car only starts when i press on the gas while cranking (FIXED!!!)

[Killacortes]

i got eta problems! its a 86 auto 325es. Doesnt seem like it wants to stay running, the only time it starts is when i step on the gas while i crank it. It did start right up this morning when i had left it in the garage over night. it was having issues starting before i replaced the head gasket. any ideas on what i can check or maybe if i have some wires mixed around?

[JA1991]

Mine does the same thing, 87E. I think it may be fuel related, stepping on the gas gives it more fuel obviously, try mixing some sea foam in your fuel, new fuel filter. If that fails could be a fuel pump or something. I'm not sure as i am having the same problem (haven't done sea foam or changed fuel filter yet) i have the shit sitting in my garage but i'm lazy haha

[Killacortes]

i changed the spark plugs. and the fuel filter today didnt seem to help.

[TobyB]

If you have a cold start injector (does the es?) make sure that's squirting.

But if it doesn't want to stay running, that's a bigger issue...

t

[Killacortes]

Yea the main issue is that it doesnt stay running. I've had it fired up and idle for a good 5 min and it just slowly sputters and dies.

[UserError]

Sounds a lot like a weak fuel pump. Try to beg, borrow, or buy a fuel pressure gauge, and see what your fuel pressure is like. On early etas like yours, there's two fuel pumps: an in-tank lift pump and an inline pressure pump. From the sound of it, the lift pump is likely the one going out, though the pressure pump's also a possibility.

[JA1991]

Phh yea that's a little different. Mine just has a hard time starting... Everyonce in awhile i'll be sitting at a stop light or something and my idle drops and the car almost dies too..

[Killacortes]

The lift pump is the one under the rear seat? And is the inline pump under the drivers side? I will check the type of voltage the pump is getting tomorrow. It ran fine before I did the head gasket tho

[dnguyen1963]

If this happened after you did your HG then check for vacuum leak, especially after the engine warmed up.

[audiquattrot]

i have a similar issue at times, but the car doesn't die like yours.

Sometimes I have to crank it + pretty much floor the gas pedal to get her started....and it sputters on.

I've changed the spark plugs & fuel filter....not much difference.

[bmw325csi]

Fuel injector harness. Check it, mine did the same thing after a head gasket because the shop messed up my harness

[Killacortes]

Left it alone over night and started right up but no wouldn't re start after that! Still waiting till later today to test for fuel pressure

[Kershaw]

vaccum leaks? when it's on, does it idle really rough?

either that or weak pump.

[Killacortes]

It didn't idle rough when I first get it started. Just seems to not get enough fuel. After I test the fuel pressure I'll find out whether it's the pump or not. Does anyone know of any links to a fuel pump retrofit on an eta? Found a few for late model cars but they only have one pump

[Thizzelle]

sonds like my friends car, i've checked everything except the fuel pump so im suspecting that the fuel pump is going out. gonna pull one from my car and stick it in theirs to see if any difference.