92 316i wont start when hot

[Rorym2010]

hi peeps havin some trouble with my j reg 316i touring it wouldnt start for me after drivng it for about an hour last week i pulled over and switched the engine off then when i returned to start the car five minutes later it fired up but idled really low and then cut out after trying to get it started a few times more it was like it was being starved of fuel but when i put my foot on the pedal it cut out straight away so i called the breakdown out but when they got there 90 mins later it fired up straight away with no problems and it drove home fine so i serviced it yesterday new oil air filter plugs engine flush and petrol treatment and she was running fine then last night after driving it again for over an hour it done the same was idling for about 5 seconds then just dying so she had to come home on the back of a tow truck recovery people think it could be in tank fuel pump or blocked fuel filter or petrol was being burnt on the fuel rails before getting into the cylinders any ideas on what it could be?

[Billwill]

Could be the fuel filter or garbage in the fuel tank.

I had a similar problem with an Audi where the fuel cap was not letting air in and causing a vacuum in the fuel tank.....could hear a big "woosh" when removing the fuel cap. I have not heard of this happening on an E30 though.

I have heard of crank sensors failing under hot conditions.

[Rorym2010]

still wont start today not even low idling have took the fuel filter in the engine bay apart and it seemed bone dry so i suppose its a faulty in tank fuel pump? which im about to go and investigate now .the setup on my touring is different to to my 2dr saloon which is only a few years older but has the same engine the petrol line off the top of the fuel filter goes into the side of my throttle body and the pipe on top of the throttle body has just been capped off on the 2dr but on the touring the pipe off the top of the fuel filter goes into what looks like an electrical vacuum or small pump run off the wire that feeds the air intake and onto the top of the throttle body (same one thats capped off on my 2dr) about to check the wiki now to see what hole is the in tank fuel pump the round one or the oblong one under the rear seats then will get back to yous with an update all your help is much appreciated cheers guys

[Rorym2010]

so after reading wiki it seems the part i was looking at is a carbon cannister and should be removed which is what looks likely to have happened to my 2dr so that eliminates that problem im going to remove that fit a new fuel filter and fuel pump relay and if that fails then surely its the in tank fuel pump??

[Grrrmachine]

At the moment you're chasing shadows; there's no reason to suspect it's lack of fuel any more than it is overfuelling, or even a completely different issue such as an air leak.

Have a look at this, and check how to test for spark and fuel before you disconnect or replace any components:

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

[Rorym2010]

have got spark but no fuel changed the fuse and relay still no luck have removed the fuel line out of the tank to the fuel filter placed a bottle on it and cranked the engine and no fuel came out so looks like its the in tank fuel pump

[Grrrmachine]

Does look pretty conclusive, but have you bridged the fuel pump relay, and tested with a bulb on the terminals of the fuel pump?

[Rorym2010]

bridged the relay just going to make a 12v 5 amp bulb tester now to check that power is getting to the pump if it is then a new pump it is do you know if a 92 touring has a 55ltr tank or the larger one and does that matter if im going to buy a new pump? cheers

[Brianmoooore]

Bridge out the fuel pump relay (30 to 87) and give the top of the fuel pump a thump with a hammer handle or a long 1/2" socket extension bar. This usually brings a duff pump back to temporary life.
Spent a whole two weeks holiday in France a few years ago, with an E30 with a pump like this. We got the whole process down to something a F1 wheel change team would be proud of - kids out, seat base out, pump thumped, engine restarted, seat back in, kids back in, and on our way again in about ten seconds.

[Grrrmachine]

Thought you'd read the Wiki All tourings have the bigger tank, all while the pump itself is interchangeable, the pump housing is not. But if you can use a soldering iron, swapping a pump isn't too hard.

[Brianmoooore]

bridged the relay just going to make a 12v 5 amp bulb tester now to check that power is getting to the pump if it is then a new pump it is do you know if a 92 touring has a 55ltr tank or the larger one and does that matter if im going to buy a new pump? cheers

You have to test with a decent wattage bulb - at least 5W.
All tourings have a 62 litre tank, and use a pump with a single pipe connection.
A pump from the smaller tank can be used, but the second pipe needs to be blocked off with a short piece of fuel hose and a plug.
There's no need to buy a complete pump assembly - the pump itself is easily swapped over, and just needs the two wires soldered to it. Make sure they are connected the right way around.

[Rorym2010]

cheers guys sounds like a few holidays i have had myself now to source a new in tank fuel pump and dig out the soldering iron am going to give it a whack with a hammer first just to see if its completely nacard or not thanks again