no spark when cold

[respected_beggar]

Ok so I just got back my e30 from the body shop this past thursday it took a little to get it to turn over but it did and ran fine, this is after sitting for 7 months never being turned on. Well saturday I didnt drive it nor did i turn it on but I thought I had nothing to worry about because both thursday and friday it turned on just fine, ran alittle ruff but fine, I mean after 7 months it I could see it running alittle ruff right? By ruff I mean when I would step on the gas pedal it would loss power after 3k and slowly work its way up to 7k in any gear, but with in 15 20 minutes it was fine.
Back to the point well yesterday, sunday, I went to go turn her on and drive it well she wouldnt turn on at all starter was working fuel pump and injectors were working but I wasn't getting and spark. So my father and I decied the best thing to do was to pull start it :down: which I was tottaly agasint because the car was fresh out of the paint both. Anyways after many attemps it finaly turned over and ran. So some how we got spark again? and after about 15 20 minutes she was as good as new? we even shut her off a few times and let her rest for 30 minutes to see if she'd do it again and surly enough she started right up?
Now this morning the same thing happened she wouldnt turn over at all then all of a suddent she turned on ran really crapy then sputtered out with in seconds. so I gave her a minute and tryed again she kept cranking but nothing she wanted to turn over twice and nothing then all of a suddened she started right up. Same probelms as before after about 3k hardly any power but would make it to 7k.

things changed

spark plug wires - got off runnng car looked new
cap and rotor - got off running car looked new
coil - brand new
ecu - got off same running car
cps - brand new through dealer

cliff notes
car starts up after 7 months and runs ok for 2 days considering
didnt drive it one day have to pull start it the next to get it to turn on
no spark when cold
backfires when trying to start and smells like pure gas out of the exhaust when trying to start
takes 15 20 mins to warm up then runs fine

[SmokeE30]

Where did you test for spark? Does the coil have spark when cranking?

[respected_beggar]

Pulled spark plug #1 to check and nothing was happening. I havent checked the coil for spark.

[dnguyen1963]

Did you check all the grounds. It sounds like they are playing loosy/tighty to you.

[respected_beggar]

Did you check all the grounds. It sounds like they are playing loosy/tighty to you.

By all the grounds, what do you mean? or where should I start, like the engine ground or??

[dnguyen1963]

Bentley manual shows you where the grounds are. I posted this awhile back too. You can do a quick search here and it'll pop up.

[603Racing]

This does not sound like a spark issue at all. It could be, but the symptoms you describe seem like a fueling problem or a temp sensor issue.

Have you checked fuel pressure? Specifically when it won't start.

[respected_beggar]

Quick up date- turn the e30 on this morning took about a minute to atcually turn on and run right, much better then having to pull start it. after running 10 minutes I turned her off and went back to bed. When i got up i went back out to turn her on, 3 hours later, turned right on not sputtering or backfiring or anything she was running amazing.

Bentley manual shows you where the grounds are. I posted this awhile back too. You can do a quick search here and it'll pop up.

Thank you and I will look into it!

This does not sound like a spark issue at all. It could be, but the symptoms you describe seem like a fueling problem or a temp sensor issue.

Have you checked fuel pressure? Specifically when it won't start.

I would agree with you but I am getting fuel? fuel pump, fuel filter, and fuel pressure regulator are all working. Before my father and I checked for spark thats what I thought it was. Another good reason why its not is also becasue when I'm trying to start the car you can smell the gas coming from the exhaust. What I'm actually thinking is it might just be CPS? why, because it seems like a timing problem? it takes a few minutes to start up but once its up and running for a few minutes its fine? So Im thinking maybe it could be a faulty CPS? but ill start with the grounds and work my way from there.


Also lets just say my crank and CPS where dirty, like a build up of grease and dirt form the road? could that cause and interference with the CPS and Crank? :neutral:

[dnguyen1963]

You can clean the grease and dirt off the CPS by using brake clean fluid.

[603Racing]

Unless you checked the fuel pressure you can't be sure it's correct. Just because you have fuel doesn't mean you have the correct pressure.

You could also check the c191 plug, corrosion of that connector can cause an array of symptoms that mimic other problems.

[respected_beggar]

Update

Unless you checked the fuel pressure you can't be sure it's correct. Just because you have fuel doesn't mean you have the correct pressure.

You could also check the c191 plug, corrosion of that connector can cause an array of symptoms that mimic other problems.

I wish i would've read that earlier, Because I would've completly forgotten about the c191 plug.

Thanks again for all the help everyone!! its reall appercaited!


Update still took about 20 seconds to start her up today. Well I looked more into it and put my car up on the lift my engine ground was toast, so I replaced that with a new one, and cleaned everything the best I could with a brass wire brush to get a good connection. When she was back on the ground I went ahead and replace my FPR with a new one because I've had it sitting around forever. After all of that she started right up once the fuel got pressurized and ran great. So fingers crossed, and hopefully she'll turn on tomorrow with out any problems.

[603Racing]

You may have had compounding issues, which is always a b!tch to diagnose. Hope all it stays running well.

[respected_beggar]

Update

Ok so after about a week of her tuning on only with a little to no hesitation, good thing right! (been turning her on 7:15 in the morning and leaving her running for 10 15 minutes) Well yesterday I went to turn my e30 on and she did start, worst part was I need to pick up girlfriend. well I tried for a good hour to get her to run, well nothing I had to take my moms car to go get my girlfriend. So I went to go pick her up and take her back to my house, well as I was doing this my dad got my car to start? I ask him how he says it just turned right on? Well I thought ok 1 bad day all week it probably sat to long something? I go to turn it on today and guess what same thing still haven't gotten it to run and I got so pissed I took a video too this time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HS81WK9tBw&feature=youtu.be

sorry couldn't figure out how to upload the video.