E30 won't start but cranks.

[oz318i98]

Hey all,
First time e30 owner and poster.

Have recently picked up a 318i 1998 manual coupe! drove 2000km to get it!

Anyway...

Was driving it the whole 2000km and a few hundred to and from work no problem. New battery and i drove it home form work one day and went to go out about 3 hours later and no go.

Cranks well and hard because of new battery.

But zero on the starting. i have been regularly trying and it hasten changed except for one bit were it "coughed" slightly but nothing else.

So far i have checked my fuses.

All looks to be good.
Taken out my seat and cannot here the fuel pump do a thing when i turn the key.

I disconnected the fuel like from the regulator to the fuel rail. ( I think )
Spilled a bit of raw fuel and then cranked it and nothing came from the fuel again. Still drips a little.

The only weird thing i can hear is a electrical humming when the key is in the on position coming from right underneath the manifold closer to the firewall?

Is this normal.?

Before the car died it made a similar to low oil ticking sound from the manifold but was not low oil as i topped her right up? Coincedence?

Anyhelp or insight as to previous problems or things to check next would be greatly appreciated.!!

[TobyB]

If it's not pumping fuel while you're cranking, it's a safe bet to replace the fuel pump.

The definitive test would be to put a test light on the fuel pump leads- that would rule
out the fuel pump relay, too.

hth

t

[oz318i98]

Hey Toby,
Thanks for the reply.

What leads are these? Whats specs should i look for on a multi-meter when testing this? (voltage?)

[cunninglinguist]

Also check connectors to the fuel pump itself. They are known for coming loose.

[Vivek]

Give your fuel pump a good whack from the top. If that works, then your fuel pump is dead/on it's way out.

[oz318i98]

Cheers for the info lads!
Cunninglinguist : All the connections seem to be fine.

I have bought a test light/screwdriving looking light up handle thingy me-bob to test the relay if need be.

Is there a fuse near the pump i think i read somehwere?

Pretty sure all the fuses in my fuse box were original. Except one fuse that looked modern.

[Vivek]

Off the top of my head fuse #11 is the fuel pump and #9 is fuel delivery, not quite sure what that is. There's also a fuel pump relay. I have not heard of a fuse near the pump.

[oz318i98]

Hey Viv,

Cheers very much for the whack it with a hammer trick.
Thats what i did, and tried to start it and it spat fuel everywhere. I hooked it back up started the car and then let it run for a bit. After that she didn't want to start haha. Fuel pump is out now and picking up a replacement tomorrow! Cheers for all the responses and insight guys!