s52 crank, no start. Need advice. (RESOLVED)

[cmeptb13]

Hey guys. I usually try to figure stuff out on my own, but I'm not a mechanic so I'm not even sure how to approach this "no start" issue.

Little background:

The engine started right up and the compression numbers were very good before we pulled it.

I had the head rebuilt. Put the engine back together with all new seals. New tensioners, guide rails, Vanos rebuild.
I'm pretty confident I got that part right, everything was done by the book and properly torqued. I double checked the timing and the vanos before finalizing things. Turned it over by hand, used the camshaft locking tool and everything checked out.

This Saturday I finished hooking everything up.
-First pulled the fuel pump fuse to prime the engine. Turned over just fine. Checked the oil level, went down to the min. mark with 6 quarts in, added half a quart.

-Put the fuel pump fuse back. Now I could hear the pump priming. Turned it over and it sounded like it was about to start but something's missing.

You can hear the ICV and the Fuel Pump in the video


-The fuel lines are connected right. Top is feed, bottom is return with the regulator built into the rail. The FRP vacuum is connected to the valve on the corner of the manifold. And we put a couple of gallons of fresh 93 in it.
-Checked all the grounds.
-Crank. Cam. Knock sensors all connected.
-ECU was flashed by TRM to eliminate the EWS, Sec O2, Loss Valve, Sec Air Pump.
-I didn't do the harness myself, so that's questionable.

-Right now I'm missing the Intake Air Sensor connector from the harness.
-I don't have the Evap/ Purge valve, so that's disconnected. The charcoal canister is connected directly to the intake.
-I'm also missing some plugs for the injector harness, I think one of them is the Sec. Air Pump. But I'm not sure about the other one.


-One of the O2 sensors isn't installed into the header due to clearance but I don't think that would cause a no start issue.

-One last thing I've tried before posting this is bolting the Coil Ground cable On Top of the coil, instead of having it under.... I couldn't find any reference for the correct position. It made some difference but still no solution.


This is after I've repositioned Coil Ground Cables to be on top of the coil.

-Coils and plugs are brand new.



I'd appreciate any input. Just keep in mind that I've already double checked the fuel lines, injectors were rebuilt and flow tested. Plugs and Coils are new.

I can smell some exhaust fumes, Not fuel, when I crank it. So suspect it has something to do with the wiring or the sensors.

[DesertBMW]

-ECU was flashed by TRM to eliminate the EWS, Sec O2, Loss Valve, Sec Air Pump

I know for a fact that TRM does not delete secondary air pump valve solenoid, not rear 02 sensor heaters. I am the only tuner who knows how to do that.

No wonder why the engine can't start, you are missing crank position sensor harness, it plugs in the fuel rail harness as seen in the photo here:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8586481725_3a69a68513_b.jpg

[cmeptb13]

Thanks for the response. So I guess at this time my primary concern should be the harness that goes between the crank sensor and the plug in the injector harness? Real oem is of no help when it comes to the wiring.

[DesertBMW]

Thanks for the response. So I guess at this time my primary concern should be the harness that goes between the crank sensor and the plug in the injector harness? Real oem is of no help when it comes to the wiring.

If you don't know how harness all goes then you can't be just plugging in stuff guessing it is the correct way.

[craiggroves91]

If you don't know how harness all goes then you can't be just plugging in stuff guessing it is the correct way.

+1 you'll start a fire, then you'll really be screwed

[cmeptb13]

I understand that part and I was just trying to save myself some time by paying someone else to modify the harness for me but I can already see the drawbacks of doing it that way. I guess I'll have to sit down and read some diagrams.

[craiggroves91]

I understand that part and I was just trying to save myself some time by paying someone else to modify the harness for me but I can already see the drawbacks of doing it that way. I guess I'll have to sit down and read some diagrams.

Who did your harness? Mine came back all labeled for me and it did save me a lot of time!

[cmeptb13]

^ same guy that did yours, but I don't want to say anything until I talk to him

[craiggroves91]

^ same guy that did yours, but I don't want to say anything until I talk to him

Didn't it come labeled?

[jink0619]

Hope you get this figured out, get this baby on the road! see you at local meets.

[KoKoSe7eN]

You said the carbon canister is connected without out a valve between? That would be a vacuum leak... The purge valve is sprung closed and only energized when dme wants to... Forcing connection straight to manifold would cause a big "leak"... Hope this helps

[cmeptb13]

^That's a really good point, didn't think of it like that. That's probably not the only problem I have but I'll keep that in mind

[cmeptb13]

Didn't it come labeled?

It was labelled, that's not the issue. The harness is physically missing at least two plugs. One is the Air Temp Sensor and some other shit that plugs into the injector harness.

[DesertBMW]

It was labelled, that's not the issue. The harness is physically missing at least two plugs. One is the Air Temp Sensor and some other shit that plugs into the injector harness.

Originaly vanos actuator plugs into fuel rail harness, but there was a problem with crank sensor harness, so bmw issued a recall, and additional harness was made to re-route the power source to the crank sensor, so additional harness will plug into fuel rail plug then will provide power to the vanos actuator and power to crank sensor.

Then BMW fixed the harness issue on all E36 models made in 1999

CPS Harness 12514592703

[cmeptb13]

Yea, I've spent some time at the wedophones last night and figured out the harness.
I have a late model crank sensor that plugs directly into the harness, that adapter harness wouldn't work for me. It's for the M52TU crank sensor that needs to draw 12V from the vanos plug on the injector harness.
The IAT harness was mislabeled as VANOS, but I figured that out as well.
So everything is plugged the way it should be.

Plugged all the vacuum ports that aren't being used, so that's covered.

I have fuel in the rail. The injectors were rebuilt so they should be good, unless of course they're somehow not getting power.

I guess at this point I need to get a hold of diagnostic equipment so that I can see what the DME has to say about all this.
And possibly start testing the harness for continuity.

There's a BMW shop near me, that I know has done 24v swaps, Dan Martin's shop. I'm probably going to talk to him and go from there.