Non Starting 1994 M40 318i Turns over with Fuel and Spark

[Alex]

Went to start the touring this morning to go to work and it just turned over and over, Had a look at a few things tonight, the rotor arm and dissy cap are stamped 1993 so are the original ones however seem in fair condition, but changed the rotor arm to a spare one i had just to make sure.

I tested for a spark using a spare plug and all was well, i also tested for fuel by removing the fuel hose and cranking. lenty came out.

I'am stumped with this as its got fuel and spark.

Ive removed the rocker cover and looked at the camshaft and valaves while cranking and all goes up and down as it should nothing out of the ordinary, apart from it being very clean and golden brown oil

Anyway does anyone have any idea what i should do next.

I'am worried the cambelt may have slipped because its not been changed since 2001, its been on my mind alot but prehaps i'am too late :S although i inspected it tonight and it looked ok no cracks or tears

[threelander]

did you take a plug out of the engine to see if petrol was getting there alex

[Alex]

no but when i took the plug out you could smell the petrol when cranking

[threelander]

was the plug wet

[Alex]

never looked but you could clearly smell it, it was strong

[Alex]

i will go check now

[Alex]

Right been out cranked over, and whipped a plug out and its wet ?

[Andyboy]

Flooded? Pull the fuel pump fuse and try again with the throttle wide open.

[Alex]

Flooded? Pull the fuel pump fuse and try again with the throttle wide open.

what fuse is that again Andy ?

will try it now

[Alex]

The wiki says fuse 11 so ive removed that, cranked over for 20 seconds or so and put back in still no joy

[magpie]

have you any clean dry spare plugs ?

if not take them out and clean/dry them and replace.....try again .

[Alex]

I will buy some brand new ones tomorrow night after work

after some thought, when i went to start it this morning i turned key and let go of ignition before it had chance to start, wether or not it would of like i dont know, then tried again and no luck.

Do you think that would of caused the cambelt to slip ?

Mick would you be able to check the timing of the engine or not, when it comes to that i'am lost unless it has timing marks ? ( i will pay of course )

My mother is having a go telling me to call the RAC but i recon you guys would be more help

[Jos]

after some thought, when i went to start it this morning i turned key and let go of ignition before it had chance to start, wether or not it would of like i dont know, then tried again and no luck.

This used to make my M40 very hard to start too, does sound like flooding, try it again tomorrow morning before you go buying more plugs

[Alex]

after some thought, when i went to start it this morning i turned key and let go of ignition before it had chance to start, wether or not it would of like i dont know, then tried again and no luck.

This used to make my M40 very hard to start too, does sound like flooding, try it again tomorrow morning before you go buying more plugs

thing is i left it from 8.30 this morning and tried again at 6.30 tonight and still wouldnt start, i thought it would of "de flooded" by then

[magpie]

too busy m8 sorry.got a fragger to pick up on weds and work tomorrow Thursday and Friday.

Fookin RAIN!!!!!!!!!

[Alex]

Tried this morning, still wont start

[cecotto479]

Put your foot flat to the floor on the throttle and crank it. Just keep your foot down and keep cranking. For ages. It'll eventually start to cough into life one by one.

Or whip the plugs out and burn the fuel off them with a blowtorch or the gas cooker if the missus is out. This has the added benefit of heating the plugs a bit too.

[Brianmoooore]

When you've got the plugs all nice and dry and refitted, leave fuse 11 out, remove the large air hose at the air meter end and feed propane from a gas cylinder or carb, cleaner into the open end of the pipe, and see if there's any signs of life.
Gaseous paraffins, such as butane, propane, etc., are a far more suitable fuel for a spark ignition engine than petrol, avoiding problems like spark plug fouling and injector problems.

[Duke137]

Put your foot flat to the floor on the throttle and crank it. Just keep your foot down and keep cranking. For ages. It'll eventually start to cough into life one by one.

This worked for kicking my 320i auto into life a couple of months ago

[Alex]

Well tried it again tonight, managed to flatten the battery this morning, but tonight it just had enough power to kick it round a bit and hey presto it started
Must have been flooded then, i'am relived to have my car back.

Thanks for all your help, really appreciate it

[magpie]

it lives!!!


good to hear your sorted again Alex.

[Brianmoooore]

Now park it up again until you've changed that ELEVEN year old cam belt!

[Alex]

Wish i could afford to do that but need it for work. its a genuine belt and done less than 20k since its been on. Thats no excuse though

Ive ordered a new rotor arm and dissy cap as it still has the originals on stamped 1993

[daimlerman]

Now park it up again until you've changed that ELEVEN year old cam belt!

Belt will cost about £10,how much will a s/h engine cost?

[Alex]

Ive got a genuine bmw m40 belt in the garage its finding the time, do m40's have timing marks like a 325i i'am worried i could cock it up

[TPS]

Does anyone know the Labour time on a M40 Cambelt, I've got to book mine in for one, is 2.5 hours right?

[Brianmoooore]

Ive got a genuine bmw m40 belt in the garage its finding the time, do m40's have timing marks like a 325i i'am worried i could c**k it up

No timing marks - locking pin goes in the flywheel and a straight edge will locate the cam. Getting the belt tension correct requires a little ingenuity as well. Haynes manual covers this well.

[Alex]

what other bits do you need to replace, i know an m20 is belt and tensioner, but with an m40 is there rollers you need to change aswell ?

[Brianmoooore]

Two rollers on an M40, but these expire with mileage only, not time or mileage like the belt. If they were changed 20k miles ago, they will be fine.

[Alex]

Thanks

So this locking pin how does that work does it lock the bottom end from moving and i assume you lock the top end with one of them cam locking tools.

Ive done a couple of m20 ones but not m40 sorry

[Brianmoooore]

Pin locks the flywheel (Remove a plastic plug just below the starter motor), and a cam locking tool would be nice if you have one, but the cam won't turn out of place without. All you need is a straight edge to lay across the flat to check that it's parallel to the head face.
Cam pulley is on a taper, rather than dowelled in place like on a M20, so can be adjusted to get it spot on, if it's out after fitting the belt.

[Grrrmachine]

There's a guide in the Wiki as well:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... elt_Change