Electrical woes - 325i

[garyp_E30_325i]

Started off with my central locking working intermittently, tried changing the controller to no avail (thanks Neil for letting me try your 'spares' though how many do you actually need mate!? ) - think this might be water into the connector / wiring between the door and pillar, but still to check this out.

Then #10 Fuse (7.5A) started blowing, when it does the blowers, mirrors & dash (fuel gauge, rev counter & temp gauge) all go off too - but not the lights and speedo...

Now I've realised that the dipped beam is out (with the fuse - makes sense) but when I put on full beam the fuel gauge, rev counter & temp gauge come back on!

Now, I have been told the dash gauges could mean a new PCA is required (the rev counter comes on for a second then switches off, supposidly this is the tell tale sign) but could this be linked to the rest - or at least the fuse

Or do I just have Gremlins?

Euro used to stock the PCA, but on their site it says "out of stock". Someone said they don't supply them no more and I need to go to the stealers Anyone know of somewhere ealse that supplys the boards?

[Ant]

Phil Crouch @ CPC auto services used to do them dude.

Demlotcrew will have a better idea though, he's working there @ the mo, drop him a PM maybe??

[garyp_E30_325i]

Well it may have got worse this morning! She simple wouldn't start
Sounds like she's not getting a spark, though I don't understand why that would be related to the previously listed issues but then I'm no expert.
Maybe something obvious but I didn't have time to look at her this morning, just had to take the 'other' car.
Just as I got her running lovely too, sods law

[320Touring]

Well it may have got worse this morning! She simple wouldn't start
Sounds like she's not getting a spark, though I don't understand why that would be related to the previously listed issues but then I'm no expert.
Maybe something obvious but I didn't have time to look at her this morning, just had to take the 'other' car.
Just as I got her running lovely too, sods law

damn man, thats sh!t

so the lump turned over freely enough?

check the earth strap, and the fuses as per..

cant understand what else it could be-did davy alter anyting on the electrical side of things?

[garyp_E30_325i]

damn man, thats sh!t

so the lump turned over freely enough?

Yip, fine just didn't fire up.

cant understand what else it could be-did davy alter anyting on the electrical side of things?

Rotor arm & cap.

Also something around the TB - electrical connection to ECU? He adjusted the micro-switch but I thought that was for the idle & accelerating... or does it affect start-up too?

[320Touring]

if rotor cap was changed, check all the leads-could be something simple like a lead is loose...

microswitch only really controls throttle response, so when starting and you aint accelerating it shouldnt affect it.

I have spare cap/arm and tools and i'm free friday night if ya need a hand

[garyp_E30_325i]

I'll try to check the cap / leads tonight, if no joy you may find yourself gettin' a call... thanks for the offer.

[320Touring]

I'll try to check the cap / leads tonight, if no joy you may find yourself gettin' a call... thanks for the offer.

no bother sir. also available on sunday afternoon

[garyp_E30_325i]

I had a wee look at her last night, the 'not starting' problem looks like no fuel - she's turning over, firing but not starting. There's no smell of fuel either. I'm gonna check the plugs (see if they're wet and make sure there's a spark), check that the fuel pump primes and check the relay (the fuse was OK last night but I didn't check the relay).

I had a word with Davy, he reckons the timing wouldn't have just gone-off and that it's more likely fuel pump / relay / fuse related.

I also checked the immobiliser last night, it's working fine and cust the whole ignition when it's on so not the same issue anyway.

[320Touring]

I had a wee look at her last night, the 'not starting' problem looks like no fuel - she's turning over, firing but not starting. There's no smell of fuel either. I'm gonna check the plugs (see if they're wet and make sure there's a spark), check that the fuel pump primes and check the relay (the fuse was OK last night but I didn't check the relay).

I had a word with Davy, he reckons the timing wouldn't have just gone-off and that it's more likely fuel pump / relay / fuse related.

I also checked the immobiliser last night, it's working fine and cust the whole ignition when it's on so not the same issue anyway.

I have a few relays free lying about the flat

feel free to pop over if you want them, or i could drop them over about 7-15pm tonight?

thinking about it, if you had a blocked injector-maybe the pump was working at max, but only doing 5/6th of the job-get them all working and it packs in?

[garyp_E30_325i]

Well I think I've exhausted the options for the non-starting problem:
The fuel pump isn't priming when the ignition is turned-on,
Fuel pump relay is OK (works on my work bench, the circuit is fine and both together work too),
The immobiliser has two circuits: one cuts the ignition (works OK) and the other cuts the signal to the fuel pump relay (also works OK),
The fuel pump gets two signals when the ignition is turned on: one 12V the second 7V, both OK (don't know if the V is as should be but the circuit seems to work OK so I am assuming so),
However the fuel pump isn't drawing any current, nowt, zilch, nada.
I powered up the fuel pump idependently of the car (used a 12V, 20A battery charger) and switched on the ignition to see if she'd prime, but nothing...
So the conclusion is the fuel pump has gone... just don't fancy the £107+vat Euro & GSF are quoting!

Still got this niggling doubt in the back of my mind about the electrics, just so many issues right now... the dials, the fuse blowing and the central locking working when it feels like it (ironically enough now that she's off the road the CL is working fine ), but with all of the above it has to be the fuel pump... right?

[garyp_E30_325i]

Hey Neil,

No need to look out for a fuel pump mate, I decided to take the plunge and just buy a new one. Euro are quoting £126.82 (+ vat?), GSF £108.50 + vat, Motormec quoted £133.84 + vat Midland BM quoted £45+vat + £6 p&p = £58.87 for a used pump (still a shock but not quite as bad as others), then my cousin (the hero) came in at £72 for a new one - what luck having a Motor Factor in the family So I'll pick it up tomorrow night.

Decided not to wait 'cause she's meant to be on the BMWCC stand at the Callander Classic show this Sunday and I don't want to miss that, probably try fitting the pump on Friday (finishing early). If you want to come over and have a laugh at me filling my car with petrol (which will happen considering the tank is full and she's pointing down the hill on the driveway...) then feel free... I still want to compare your car to mine (gotta answer that 'relay' question... )

Thanks for your help bud.

Jealous of your outing at the w/end though... would've been better on 2-wheels, the Oban to Glasgow via Loch Lomond road is awesome on a bike

Gary

[320Touring]

Hey Neil,

then my cousin (the hero) came in at £72 for a new one - what luck having a Motor Factor in the family So I'll pick it up tomorrow night.

Decided not to wait 'cause she's meant to be on the BMWCC stand at the Callander Classic show this Sunday and I don't want to miss that, probably try fitting the pump on Friday (finishing early). If you want to come over and have a laugh at me filling my car with petrol (which will happen considering the tank is full and she's pointing down the hill on the driveway...) then feel free... I still want to compare your car to mine (gotta answer that 'relay' question... )

Thanks for your help bud.

Jealous of your outing at the w/end though... would've been better on 2-wheels, the Oban to Glasgow via Loch Lomond road is awesome on a bike

Gary

hi Gary, your cousin is a man I want to meet!Thats good news £72 is a bargain..

funny how you typed that post after i'd left work for the day-a wasted txt to your mobile

as for "filling the car with petrol" if you want I can come over and help you turn her rond, or roll her to a flat bit, so you dont lose the fuel.

As for the relay question-if my car is fixed on friday, sure we'll compare-failing that I'll get some pictures at the weekend and we can compare them.

As for the drive-even in a metro that road is special-every corner you turn it gets more and more beautiful. also fun watching the local's gettin out the 535i's way on the single track roads-didnt give way once, they all just got out the way of the hearing aid beige terror

[garyp_E30_325i]

funny how you typed that post after i'd left work for the day-a wasted txt to your mobile

as for "filling the car with petrol" if you want I can come over and help you turn her rond, or roll her to a flat bit, so you dont lose the fuel.

Yeah, I got your text after I'd logged-off...

Help pushing her back up the hill would be good...

[320Touring]

funny how you typed that post after i'd left work for the day-a wasted txt to your mobile

as for "filling the car with petrol" if you want I can come over and help you turn her rond, or roll her to a flat bit, so you dont lose the fuel.

Yeah, I got your text after I'd logged-off...

Help pushing her back up the hill would be good...

no bother-as long as its at a reasonable hour! how far are you from ballieston train station?

[garyp_E30_325i]

no bother-as long as its at a reasonable hour! how far are you from ballieston train station?

~1/2 mile down the hill... see pm for more details...

[garyp_E30_325i]

Funny thing with these 'electrical woes'... now the fuel pump has been swapped out the dials etc. all work fine!
Maybe as the fuel pump was on the way out and drawing more current it was blowing the fuse???? Only I sincerely hope the electric mirrors and fuel pump aren't on the same circuit!!!! Whatever, they're working now

[320Touring]

Funny thing with these 'electrical woes'... now the fuel pump has been swapped out the dials etc. all work fine!
Maybe as the fuel pump was on the way out and drawing more current it was blowing the fuse???? Only I sincerely hope the electric mirrors and fuel pump aren't on the same circuit!!!! Whatever, they're working now

From the problems I had with mine after the sump swap, Looks like fuse 10 controls

Rev Counter
Temp Gauge
Fuel Gauge
Heater/Blower
Electric Mirrors

doesnt seem to control fuel pump, as my car ran with fuse 10 blown

[garyp_E30_325i]

Yeah, I was going to retract that statement...

Fuse 11 (also 7.5A) is the fuel pump fuse.

I started to think that whilst I was in at the fuel pump circuit I had accidently sorted the Fuse 10 issue... then it came back again yesterday So I thought maybe it's related to the covers i.e. since putting the kick plate and shroud around the steering column back on the problem came back (when everyting was lying loose I had no problems). Then this morning the fuse blew again - when I put her in reverse gear ...need to look at that circuit again.

[320Touring]

hmm-must be drawing too much current somewhere...

time for "multimeter man" to go a hunting.