car wont start

[SynSyx]

So last night, about a quarter mile from my house, my car ran out of gas (or so I think; the needle was near empty and my gas light doesn't work). What exactly happened was that first the engine cut out, then the oil light on the dash came on, shortly followed by the other dash lights.

So I let her roll as far as she would go, pulled over, walked the rest of the way home and decided I'd just deal with it in the morning. So this morning I borrow my sister's car, go get 2 gallons of gas, and put it in the tank. Go to start the car, and nothing. There is basically just a whirring sound, it doesn't sound or feel like the engine is actually turning over.

What's going on here? Thanks in advance

[call me jack]

so wait, is the engine turning over? The whining could possibly be the fuel pump... if it is turning over, give it a few trys. i had a delayed fuel delivery once, and i have to try about 7 times to get fuel back to the rail... if it still isn't starting, then it's likely an electrical issue, which is something that some one else on here would be better at diagnosing.

[StereoInstaller1]

oh boy...M20, right?

[SynSyx]

so wait, is the engine turning over? The whining could possibly be the fuel pump... if it is turning over, give it a few trys. i had a delayed fuel delivery once, and i have to try about 7 times to get fuel back to the rail... if it still isn't starting, then it's likely an electrical issue, which is something that some one else on here would be better at diagnosing.

I'm not sure if the engine is actually turning over, it doesn't sound or feel like it is, and the whirring is coming from the engine compartment. I've tried about ten starts so I don't think the fuel rail is still dry.

oh boy...M20, right?

Yes, this is my '88 325iX

[arch4ngel]

I think it's an m20 based on the cars in op's sig...
I think what Luke is getting at is you might want to check out your tbelt...
If you can rotate the engine without any movement in the head your tbelt + is fubarred.
When it happened to my ex-gfs car the engine made a fast whirring sound due to lack of compression.
Good luck.

[M4DE30]

check your fuel pump.

[TS323]

sounds like t-belt to me. mine just went and it just made a whine when i tried to start it. gotta be optimistic, now its time for a swap!

[SynSyx]

I think it's an m20 based on the cars in op's sig...
I think what Luke is getting at is you might want to check out your tbelt...
If you can rotate the engine without any movement in the head your tbelt + is fubarred.
When it happened to my ex-gfs car the engine made a fast whirring sound due to lack of compression.
Good luck.

Visually, the belts all look fine and intact. How would I go about rotating the engine

sounds like t-belt to me. mine just went and it just made a whine when i tried to start it. gotta be optimistic, now its time for a swap!

Haha I'm already elbow deep in a swap, right now I need a reliable DD!


I'm gonna go back to the car and try it again, and I'll take a video so you guys know what I'm talking about

[StereoInstaller1]

gotta be optimistic, now its time for a swap!

Yes, this is my '88 325iX

I don't think so on the swap. This guy is obviously kind of new to cars. I don't wanna say it...but...go take your oil cap off and have someone crank the car.

If you see things turning inside your motor, that would be really really really good.

[TS323]

didnt see it was an ix..... who looks dumb now... haha.

[StereoInstaller1]

didnt see it was an ix..... who looks dumb now... haha.

nah. Dumb is worse than that.

[SynSyx]

Heres some videos:

[StereoInstaller1]

I don't wanna say it, but fucked is you.

Start looking for a head. You might as well start cleaning shit, you are gonna wanna see what you are doing when you rip your motor apart.

[TwoJ's]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it appears that your timing belt broke. it sounds like the bottom end is turning over, which surprises me, but you can see a rocker arm in the upper left area of the oil cap hole and it clearly isn't moving when you turn it over.

[KillaCams]

Hard to see in the vid but your cam doesn't look like it's moving, the timing belt probably broke. Have you checked if you're getting spark and fuel?