ha ha. i have changed spark plugs. had jason from chips uk come down sunday, he read the codes and it come up with no errors. nothing wrong.

the problem is deffo something to do wit spark. some times it works sometimes it don't. dont more oftern. put a plug straight into the coil onto the engine and nothing!!!!

[shelle-smokeahama]

changed air flow filter today, still nothing

[shelle-smokeahama]

this is the latest development.

after changin relays ecu sensors,cut out imobiliser, i have found the fault. well ish.

there is a perminant red wire goin to the relay on the passenger side wheel arch but the air box.

I seema as though this wire is braking down. it always has power(tested with power prob) it's just how much. when the tester is in and there if full power the car starts, when there is a lower voltage it does not.

wat i need to know is where does this wire go? and can i just put a new perminant feed in place???[/

[Brianmoooore]

Have I turned into a clairvoyant? I answered this one yesterday - 20 hours before you posted it.