Can not starting

[gingerrusta]

Hi guys

Got a problem with car not starting.
Car was fine until went to start it today.
I changed the fuel filter and strange thing was the pipe from the tank didnt have any fuel in .
Tank has about 15 quids worth in so know it hasn't run out.

Any ideas ?

Pulling my hair out at the moment

[Grrrmachine]

What car is it?

Also, go through this and tell us what it suggests.

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

[gingerrusta]

Cheers it's an 89 320i cabriolet . It looks like its the relay as the pump worked when the pins were bridged.
Where is a good place to get a replacement from ?

[Speedtouch]

The stealer, Cotswolds on here, or your local scrappy for a genuine BMW one.

However, you can probably buy an equivalent from any decent motor factors.

Or try opening yours up and cleaning the contacts with fine wet & dry paper.

[Grrrmachine]

Did you check for spark when cranking?

[gingerrusta]

Update

I went to BMW and brought a new relay today. They inform me the original orange. 4 pin has been replaced with a light green 5 pin one now.

Now this is the strange thing

With new relay car does not start
I have had the pump out of car and powered it to 12v and it powers fine.
I have checked that the power is getting to the sender ok ( sender and pump are together aren't they )
The lead going to the pump doesn't show any power when ignition is on with relay fitted
Although when you pull the relay out and bridge pin 30 and 87 it shows power to the pump.

I have also replaced the 2 rubber fuel pipes in engine bay as there was hardly any fuel in the feed and none at all in the return one.

So all in all confused.com

I even checked what results I'm getting are correct with my other car which is running fine.

[Speedtouch]

Have you checked the fuses?

Number 11, according to the Wiki:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Fuse_Box

[gingerrusta]

Pretty sure I checked all fuses

[Grrrmachine]

Did you check for spark when cranking?

[gingerrusta]

All new spark plugs , dizzy and distributor have been fitted

[Grrrmachine]

That doesn't answer the question.

There are components in your engine which, if they fail, will take out both the fuel and spark system. Your fuel pump's not running; therefore you need to check for spark, otherwise you're barking up the completely wrong tree.

[gingerrusta]

Spark tested and confirmed there is one

[Speedtouch]

Then try spraying some carb/brake cleaner or 'Start Ya Bastard' in the throttle body whilst cranking the engine over.

[gingerrusta]

I take it you mean I will need to take off the big rubber boot to do this ?

[Speedtouch]

Yes, the trunking to the throttle body will have to be at least partially removed; a matter of a few seconds work to undo the big jubilee clip around it and pull it back a bit.

[gingerrusta]

Just enough so you can spray some in then

[Speedtouch]

Yes. As long as you have a good spark, it should get it running for a while, and this may then draw the fuel through, to keep it running.

[gingerrusta]

Right tried the spray in the throttle body which got the car firing for a second or two but then wouldn't stay running .

[Shaheenk]

do you have the fuel hoses the right way, cause u said you changed filter

put a pressure gauge on the fuel rail

[gingerrusta]

The pipes were changed one at a time in the engine bay.
There is no pressure at the fuel rail

Is there a fuel cut off switch on the e30 ?

[Blitz]

When you bridge pins 30 and 87 with a piece of wire and plug the relay back in, does the car start?

[gingerrusta]

When you bridge pins 30 and 87 with a piece of wire and plug the relay back in, does the car start?

Haven't tried this as I wasn't sure it would cause any damage

[Blitz]

It will force the fuel pump to run. Try if it starts.

[gingerrusta]

So leave the wire in and plug the relay in over the top ? It won't cause any damage ?

[Grrrmachine]

In the very first reply in this thread I suggested you check the troubleshoot guide. Had you done so, you'd have got the method for bridging the fuel pump relay four days ago...

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

[gingerrusta]

I have done the bridge wire trick a few days ago. I bridged it and didnt start the car with it bridged as I didn't know if it would cause any damage with the relay being out .
I have tested the pump out of the car and it works fine
I have brought a new relay and know that works fine and also the original one does too. I tested that in another car.

[gingerrusta]

Bump

[Grrrmachine]

Have you checked for power at the injectors?

Really, this is exactly what the troubleshooting guide is written for, but I don't know what steps you have or haven't done.

[gingerrusta]

As it stands at the moment I have done the following things
Checked relay for fuel pump
Checked power is getting to pump
Checked pump
Changed fuel filter
Changed rubber hoses in engine bay going from metal pipes under car to the injector rail and return pipe
Sprayed carb cleaner in inlet manifold and car ran for short time
Bridged pin 30 and 87 to get power to pump
Checked for spark

Was going to try putting welding wire through metal pipes under car from fuel filter to engine bay just in case of some shit has got stuck in it.

[Speedtouch]

Duff fuel pressure regulator (FPR), perhaps?

[Grrrmachine]

Right, as the troubleshooter guide says, before doing most of that you should have checked for power getting to the injectors. Something's stopping your pump from running, so we need to see what other circuits are affected.

Get a bulb (NOT a meter) and stick it over the terminals of an injector plug, then crank the engine and see if it glows.

[gingerrusta]

Before I do that I can see and know there is no fuel getting pumped from the tank
What shall I do ?

I have replaced the pump and that doesn't seem to be pumping.