No fuel

[Andy2007]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of why I can't get fuel to the Engine.

Car ran out of fuel, some time ago.

It now won't start, I've got a spark and can get it to fire up by putting a little fuel in the engine directly, but the car will not allow the fuel pump to work.

I've checked all the relays, there okay.

I've changed the crank sensor.

I've followed the checks on here, directly wired the main relay to both 87's. The main cable to the ECU checked, when directly wired the injectors go to live.

It almost seems that it's a immobiliser issue, but I'm not sure it got one fitted, it does have the old BMW alarm system the one with a magnetic key. I've followed the reset advice albeit it's very basis to no avail.

Not sure if it could be an ECU issue.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

[Speedtouch]

Try removing the back seat and giving the top of the fuel pump a clout, while someone cranks the engine over.

I once had a Land Rover Freelander that required that treatment to get it to run, also a Fiat Seicento Sporting where approx. 2cm of silty sediment had settled in the bottom of the fuel pump.

[Andy2007]

I've had the pump out and checked it, also it runs when put a direct wire to the fuel pump relay, but it just pumps the fuel around and back into the tank.

[arrisbmw]

that is what its suppose to do. are the injectors firing ? what engine you got ?

[Andy2007]

No the injectors aren't firing it's a 320i , it's automatic box.

[blazed]

check the wiring under the inlet manifold it can trap moisture and corrode.

[Andy2007]

I've checked the wiring and there is no corrosion. Check the power to ECU all fine When I bridge 36 and 2 everything that should work does.

[Speedtouch]

Sounds like you need to check all fuel and vacuum hoses for any splits, then run a fuel pump/fuel pressure regulator test, and maybe change the fuel pump filter.

Letting a car run out of fuel and letting it sit can cause rust to develop in the empty fuel tank, which may be causing some blockage...

[arrisbmw]

if the injectors are not clicking (firing ) its not fuel its an electrical issue. how about the dme relay.

check out wiki on here. dme

[Andy2007]

The injectors are clicking, when you crank the engine there is no power to the fuel pump. Bridge the supply on the ECU 36 and 2 then earth 3 and the pump will run so it does get power. I think it's possible the ECU or the car is immobilised. The only thing it is fitted with the original BMW alarm which uses the magnetic key and I can't find if this system has an immmobiliser.

Anyone know anything about this Alarm i.e. The functions would be a great help.

[aimlessrock]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of why I can't get fuel to the Engine.

Car ran out of fuel, some time ago.

It now won't start, I've got a spark and can get it to fire up by putting a little fuel in the engine directly, but the car will not allow the fuel pump to work.

I've checked all the relays, there okay.

I've changed the crank sensor.

I've followed the checks on here, directly wired the main relay to both 87's. The main cable to the ECU checked, when directly wired the injectors go to live.

It almost seems that it's a immobiliser issue, but I'm not sure it got one fitted, it does have the old BMW alarm system the one with a magnetic key. I've followed the reset advice albeit it's very basis to no avail.

Not sure if it could be an ECU issue.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

remove the oem immobilizer- the relays in it do not age well. you will need to get to the wiring behind the gl;ove box from memory and bridge a couple of cables (from memory on mine the wiring was already in place and was just a question of unplugging one connector and plugging in the correct one in the loom).

even if this is not the cause- its removal will be no bad thing.

[Speedtouch]

There's a notorious green wire that runs behind the glovebox that sometimes becomes disconnected, leading to non-start problems.

[Andy2007]

Thanks I'll check out both, mine has two relays behind the glovebox, I've checked both of these one controls the electric windows the other to be honest I can't figure out what it's for.

The alarm is the magnetic key control one, does this system fitted with an immobiliser ?

Thanks in advance

[Speedtouch]

Normally, those were only fitted to the posh 325i convertible models back in the 1980s - is yours such an example?

Alas, all manner of electrical gremlins can affect such vintage systems, such as dry solder joints, leaking electrolytic capacitors, arced relay contacts, etc, etc., so you may be best off bypassing it if it's suspect.

[aimlessrock]

i have a 320I cabby and it had the magnetic key immobilizer fitted. If its engaged it will prevent the fuel pump from engaging. I struggled to get any documentation on the spec for the immobilizer from the dealers when i purchased the car and had read stories how it had left a couple of zoners stranded.

I bypassed mine years ago - your loom will likely have a green wire plug (pretty sure its green) behind the glovebox, i simply unplugged the one from the immobilizer control box (this is under the dash (driver side)) on top of the ecu and plugged in the corresponding wire from the loom. (green). In the event your loom does not have this plug you will need to splice the cables together to bridge them.

[Andy2007]

Thanks for the information, You're spot on with your description, if I unplug the blue box above the ecu the ignition light goes off, I've also found the green wire connection in the glove box, again if I unplug this the ignition light goes off.

The car does not start with either disconnected.


The plug on the ignition / alarm has 4 wires and when unplugged the ignition light goes off, the one in the glove box is the same and is identified as 28, unplug this and the ignition light goes off again, in addition I found a plug with 2 green wires, again if you unplug this the ignition light goes off. The car still does not allow the fuel side of the ignition to work.

Any further advice would be appreciated.

[aimlessrock]

by the sounds of it your getting close, the control box for the immobilizer (the blue box) sounds like its in part working. with the green wire you have unplugged you will need to have a dig around in the loom behind the glove box- hopefully you should find a matching connection tied up in it. If you don't then you will need to splice into the loom to bypass the control box.

post some pics- these will help,

[cypriot_boy_2k7]

Can you get a pic of your immobiliser part?

[Andy2007]

I tried to upload pictures but it won't let me


I have read on here that there should be a two wire connection for the ignition in the glovebox, I've found it and if I disconnect it the ignition light goes off.

The two green wires go into a 4 wire connection in the glovebox, again disconnect and the ignition light goes off, the four wire connection then runs across the dashboard to the drivers side and goes into a blue box, disconnect the connection and again the ignition goes off.

To be honest I'm a little lost, I can't figure out how to bypass the Alarm (blue box).

Any suggestions of links would be gratefully appreciated.

[Andy2007]

I've got a little further.

The two pin green connector in the glove box, if I cross the two pins I can get the ignition light to come on, I'm thinking this is the way to bypass the alarm.

Unfortunately the battery has flattened now, so charging it.

Any advice if I'm on the right track would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Andy2007]

I've got a little further.

The two pin green connector in the glove box, if I cross the two pins I can get the ignition light to come on, I'm thinking this is the way to bypass the alarm.

Unfortunately the battery has flattened now, so charging it.

Any advice if I'm on the right track would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Andy2007]

Any help would be appreciated

I've taken out the old OEM alarm, found a cluster of green wires tired up in the loom, once the ignition circuit is activated I can get the car to turnover, again no fuel or ignition light


I can get the ignition light on if I put a live to the green wire, which was originally connected to the alarm.

Car turns over, spark is present, fuel system still not working, pump is okay, filter is not blocked, main relay working, crank sensor changed and reading 530 ohms, is there a possible issue with the ecu, checked on ebay but not been able to find a one suitable it's a Bosch 0 261 200 381 my car is an auto, any ideas ??????

[pianist]

You said that injectors are clicking, did you try to bridge the pump so it runs all the time and then crank it?

[Andy2007]

Yes I've tried that, nothing the fuel just runs back to the tank.

[arrisbmw]

have you put a fuel pressure guage in - line and check the pressure should be about 3 bar iirc.

how do you know the fuel runs back to the tank, can,t her mine.

fuel pressure regulator , could be cattled

[pianist]

As above measuring fuel pressure would be my next step. If spark is there and injectors are clicking and you can make pump run I would have left that alarm unit alone just for now. And are all the injectors clicking? since they can also become stuck after long time not in use