Very weird No start , Got fuel, Got air,Got spark

[francogt1]

Any input into finding the problem to this would be greatly appreciated.

1990 325ix
200k
5spd


got this car about 2 weeks ago and i been doing the usual maintenance work..

Brakes
Suspension components
and Oil change (today)

check engine light turn off as the engine cranks ( means the computer is getting the crack position and such)
try the stomp test but did not work ( or cant get it to work)
took spark plugs out and they seem Ok- and test cleaned them up a bit put back in.
ignition wires are fairly new.



since i got it the car would start up very fast and run pretty well but, in a couple of ocations i opend up the Oilcap on the valve cover and the engine would start to stutter .. and sometimes stall. after this it would stall the car,the engine would not turn.
after it was let alone for about 30min or so.. car would start again.. untill today


After i changed the oil this morning i started the car , it started great then moved it out of the garage because of the fumes (i din't want to die) lol

opened the oil cap to add another Quart of oil i know it was missing because i had put 4qts and it needed atleast 3/4 of a quart more.

As im adding the oil the car stalls and ill not start again from this point.

*** Checked the fuel Pump got a wire in the fuel pump relay from 30 to 87 and the fuel pump turned on ( i heard it) when the key was on position 2 , try to start NO LUCK.

*** Took spark plug out and tested by holding them against a bolt or what ever in the engine bay that can be used as ground.
(doubt its spark since the car was running perfect 5min ago the engine died.

*** AIR i don't think a MAF would cause this kind of problem? try unpluggind and plugging back in , no luck




Thanks guys any input would be great
Franco R

[jlevie]

You don't really know if you have fuel, only that you hear the pump run. To tell if the engine has fuel you have to check the pressure in the fuel rail.

Did you see spark from the plug when cranking?

FYI: If you remove the oil filler cap while the engine is running you introduce a massive intake leak. Which will usually cause the engine to die. Assuming you did it correctly, the failure of the stomp test to work probably means that the TPS is bad or misadjusted.

[francogt1]

i did see spark in the spark plugs wile they were out.

I also know removing the cap caused a leak , and makes the engine run rough but the car does not start now after it died as i was poring the oil.

Can i Unplug the gas line going to the rail and see if she squirts when its cranking? to check for pressure dont have the gas pressure tool handy.

You don't really know if you have fuel, only that you hear the pump run. To tell if the engine has fuel you have to check the pressure in the fuel rail.

Did you see spark from the plug when cranking?

FYI: If you remove the oil filler cap while the engine is running you introduce a massive intake leak. Which will usually cause the engine to die. Assuming you did it correctly, the failure of the stomp test to work probably means that the TPS is bad or misadjusted.

[devon.818]

yeah unplug gas line, but that wont tell you if you have enough fuel pressure. how can you visually see 10psi verse 20psi?


also you need three things to run a motor;

spark
fuel
combustion.


how is your compression?
pull your codes!

[francogt1]

Compression is good this engine was ruining like a charm Yesterday!
I tryd the stomp test to get any codes out but it does not work... is there another way to get codes?

[jlevie]

Codes can also be read out with a BMW specific diag tool. You have spark and now you need to find out if you have correct rail pressure, and that means using a gauge.

[francogt1]

UPDATE:

so i got some staring fluid and try that the car started for a few sec... great so i know its fuel now.

Then i replaced the fuel pressure regulator just because i had an extra layn around and disconnected the hose that goes straight to the fuel rail and cranked the car to see if it would shot out fuel as it should.

I did that and it did shot out a bit of fuel ... connected the hose back to the rail .. Car starts and runs for 1min and then it stutters and dies on its own does not start again.

disconnected the hose again cranked the car no fuel shooting out of the line ..

Im 85% its the fuel pump what do you guys think before i go ahead and order one????

[jlevie]

It could be be the pump or a plugged fuel filter. Replace the filter and tee in a gauge on the supply line and see what the rail pressure is. If low run all of the fuel system tests in the Bentley and replace parts as indicated.

[francogt1]

UPDATE:

The problem was the Fuel pump PLUG that was lose.. FML atleast i dint spend any money on a pump.