I hoped it didn't have to come to this.

[vandy]

Electrical troubleshooting thread. I'm stumped.

Before I start in, please accept my thanks for even reading and helping. It means a lot to me. My end of the bargain is to be quick to answer in a complete way, researching and investigating as much as I can.

'91 318is with a swapped M50NV and g240
Automatic harness
m20 starter/flywheel

I'm at the point of trying to crank my motor but I am not sure what piece is missing to get it to that point. If I try to crank the car, I get nothing. No turning over, no fuel pump prime, no starter click. With the key in the on position, I get all lights at the bottom of the gauge cluster on, and they dim when I turn the key to start it. I can visibly see my black/yellow wire move when I turn the key. Also, when the key is in the on position, I can hear a slight hum coming from the starter, which I am thinking is fishy. But, before I take the intake back off for the eleventy-millionth time, I wanted to check here.

Troubleshooting completed already:
- Fuel pump primes when supplied external power
- Continuity light shows power at the B+
- Continuity light shows power at the big starter terminal/wire
- Continuity light shows power at the relays on red wires full time
- Continuity light shows power at the relays on white/red wires on "on" position
- Fully charged group 48 battery and tested with another battery to make sure
- Ground wires present on both drivers and passengers side, and have jumped ground positions to other sources to verify.

Known issues:
- Oil level sensor wires not hooked up
- One loom of automatic wires still present in the harness, yet to be deleted
- SRS wire not jumped
- Tach coding plug not installed yet

Here's some photos of what I'm working with. Verbal beratements accepted, but I'm shooting for a running car before I patch it all up nicely.









Any help or direction is appreciated. Thanks!

[Jib05]

Hey mate, good job on the work so far!

Just had a quick look at mine and these two ground wires look like they are in the wrong place. Their should be a terminal on the starter where two grounds are put together. Also does your starter have a constant 12v+? Its night time couldn't get a decent photo.

Hope this helps!:up:

[Nick_S]

Your starter wires are not hooked up correctly at all. In the first picture of your start, those wires need to go to the post in that photo. There should be a large and smaller one on opposing sides and those wires should match.

None of your known issues will cause it to not start. I just finished the exact same swap on my car but I did have a manual e36 harness. My problem with mine was a bad crank sensor. Unless you've heard the motor run, buy a new one. It's a cheap variable to eliminate a no start issue.

Here's my power distribution block. I didn't snap a picture of my starter though but those small wires have to be your problem

[Poeman446]

I had a few problems when I tried to start my OBDII S52. I never unhooked the starter to save myself the trouble when modifying the harness, so I cant speak to how your starter is wired. I had a 325is Automatic car, so my first problem causing the starter not to work was the starter relay under the dash that disabled the starter unless the car is in park. The next problem was that I still had the factory E36 power block in my car, and the wire for my ECU, Fuel and other relays were not powered. Other than that, it started just fine. Use a DMM and check to be sure that your relays are powered.

[vandy]

Your starter wires are not hooked up correctly at all.

Bingo. :up:

I must've herped good to do that. Moved the black/yellow over to the bottom post on the solenoid and grounded the other green/purple wire since I have a 2 post starter. Thanks for the help!

[Nick_S]

Bingo. :up:

I must've herped good to do that. Moved the black/yellow over to the bottom post on the solenoid and grounded the other green/purple wire since I have a 2 post starter. Thanks for the help!

Good to hear! Poke through my build thread in my sig if need. I have the exact setup and just got mine finished up last weekend.

[vandy]

Good to hear! Poke through my build thread in my sig if need. I have the exact setup and just got mine finished up last weekend.

Awesome, will do. I'm relieved it started but now gotta focus and get it finished. Thanks again for the help.

[DesertBMW]

LOL!, you should not be working on your car, and not be hookin up wires on a a guess work.

[vandy]

LOL!, you should not be working on your car, and not be hookin up wires on a a guess work.

Thanks, you're a peach. My photo I printed out was unclear. Now go troll someone else with your superior knowledge, prick.

[Poeman446]

Don't feel special Vandy, he has earned himself quite the reputation around here, and pretty much every other forum really. I'm glad you got the car starting!

[vandy]

Don't feel special Vandy, he has earned himself quite the reputation around here, and pretty much every other forum really. I'm glad you got the car starting!

Yeah I have seen his shenanigans from lurking. He must feel pretty cool :roll: Doesn't matter, the car is running and I've got a to-do list a mile long to get this ready for the Leavenworth Drive! Thanks again for your assistance.

[Poeman446]

Sure dude. Hopefully you don't have anymore problems, but if you do, we can resolve them quickly.