Your non starter for 10

[316eyes]

Any ideas anyone before I fork out Ԛ£50 for a diagnostic check?

Standard 316i engine (M40), good top end etc. Fuel and spark at plugs - will not fire up! Only thing I can think of is that there is an alarm fitted but no fob for it. If there is an immobiliser as well could this have kicked in (but would think that would cut either/both fuel/electrics). Car was in daily use with no problems but has been stood for 2 months.

Open to suggestions from the wise ones

[reddy30]

Ok, am far from wise but will have a stab
I assume the engine is turning over but not firing?

Have you tried removing the inlet fuel line to see if fuel is actually being delivered? This should come through at quite a rate so be careful

If there is nothing coming through, you could try the fuel filter, relay and pump.

If it has got an immobiliser then I would have thought it would not provide any electrics until deactivated.

Good Luck!

[316eyes]

Plenty of fuel and a good spark but no bang in the pots????????????????

[Karan]

just a blind guess.... how bout the crank sensor....... but i guess it would still spark anyway....

[320Touring]

well you have fuel and spark...

only thimg missing is air! chack all th hoses and teh TB etc

also check that your rotor cap/ht leads are connected correctly, as if you get a spark at teh wrong time it wont start as no fuel to burn.

do you hear the starter motor kicking in?!

[316eyes]

Everything is as you would expect. Car was running OK when parked up and nobody has been near the engine.

320touring: never thought about the air part of the recipe - good one mate.

Anyone else with a "EUREKA" moment? The more suggestions I get the more chance I can sort it tommorrow.

[316eyes]

After checking everything I could and getting nowhere had a diagnostic check done by a mobile type guy. Plugs his laptop into the car and EUREKA! Crankshaft/pulse sensor u/s. New sensor fitted, one twist of the key and the engine starts and runs. Hoooooooooray!!!!!!!!!!

Now I had a non tappety M40 running sweet, idle speed bang on 800revs.
Am I one happy zoner?

NO, I AM FCUKING NOT!!!!!!!!!!

Went down to my mates garage last night to do some rewiring for speakers and alarm before the now mint interior goes back in and the fecker wouldn't start.
Exactly the same symptoms as before, so I presume its the sensor again.
The car has travelled about 100yds since the sensor was fitted (moving in and around the garage); if it has blown again WTF is causing it.

All other systems checked OK on the diagnostic check, so before the wizard with the black magic box comes back next week does anyone have any ideas what might be at the root of the problem?

PLEASE HELP if you can because I could buy a new car for the price the of sensors I'd need just to drive the car home.

[rickk]

I'd check the wire / connector to the sensor...

[randomdave325]

i had this on my 535 and it turned out to be a resistor had burnt out in the ecu. i don't know why but thats what it was. hopefully not the same for you but worth a thought. the only other thing i can think of is spray some carb cleaner in the intake when cranking it over. at least you know for definate it's ignition related if it still doesn't go.

[316eyes]

Bumped in the hope that someone else has a solution.

[Brianmoooore]

You say plenty of fuel and a good spark. Is this plenty of fuel in the fuel rail, or being injected into the cylinders?
If fuel is being injected and the plugs are sparking, then an engine should do something in the way of firing, unless it has lost all compression or has a very large ignition timing error, ( like 180 degrees).

[316eyes]

Big thanks to all who replied with suggestions (had a few by PM). Now have quite a list to work thru next week. Fingers crossed, legs crossed, eyes crossed, but hopefully no wiring crossed.

Watch this space............................................