Stranded at a petrol station

[Grrrmachine]

Left work and drove the car 3miles to a petrol station because the low fuel light came on. Filled up, started the engine, drove 5 metres and the engine stalled. Now it's cranking but won't fire.

No, I didnt put diesel in it.

I've taken off the cover to the fuel pump and cant feel it buzzing when I crank. I also took the fuel hose off the FPR and cranked the engine for a sec; bone dry.

So is my fuel pump dead, or is there something else I can try? I'm stuck, and with limited tools

[jimmyspeed]

have you hit it yet ?

[Grrrmachine]

Yes! As big a clout as I could manage with the wheel bolt wrench, but I dont want to damage the fuel pump pipes.

[jmc330i]

Have you a way of bridging pins 30 and 87 of the pump relay?


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

[Speedtouch]

Check the CPS wiring isn't chafed through or damaged.

[steve_k]

might sound daft but have a look at the wiring for the pump itself, might be a break in the wire, had this happen to an old volvo 850, the wire had burnt through.

[Grrrmachine]

I managed to snag a hair pin to bridge the relay. Pump definitely spins, but still wont start, so maybe it is CPS-related.

[Speedtouch]

Have you checked for a spark?

[Grrrmachine]

I'd love to, but dont have the tools to get a plug out. Tow truck is on its way

[DanThe]

I'd love to, but dont have the tools to get a plug out. Tow truck is on its way

Where is your BMW emergency toolkit?!!

[Speedtouch]

You could just use a suitable length of metal or wire, jammed into a spark plug lead and rest it near the rocker cover.

[jimbom30cab]

you should check out the wiki, there is a really good guide and flow on there about e30s which wont start


hope you get home ok

[Grrrmachine]

Cheers for the supportive comments, you lovely bastards



40 quid for a ten-mile tow. Got her to my garage, and did the spark test which confirmed Maurice's idea - CPS seems to have gone. I undid the CPS plug to measure the resistance, and watched it fall from about 200 ohms to 1000. Plugged it back in, cranked, and it fired right up

So I think the CPS is on it's way out. Corroded wires, overheated, something like that.

[bab-91]

[Speedtouch]

Good to hear you got recovered OK, and that you soon found the fault.

I did a silly thing at a garage tonight - stuck 5 litres of juice in my spare can, then realised I'd left my wallet at home and couldn't pay for it! Had to sign a form to say I'd pay for it within 24 hours.

[Grrrmachine]

Yeah, did that when I first bought the car (5 years ago!) and discovered the petrol gauge didn't work. Felt like a right pikey twat parking my two-tone rusting E30 in the corner of the forecourt while I walked back home for my wallet.

What petrol station was it - the only one in Herne Bay?

[Speedtouch]

There are now two in Herne Bay! It was the Esso one in Sturry Road, Canterbury.

[Rav335uk]

you should check out the wiki, there is a really good guide and flow on there about e30s which wont start


hope you get home ok

LOL, best fooking answer of the night...

[Grrrmachine]

Well, it was 184.50zl, but it was a hot Friday afternoon and the bloke and I got on so well that I gave him a tip for some weekend beers.

No price is too steep when you're stranded, unless you're some tight-arse wiesniak