Help! Non start, odd one!, (they come in threes)

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

User avatar
hillbilly30
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 419
Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Norfolk boy

Post Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:02 pm

Ok so its another one from me!

Started car this afternoon, all well. Messed about with springs for about an hour and tried to start engine again.
Ignition lights came on but starter non turning. Assumed flat batt so put on charge for three hours and still nothing.
When turned to start position other ignition lights go out but brake warning light gets brighter!
If I put main beam and radio on and turn to start position they stay bright which leads me to think the starter is not getting any power, the starter doesn't click or anything.
Have tried whacking starter but nothing

Help please...
User avatar
hillbilly30
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 419
Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Norfolk boy

Post Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:40 pm

Have now tried taking a wire from the battery to the solenoid on the starter with the ignition on, nothing from the starter, does this mean anything?
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49360
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:56 pm

From what I can gather from the OP,and without thinking too hard (because I'm supposed to be working on something else) it's likely to be an earth fault. Most likely the engine to body one.
User avatar
hillbilly30
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 419
Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Norfolk boy

Post Fri Feb 21, 2014 9:20 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:From what I can gather from the OP,and without thinking too hard (because I'm supposed to be working on something else) it's likely to be an earth fault. Most likely the engine to body one.
Thanks again Brian, will take a look in the morning
User avatar
hillbilly30
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 419
Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Norfolk boy

Post Sat Feb 22, 2014 1:10 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:From what I can gather from the OP,and without thinking too hard (because I'm supposed to be working on something else) it's likely to be an earth fault. Most likely the engine to body one.
Spot on Brian! Many thanks, and to willnz, with your method it was easy to figure it out. The earth on the engine mount was rusted up a treat, removed it, hit it with a grinder and away we go! :D
User avatar
DaveMcleod88
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 104
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:00 pm
Location: Edinburgh

Post Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:13 pm

Have this problem also happens every now and then and always when I am parked in a paid parking bit!


Will try these out also Willnz

Hillbily30 Not sure if youre the same as me but I am sure my fuel pump isnt priming either during this phase of no starts
User avatar
hillbilly30
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 419
Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Norfolk boy

Post Sat Feb 22, 2014 6:03 pm

DaveMcleod88 wrote:Have this problem also happens every now and then and always when I am parked in a paid parking bit!


Will try these out also Willnz

Hillbily30 Not sure if youre the same as me but I am sure my fuel pump isnt priming either during this phase of no starts
Mine was for sure
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49360
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Sat Feb 22, 2014 10:15 pm

Note that if the engine to body earth strap fails on a facelift M20, you will seriously damage the engine loom when you try to start the car.
There is a parallel earth path from the oil level sensor to the engine loom main earthing point on the RH strut turret.