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E30 m20 starting problem

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    E30 m20 starting problem

    Hello!

    I'm having an intermittent starting problem with my e30 325.

    Sometimes the car starts up fine without any problems.

    But other times the starter doesnt crank the engine and just clicks or it starts up the car but the starter keeps on turning while the engine is on. I than have to disconnect the battery to make it stop..

    what could this be? is my starter fucked?

    tnx

    i'm from belgium so sorry for any grammar mistakes

    #2


    Maybe this helps? Probably a starter issue

    Comment


      #3
      I agree this sounds like a bad starter. Replace it with a factory reman unit. The generic remans, though much cheaper, have a bad reputation. Some may not work out of the box and others may fail shortly after being installed. As much work as involved in changing the starter it makes no sense to me to take a chance on a generic reman.
      The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
      Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

      Comment


        #4
        Now nomatter what i do i cant get her to start. I can hear the starter just clicking..
        I tried tapping on it and rocked the car back and forth while in gear. Nothing..

        Gonna try to find a rebuild starter

        Comment


          #5
          Tried starting her with jumper cables to my other car and this doesnt do anything.. starter just clicks.

          looked at all the wiring, everything seems ok.. no shorts or anything like that.

          I think the starter is locked into the flywheel at the moment. I'll start the fun job of removing that B*tch

          Comment


            #6
            well the last bosch starter i installed on an e34 was threaded... looking at ecstuning the picture atleast shows the e30 models are threaded now also. so if you get one of these it makes the job a bit easier going back together

            Comment


              #7
              so after some more inspecting off the wiring on the starter i found that the upper smale green black wire had a bad soldering under some heatshrink. so somebody has been here before me and did a bad job.

              When this wire is connected or not connected is doenst make a difference.. the starter just clicks both ways.

              what does this wire do?


              free picture upload

              edit:

              found this on the web: Green/black goes to the unloader relays and provides a signal causing them to drop out when you are starting the car.

              drop out what?

              i'm gonna fix this wire now before taking out the starter. hoping this will fix it

              Comment


                #8
                http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Starter

                disengage the starter after it has done its job

                Comment


                  #9
                  So, how do you check your oil?
                  Originally posted by Andy.B
                  Whenever I am about to make a particularly questionable decision regarding a worryingly cheap diy solution, I just ask myself, "What would Ether-D do?"
                  1987 325iS m30b34 Muscle car (Engine electrical phase)
                  ~~~~~~~~~~
                  I was born on 3/25…
                  ~~~~~~~~~~

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Ether-D View Post
                    So, how do you check your oil?
                    haha not.. temporary i'm using the oilpan of the super eta i have laying in my garage. mine was cracked, and the dipstick holes are not the same..

                    looking for an i Pan..

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Bottom line I'd guess you need to replace the starter.

                      This sounds like a bad starter solenoid (the round cylinder mounted on the starter that feeds power to the starter during start), the lower power cable with the blue connector is powered when you turn the ignition key to the start position - this energizes the solenoid field and moves a piston inside the solenoid, the piston has 2 contacts on the end of it that bridge between the solenoid power in cable (the red cable on the right in your photograph) and the solenoid output / start power cable (the cable on the left that goes in through a hole in the starter). A control arm on the solenoid piston also moves the starter gear into position when energized.

                      The unloader relays drop offline while the solenoid is energized to spare power from lights and accessories while starting.

                      What can go wrong

                      1) The solenoid return spring (can corrode, break and bind up the solenoid piston in 1 position or the other (or somewhere in between).
                      2) The piston / power in-out contacts can fuse so the starter is permanently powered - and will continue to run with the ignition key in the KOEO position - this can happen if you cranked the starter long enough for the contacts to overheat or if the contacts were polluted with oil.
                      3) Electromagnet field windings go bad

                      The solenoid isn't serviceable (unless you're desperate) but is available separately.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Ok tnx for the info! I found a starter and will let you guys know if this fixed the problem

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Starter is out :-) read some stories that this was a hard job on m20 but she was off in under an hour..
                          now waiting for replacement one

                          Comment


                            #14
                            what i did notice is that the upper bolt had a thick washer on it and the lower bolt had a thin washer.. No washers at the nut end..

                            on realoem it shows that there are suppost to be 2 washers on each bolt and lower and upper have the same washers.

                            could this be a problem? shoud i order those washers?

                            Comment


                              #15
                              As long as each nut has a washer that fits the bolt, it'll be fine. No washers between the starter and engine.
                              Originally posted by Andy.B
                              Whenever I am about to make a particularly questionable decision regarding a worryingly cheap diy solution, I just ask myself, "What would Ether-D do?"
                              1987 325iS m30b34 Muscle car (Engine electrical phase)
                              ~~~~~~~~~~
                              I was born on 3/25…
                              ~~~~~~~~~~

                              Comment

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