E30 325is no start

[rommaster2]

So i'm stumped and trying to help my friend get his e30 working again. When he purchased the car it had a remote start button on it and worked by putting the key in the on position and then engaging the remote start. The car worked fine for two months, and then randomly the button stopped engaging the starter. Now the kicker here is that the key would no engage the starter. The problem is we have no spark or fuel now.

Things I have checked are the fusible link for the battery, CPS is brand new, when I went over the starter wiring it appears to be all intact, however we have no way of contacting the person who put the switch in as the person he bought it from bought it that way.

I am following this guide in order to check the basics and try and pinpoint what isn't sending the right signal.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?335268-E30-noobs-please-read-for-all-DIY-and-FAQ&p=19455384#post19455384

The issue I am running into is i think i am misunderstanding where i am supposed to be checking on this guide. The first couple steps are easy and involved just checking continuity and resistance to the coil and ground. The problem though is the later steps say to plug the DME (i'm assuming this is the ECU) back in and reinstall the battery then check that power is going to the dme.

I do not know how i am supposed to backprobe the DME connector when its plugged in as there is no access to the back of the connections. Maybe I am checking the wrong area? Any help with this would be appreciated as I am tired of wasting time guessing and just want to pinpoint whats going on.

[jlevie]

You must remove the back shell of the DME connector to perform the later tests.

[NoM54me]

Where does the wiring for the remote start button go? Have you checked the wiring on the starter? The ignition switch could be screwy, too. Any ideas why the car was set up with a remote button?

[rommaster2]

Where does the wiring for the remote start button go? Have you checked the wiring on the starter? The ignition switch could be screwy, too. Any ideas why the car was set up with a remote button?

Unfortunately no we have no idea why it was put in (I'm sure if we had a way of finding the answer we might more easily solve this solution. Looking at the wiring for the switch it was wired up directly to the power distribution block (passenger side of the engine bay where all the battery cables come up to) and then to the lower stud on the starter where the yellow and black signal wire goes. The yellow and black wire is still intact and on the car and now the key turns the engine over just fine.

We actually installed a known good ignition switch in it today and it started on the first try then went back to this issue of just cranking but no spark or fuel as soon as we turned it off. Also everything else gets power, like lights radio relays click on when we turn the key to the on position, however there is just no spark or fuel.

You must remove the back shell of the DME connector to perform the later tests.

Thanks that makes sense, i'll just have to remove it tomorrow in the morning while i look at it.

[rommaster2]

Thought I would post an update, we got it fixed. After working down the list of things to check and not finding anything concrete we noticed that when the positive cable on the battery was moved that one of the relays under the hood would click if the key was in the on position. I rechecked the smaller fusible link cable that came off the battery and found it would intermittently lose power past the fusible part. After putting a wire on it to test my theory the car works and starts every time, even the ignition switch works properly now and will start it with the key.