stranded / emergency

[e30_lover_CT]

I drove my car on its first 100-mile trip tonight. It made it without a hitch. I pulled over here and there to get a soda and whatnot, including shutting off the engine. I got to my friends' house and parked nose-up on a steep driveway. Came out 30 minutes later and the car turns but doesn't fire even if it's put on a flat surface or parked nose facing downhill.

Is there any fuel pump noise I should be listening for? Buzz? Hum? ...anything??

[e30_lover_CT]

updates:

checked fuse #11 (15 amp) = OK
fuel pump relay clicks when ignition is turned to on = (presumed to be OK)

should I assume it's my fuel pump? this just happened SO suddenly... I absolutely wasn't expecting it.

[Majikal]

must be a CT thing, my m42 started doing the same thing today.

[SchnellerVert]

Maybe something got wet? Eta's have the two transmission referance sensors. The bad is it's night and cold and wet in Northeast right now?

[e30_lover_CT]

the roads are damp but it was pouring earlier...puddles all day, and i had no problems. it's about 40 degrees here...maybe 45. I'm in Franklin MA right now

[delphini]

updates:

should I assume it's my fuel pump? this just happened SO suddenly... I absolutely wasn't expecting it.

======================================
You should never just assume before you physically verify that there IS infact a fuel starvation issue. Besides a fuel pump for these babies isn't cheap.
Get an empty soda bottle , clear if possible and unclamp the fuel hose supply line. This is the one that is on the rear
of the engine. Put the hose in the bottle and turn the key to the on position . This should pump some fuel into the soda container. The results should give you a better idea if you iunfact have a fuel issue.

[e30_lover_CT]

Just did this. Pumps nice and strong! That's uber encouraging.

Now... what I do know about engine electronics on my car:

• it ran perfectly earlier tonight. PERFECTLY! :!:
• the spark plugs are all brand new
• every one of the fuses is in-tact

======================================
You should never just assume before you physically verify that there IS infact a fuel starvation issue. Besides a fuel pump for these babies isn't cheap.
Get an empty soda bottle , clear if possible and unclamp the fuel hose supply line. This is the one that is on the rear
of the engine. Put the hose in the bottle and turn the key to the on position . This should pump some fuel into the soda container. The results should give you a better idea if you iunfact have a fuel issue.

[e30_lover_CT]

at this point i'm rather convinced the car is flooded... is it adviseable to pull the fuel pump circuit breaker and turn the car over ? i can't see it as being good to keep pumping gas into the intake if it's not sparking... UGH!

[sticksdaman]

cap & rotor perhaps?

a similar thing happened to me a while back and this was the issue

[e30_lover_CT]

to my knowledge the cap and rotor are original to the car. could be cracked... i'll check in the morning.

cap & rotor perhaps?

a similar thing happened to me a while back and this was the issue

[e30s52]

i think it might just be fluded like you said. it has happen to my e34. but try in the morning on a flat surface. if that doesnt work check the cap and rotor.

[e30_lover_CT]

...yeah, but how the hell could it get flooded parked uphill when there was no problem before? that just doesn't make sense to me... i'm checking the cap and rotor in the AM...cheap fix if that's the case

[madvillain]

Check to see if you have spark from your spark plugs?

[e30_lover_CT]

that also crossed my mind...wish I had a timing light to check the wires easily... I'm wondering if it's the coil... but seriously, i'm thinking it could be the cap/rotor cuz of the moisture here tonight. still... doesnt explain why the car would just flat out quit. i mean, electrical shit is definitely suspect but it just was totally unexpected.

[SchnellerVert]

Have you done the timing belt? It was old you mentioned??