M20 starting issue

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  • SHE30
    Noobie
    • Jul 2010
    • 34
    #1

    M20 starting issue

    Car is a 85 325e with a 87 "i" motor. PO had car stored for some time non-running. The engine has a fresh head with all new parts and a 284 cam. The car has ran with this setup so its not a project that just got done and it wont start. It has been together and driven about 3-5k miles since the head rebuild.

    So the engine is getting spark. Cranks fine but doesnt fire. I took the spark plugs out and cleaned them, they had a little excess fuel on them so I know this isnt a "no fuel" problem. Not sure if maybe the injectors are dumping to much fuel or not. It didnt seem like it had that much fuel on the plugs so they wouldnt fire...

    I also changed the AFM because the one on the car had the settings adjusted to help run with the cam. I installed a stock AFM and still no life.

    Nothing looks unplugged. I checked all the vac lines and everything.

    Any suggestions?

    TIA
    Tags: None
    • jlevie
      R3V OG
      • Nov 2006
      • 13530
      #2
      If you have spark the likely candidates for a no start condition are intake leaks or a fuel system problem. A smoke test of the intake will tell if and where any leaks are and the suite of fuel system tests in the Bentlel will tell if there is a fuel problem.
      The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
      Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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        • SHE30
          Noobie
          • Jul 2010
          • 34
          #3
          Originally posted by jlevie
          If you have spark the likely candidates for a no start condition are intake leaks or a fuel system problem. A smoke test of the intake will tell if and where any leaks are and the suite of fuel system tests in the Bentlel will tell if there is a fuel problem.
          Alright, explain the smoke test in a little more depth I'm kind of lost as to how we get smoke to go over the engine

            Comment

            • jlevie
              R3V OG
              • Nov 2006
              • 13530
              #4
              A smoke test is done with a machine that pumps long persistence smoke into the intake. The smoke will find any and all leaks and they will be immediately obvious. You have the test run by a shop that has the equipment.
              The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
              Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                Comment

                • JK_E30
                  E30 Addict
                  • Jan 2007
                  • 545
                  #5
                  looked into the problem a little bit and found that for some reason the alternator power lines were not even connected. would this affect starting at all? We were still gettin spart and fuel but I am not sure if that system has to be connected to start the car.

                  Thanks.

                  M50B25tu

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