Engine won't turn over, VANOS stuck?

[triggrhaapi]

The engine is not turning over, the starter is going and all that jazz, but the engine refuses to turn. I'm thinking the VANOS unit is jamming it up but without oil pressure I can't figure out how to fix that. I also can't figure out how to get oil pressure without turning the engine. It's already got oil in it so I'd prefer not to have to take off the VANOS unit and reinstall it, but is that the course that I'm going to have to take?

[BigD]

What does vanos have to do with the engine turning over? You probably just wired the starter solenoid or the motor itself wrong (can't say with any certainty due to "the starter is going and all that jazz").

[skatebline]

Did you shave a little bit off the oil pan?? or the flywheel?

[Mr.SWISS]

Can you hand crank it is important info.

[325Projectz]

what flywheel and trans setup?

Did you shave a little bit off the oil pan?? or the flywheel?

lesson learned for you, eh?

[triggrhaapi]

Flywheel: Stock E36 M50
Trans: Getrag 260
Oil pan: unshaved E34 M50

Starter is wired properly. You can't wire it improperly unless you're born with a mental defect. I mean there are three different size poles and three different sized wires. It's not rocket science. The starter cranks but doesn't go anywhere. The engine turns over by hand only a limited amount, which just so happens to be the same amount that the camshaft rotates when the VANOS unit pushes in and out, which is what leads me to believe that the VANOS unit is jammed somehow. This has happened with a different engine before so I know this is one of the things that can happen.

I'm not even trying to start the engine at this point, I was just trying to get it primed to start.

Assuming it was an electrical problem, which I'm not going to rule out entirely, would the starter try to crank but not turn over, or would it just not crank at all.

[gotKRAUT]

wow, could you be a tad more vague? God jason...lol

what sounds is the starter making? are you sure its completely engaging properly? as in is it popping out to engage with the flywheel? or just free spinning?

and also to re-ask an above question, can you turn the engine over by hand? do a full rotation or two by hand then try again....

[Bmjpv]

As was said earlier hand crank only! The vanos can be taken out of the system by disconnecting the power lead.The vanos is controlled the solenoid not the oil pressure,oil pressure is constant,solenoid makes it work. If you had the chain or head off than look there first because you might have valve clearance problems! If not ,sounds like you should look at the flywheel/ block clearance? Don't crank this with the starter until you find your problem. joe

[triggrhaapi]

wow, could you be a tad more vague? God jason...lol

what sounds is the starter making? are you sure its completely engaging properly? as in is it popping out to engage with the flywheel? or just free spinning?

and also to re-ask an above question, can you turn the engine over by hand? do a full rotation or two by hand then try again....

It only rotates around 20 degrees by hand.

[triggrhaapi]

I don't think it's a valve clearance problem, the engine was assembled perfectly according to the book.

What's this flywheel clearance issue I keep hearing about?

[Bmjpv]

When I built my engine I had an alumiumn flywheel whch and no clearance issues but I've always heard that a steel m20 flywheel hit the back of the block. Both of of the areas you should look at are going to be no fun, good luck joe

[mentaleeill]

its not the flywheel, as he is using the e36 one. the clearance is an issue when using the e30 single mass. im gonna say you have valvetrain interferance of somesort.

[matt]

its not the flywheel, as he is using the e36 one. the clearance is an issue when using the e30 single mass. im gonna say you have valvetrain interferance of somesort.

+1

I have never seen a vanos do anything like that. I don't see how it could.

[triggrhaapi]

The helical cup turns to a point where it jams against the camshaft.

[matt]

So your Vanos gear doesn't spin freely?