Car Wont Start after Dash Swap! Please Help!

[dr.strangelove]

I swapped out my dash two days ago now, and i have been sitting here trying to figure this out. I reconnected all the wires, and plugs, just leaving the airbag plug unplugged, and the car just wont start. I turn the ignition all the way, and i can hear the fuel pump going, and everything electrical works, but no start!

sny help would be great, if it helps, i have a 1990 325is auto, with the airbag, that i have unplugged.

[dr.strangelove]

I know it has nothing to do with the battery as everything turns on fine, maybe a wire is somehow not plugged in, would the airbag connector affect it in the starting process? when i was removing cables from behind the VDO tach, there is a green connector under the speedo, and i might not have reconnected in the correct connector since there are three. I even tried jumping it maybe thinking it would kick over, but nothing, just fuel pump humming, but no clicking or even any action under the hood. any help would be appreciated, as i need to get this car out of my garage soon.

[BS87]

Double check everything, i know that i forgot to plug the tach in once and the car wouldn't start, then i plugged it in, and it worked. However i've driven the car with no cluster, so i don't know why it did that.

[Jordan]

The black connector that goes into that big green plug isnt your issue.

There are 3 spots that the connector fits into, all of which are soldered to the same point on the board. Doesn't matter which one its in. Its just the speed output to the cruise control anyways.

Your problem is likely the 3 prong connector at the ECU is not plugged in, or the 4 prong connectors at the ECU code box are not plugged in.

[e30Matt]

The black connector that goes into that big green plug isnt your issue.

There are 3 spots that the connector fits into, all of which are soldered to the same point on the board. Doesn't matter which one its in. Its just the speed output to the cruise control anyways.

Your problem is likely the 3 prong connector at the ECU is not plugged in, or the 4 prong connectors at the ECU code box are not plugged in.

Agreed. Did some under-dash work on my old 325 and forgot one of these and the same happened.

[dr.strangelove]

so i went ahead, and reconnected those plugs and still didnt start, so i looked at them and saw something that just didnt sit well with me. heres some pics, maybe theres something odd here, or its just that way, and i dont see it. let me know.

[dr.strangelove]

im wondering if these plugs pictured are all in the right places.. maybe something isnt right?

[ryan_george]

so i went ahead, and reconnected those plugs and still didnt start, so i looked at them and saw something that just didnt sit well with me. heres some pics, maybe theres something odd here, or its just that way, and i dont see it. let me know.

It looks like the black plug in photo #2 belongs with the large connector in photo #1. Just a start...

[Axxe]

Neutral safety switch? I had the exact same problem a few months back. Everything is on, but won't crank. Worth investigating.

[dr.strangelove]

funny thing is that the car was running fine with the plugs seen in the pics plugged together. I tried black with black and the two plug with the white plug, and nothing....