Engine won't turn over, VANOS stuck?

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  • triggrhaapi
    Grease Monkey
    • Feb 2007
    • 350

    #1

    Engine won't turn over, VANOS stuck?

    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?
    1987 BMW 325is | Frankenmotor S50 | Supersprint Replica Headers | K&N Intake | Gutted Stock Midpipe | Zimmermann Rotors | Stainless Brake Lines | Porterfield Racing Pads
  • BigD
    E30 Enthusiast
    • Jul 2006
    • 1085

    #2
    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").

    Comment

    • skatebline
      Advanced Member
      • Sep 2006
      • 167

      #3
      Did you shave a little bit off the oil pan?? or the flywheel?

      Comment

      • Mr.SWISS
        E30 Fanatic
        • Nov 2005
        • 1251

        #4
        Can you hand crank it is important info.
        Originally posted by 325Projectz
        don't listen to the diagram... listen to mr. swiss.
        :nice:

        Comment

        • 325Projectz
          E30 Mastermind
          • Jan 2005
          • 1956

          #5
          what flywheel and trans setup?
          Originally posted by skatebline
          Did you shave a little bit off the oil pan?? or the flywheel?
          lesson learned for you, eh?
          91 m3

          Comment

          • triggrhaapi
            Grease Monkey
            • Feb 2007
            • 350

            #6
            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.
            1987 BMW 325is | Frankenmotor S50 | Supersprint Replica Headers | K&N Intake | Gutted Stock Midpipe | Zimmermann Rotors | Stainless Brake Lines | Porterfield Racing Pads

            Comment

            • gotKRAUT
              Advanced Member
              • Apr 2007
              • 136

              #7
              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....
              Kyle Sutherland

              1995 BMW 540i/6:
              The Calypso Beast Vid 0-70ish
              1987 BMW 325es: Face & Butt Lifted/M50tu Swapped*Sold*
              1985 VW Scirocco: Too many mods, money pit*Sold*

              Comment

              • Bmjpv
                E30 Addict
                • Mar 2007
                • 561

                #8
                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
                Last edited by Bmjpv; 05-22-2007, 03:53 PM.

                Comment

                • triggrhaapi
                  Grease Monkey
                  • Feb 2007
                  • 350

                  #9
                  Originally posted by 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....
                  It only rotates around 20 degrees by hand.
                  1987 BMW 325is | Frankenmotor S50 | Supersprint Replica Headers | K&N Intake | Gutted Stock Midpipe | Zimmermann Rotors | Stainless Brake Lines | Porterfield Racing Pads

                  Comment

                  • triggrhaapi
                    Grease Monkey
                    • Feb 2007
                    • 350

                    #10
                    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?
                    1987 BMW 325is | Frankenmotor S50 | Supersprint Replica Headers | K&N Intake | Gutted Stock Midpipe | Zimmermann Rotors | Stainless Brake Lines | Porterfield Racing Pads

                    Comment

                    • Bmjpv
                      E30 Addict
                      • Mar 2007
                      • 561

                      #11
                      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

                      Comment

                      • mentaleeill
                        E30 Modder
                        • Nov 2003
                        • 850

                        #12
                        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.

                        Comment

                        • matt
                          No R3VLimiter
                          • Oct 2003
                          • 3731

                          #13
                          Originally posted by 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.
                          +1

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

                          Comment

                          • triggrhaapi
                            Grease Monkey
                            • Feb 2007
                            • 350

                            #14
                            The helical cup turns to a point where it jams against the camshaft.
                            1987 BMW 325is | Frankenmotor S50 | Supersprint Replica Headers | K&N Intake | Gutted Stock Midpipe | Zimmermann Rotors | Stainless Brake Lines | Porterfield Racing Pads

                            Comment

                            • matt
                              No R3VLimiter
                              • Oct 2003
                              • 3731

                              #15
                              So your Vanos gear doesn't spin freely?

                              Comment

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