Cranks but no start

[spaceshuttle]

I tried searching couldn't really find anything. I have an 89 325i m20. I parked in my drive and when I went to start it up again it just cranks won't turn over. It's getting spark I think it might be a fuel thing I can smell gas when I am cranking it. What do you guys think?

[Adrian_Visser]

what do you mean it won't turn over? Is the starter turning over the engine or not?

[spaceshuttle]

It just cranks but doesn't fire up. I don't think it's the starter.

[selturk]

check your relays first.. fuel pump relay and the main relay.

[spaceshuttle]

Switched relays nothing changed

[jlevie]

The first check would be to see if you have spark when cranking the engine. No spark will be a bad main relay, bad CPS, no START signal to the DME, no unswitched power to the DME, a bad DME, no power to the coil, bad coil, bad ignition wires/distributor/rotor, or broken timing belt.

If you have spark, the cause could be incorrect fuel pressure or a problem with the C191 connector under the intake manifold.

[spaceshuttle]

okay Its not sparking switched the main relay and CPS. It's getting fuel and the c191 is connected. How do I check the DME?

[spaceshuttle]

I checked to see if it was the ignition wires and swithed one and it was sparking while it was cranking then I tried it again and it had no spark.

[StereoInstaller1]

You cannot use any other relay to replace the "main" relay: it is unique on the car.

[spaceshuttle]

How do I check if its broke?

[Eecen]

You can make a jumper from the "30" terminal to both "87" terminals and test.

The car should run, but will not shut off until you remove the jumpers.

[spaceshuttle]

How do I go about doing this I am not even really sure where to start?

[StereoInstaller1]

Get 1 foot of 18 ga wire and 3) 1/4" male spade terminals.

Make a chain of the 3 terminals...1 to the other to the other, so you have a chain of 3 terminals.

Remove the main relay and connect the 3 bigger wires (look under it to tell which is the bog ones) you MUST connect all 3.

Start your car, see what happens.

[spaceshuttle]

So I figured out that only 2 cylinders have spark and all the rest don't should I still check the main relay?

[StereoInstaller1]

Got fuel?