motor cranks but wont start, has spark and fuel

[tunethtmkII]

i have a 1990 325i that i purchased "as-is". he said it was driving, then got parked for 3 days and wouldnt start, i somewhat trust his word, he is a credited member of r3v and i read through his build thread. i bought it knowing it had spark, but still wouldnt start. so i assumed it would be a simple fuel pump or relay. i checked the pump and all is operating.

so what im left with is a motor that cranks,

has spark

and fuel to the fuel rail.

i did some research and my possible ideas are FPR, CPS or maybe the motor is now flooded?


has any one had similar problems? any ideas?

[Kozworth]

Check the fuel pressure, it can get fuel to the rail but if it isnt enough pressure it will not shoot through the injectors.

If its getting spark the cps would be working (crank position sensor dennotes spark).

Another option could be the timing would be off. Its not firing spark at the right time, but not sure how a car could go from running then no go.

If it were me i would:

Check fuel pressure to make sure it is within range, if so I would double check all the spark plug wires, cap for any flaws and spray with a mist of water to inspect for arcing. If that seems good, your timing is off or you do not have compression.

[vandol]

pull the spark plugs and see if the soaked with fuel, if you think the cylinders are flooded.

maybe air in the fuel lines?

How did you check the fuel pump? voltage wise or listen to it run when you turn the key

to the ON position?

[tunethtmkII]

pull the spark plugs and see if the soaked with fuel, if you think the cylinders are flooded.

maybe air in the fuel lines?

How did you check the fuel pump? voltage wise or listen to it run when you turn the key

to the ON position?

i checked the pump by hooking it up to a direct 12v source. when i pulled one of the spark plugs some gas dripped on the exhaust gasket heat shield thing.

[paperplane94]

Indeed that's flooded.

Are you sure you have spark?
While you have that plug out, connect it to the spark plug wire and ground the plug body to the engine and look for spark while someone cranks.

[vandol]

Indeed that's flooded.

Are you sure you have spark?
While you have that plug out, connect it to the spark plug wire and ground the plug body to the engine and look for spark while someone cranks.

+1 check all the plugs, maybe get a little hand pump and siphon the gas

in all the cylinders.

[tunethtmkII]

Indeed that's flooded.

Are you sure you have spark?
While you have that plug out, connect it to the spark plug wire and ground the plug body to the engine and look for spark while someone cranks.

i am sure i have spark, i already did that. i pulled all the plugs and cleaned them, but i only noticed that one because it was the only one that dripped

[tunethtmkII]

if this is the case, could it prove that this is the cps? because its not sparking fast enough?

[paperplane94]

If you think so...

[1fastETA]

Cps^

[tunethtmkII]

Cps^

are you agreeing that its the cps or are you stating that the pick above is a cps? lol

[paperplane94]

Both! :)

[tunethtmkII]

Both! :)

haha