1986 325e starts then dies immediately , no throttle response

[jasonadams74]

Hello Everyone.
New to this board as my son and I are trying to get an old e30 going again. Here is the history: The car sat for about 7 years so we had to start somewhere when the car did not crank. Now after all the parts below, the car will start for about 1-2 seconds cracks up then dies. You have to wait about 15 seconds and it will do the same thing over and over. I have searched and searched for answers. . Any help is appreciated, I am completely baffled that this thing will not start. Pulled the fuel line up at the engine and confirmed fuel is pumping. Not sure of the pressure have not measured it yet.

Replaced Parts:

• New Battery
  New CPS
  New Spark Plugs, confirmed spark
  New Primary Fuel Pump, confirmed humming when starting
  New Secondary Fuel Pump, confirmed voltage at startup, can hear it when starting
  New Fuel Tank, old one was rusted
  New Main/ Fuel Relay
  New Intake boot
  New Fuel pressure regulator
  Rebuild Fuel Injectors - Tested & Confirmed working
  Cleaned ICV per Youtube
  Rebuilt AFM per Youtube, solding wire on contact arm etc
  Checked and replaced all fuses in primary box, replaced fuse in the trunk

*** It seems like a fuel delivery problem because the car WILL start when you spray starter fluid in the intake and Rev out and stay running, but again only with starter fluid. Normal startup is crank, run 1-2 sec, dies.

Thank you for helping us figure this out.

[Dlb26]

Someone will be along with an answer shortly but have you done the cam belt first?

[jasonadams74]

Thanks. But it will run on starter fluid when I spray it into the intake boot. I would think it wouldn’t start at all right if cam belt related? I don’t know so perhaps someone more knowledgeable could answer.

[Cloggy Saint]

Someone will be along with an answer shortly but have you done the cam belt first?

Thanks. But it will run on starter fluid when I spray it into the intake boot. I would think it wouldn’t start at all right if cam belt related? I don’t know so perhaps someone more knowledgeable could answer.

I think he mentioned the cam belt not as a possible solution to the non-starting but as a precaution against destroying an engine that's been sat for 7 years.

[minesapint]

Have you replaced the fuel filter? After all these years the fuel in there turns jelly-like & restricts the flow.
You said you’d checked the flow but not the flow rate, was that before or after the filter?
If the old tank was rusted out, a lot of crud will have gone down the fuel lines.

[Dlb26]

Someone will be along with an answer shortly but have you done the cam belt first?

Thanks. But it will run on starter fluid when I spray it into the intake boot. I would think it wouldn’t start at all right if cam belt related? I don’t know so perhaps someone more knowledgeable could answer.

I think he mentioned the cam belt not as a possible solution to the non-starting but as a precaution against destroying an engine that's been sat for 7 years.

This

[jasonadams74]

Sorry yes, new fuel filter was installed. It’s something else..... thanks

[BristolE30]

Sorry yes, new fuel filter was installed. It’s something else..... thanks

Could you try removing the fuel injectors and checking they are spraying when you are cranking? Not because of faulty injectors, but maybe a fault in connection after start up causing them to not spray?

What about blue temp sensor, could be faulty?

[jasonadams74]

Sorry yes, new fuel filter was installed. It’s something else..... thanks

Could you try removing the fuel injectors and checking they are spraying when you are cranking? Not because of faulty injectors, but maybe a fault in connection after start up causing them to not spray?

What about blue temp sensor, could be faulty?

That is a good idea on the injectors, secondly I have heard about the temp sensor. Can you be specific on which one you are referring to?

[BristolE30]

Sorry yes, new fuel filter was installed. It’s something else..... thanks

Could you try removing the fuel injectors and checking they are spraying when you are cranking? Not because of faulty injectors, but maybe a fault in connection after start up causing them to not spray?

What about blue temp sensor, could be faulty?

That is a good idea on the injectors, secondly I have heard about the temp sensor. Can you be specific on which one you are referring to?

There’s only one blue one, it provides coolant temperature data to ECU

https://www.e30zone.net/e30wiki/index.p ... emp_Sensor

Fairly cheap to replace so might be worth a whirl. It’s also a service item

[Blanca]

First I would confirm I am getting fuel at the rail. disconnect the pipe from the back of the injector rail and into a jar, turn on and see if it pumps into the jar, if so then I would suspect signal to the injectors.

Al you need is;
Spark at the right time, Runs so that is OK
Compression, runs so that is good enough
Fuel, ??

Anything else is just tuning.

[jasonadams74]

Ok a little progress. Pulled one injector....I confirmed fuel injectors have power and are firing. I noticed the ground was missing that connects to valve cover to the body. I replaced and now it is trying to start. Still seems starving for fuel. I will need to get a fuel pressure tester tomorrow. Does anyone know the correct pressure if I pull the hose at the fuel rail? Lastly, it does not have coolant in the system.... does that matter for testing start up? Obviously not to run for long without, but wondering if the computers knows coolant is missing? Thanks

[BristolE30]

Ok a little progress. Pulled one injector....I confirmed fuel injectors have power and are firing. I noticed the ground was missing that connects to valve cover to the body. I replaced and now it is trying to start. Still seems starving for fuel. I will need to get a fuel pressure tester tomorrow. Does anyone know the correct pressure if I pull the hose at the fuel rail? Lastly, it does not have coolant in the system.... does that matter for testing start up? Obviously not to run for long without, but wondering if the computers knows coolant is missing? Thanks

I’d absolutely without a doubt put some coolant in. Coolant temp sensor does rely on reading that liquid temp. Not sure how tied in it is to the start up but it’s not safe to run it without coolant.

Another thing I was going to ask is when you say it fires up for a second and then dies, do you mean it’s actually running properly for a few seconds or you just feel it catching when the engine is cranking over ?

[jasonadams74]

It’s catches, runs, up to about 1,500 rpm for about 2 seconds then dies. Now it catches and as you are turning it over pushing the gas...it coughs, farts and tries to start

[Blanca]

Ok a little progress. Pulled one injector....I confirmed fuel injectors have power and are firing. I noticed the ground was missing that connects to valve cover to the body. I replaced and now it is trying to start. Still seems starving for fuel. I will need to get a fuel pressure tester tomorrow. Does anyone know the correct pressure if I pull the hose at the fuel rail? Lastly, it does not have coolant in the system.... does that matter for testing start up? Obviously not to run for long without, but wondering if the computers knows coolant is missing? Thanks

"valve cover to body", never had one and it runs fine. M20B20.

[Blanca]

Have you tried turning the ignition on and off a few times, this will prime the fuel system and see if it runs longer / starts easier?

Did you check pump terminals, they can get real shitty under the car. I had a similar problem, crappy terminal.

[jasonadams74]

Well guys, after trying almost everything... since this is our 2nd e30... we are going to cut bait and sell. My work is just too demanding and my son is full time student. The last thing I will try is the fuel pressure this week. After that, I'm wrapping it up. It's for sale for anyone in or around Atlanta Ga.
Thanks for everyone's help
JA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/u69rskboynNfteFA9

[HJ1981]

Well, since you replaced a bunch of parts, did you reset the DME/ECU? all you need to do is to unplug it for at least 10 seconds (or disconnect both positive and negative battery terminals for 10 seconds). I remember when i first got my E30 and did a bunch of electrical work (replacing sensors, tps, cps, injectors etc) and it would start and die, if i manually open the throttle it would hesitate and then die etc). After resetting the ECU is just fired to life, idled funny for a few minutes (DME/ECU using default map and re-learning new settings) and everything was fine.

I know you have given up and wish to sell, and this may or may not do anything, but it is only a few seconds of your time to make sure.

[964russ]

Idle control valve?