Questions about fuel pump, car wont start

[M3 Cereal]

PROBLEM RESOLVED. Replaced fuel pump. steps at end of thread
Thanks all.





I went to fill up with gas the other day from our local SAMs Club (cheap Gas)
afterwards my poor car would not start. The first crank had it turn over but it die a second later. After this the car just cranks. i have been trying to diagnose the problem but have been unsuccessful. I replaced the spark plugs at first and valve gasket while i was at it. I then realized that it was a fuel problem so I replaced my fuel filter last night, still nothing. The car just cranks.
My neighbor came down today to help me, we sprayed ether into the intake and the car started up, but dies shortly after we stopped spraying the starter fluid. The engine had plenty of time to circulate, its just not getting fuel. Auto zone had me put a bottle of liquid in to get rid of any water that could be in the gas lines. (alcohol)

Ive come to the conclusion that my Fuel Pump is not sending anything to my motor. We listened for the fuel pump and nothing. im prepared to do surgery on it but i need more information.

-Does this sound like the problem?
-Where should i begin addressing the fuel pump (regulators, fuses, lines, etc.)
-wheres the best place to get a new fuel pump if this is the problem?
-I have fuel injector cleaner to put in my gas but i cant use that if the gas cant circulate.
-Lastly where do i tap in to add a fuel pressure gauge to see if anything is building before i drop the money to find out its not this issue at all.

I would appreciate any advice.
the car is a 1989 2d 325is with an M20 motor
Last ran right on Monday march 5th

[Mr. Schwarz]

The fuel pumps in these cars only begin pumping when the ecu/cps senses that there is rotation. You can't just turn the key and hear the pump like most cars.

Id check the CPS (the little sensor on your crank pulley) and possibly replace it. From there if there is still a no go, Id replace the pump.

Also, check to see if there is anything stuck to the magnetized sensor... metal shavings interrupted the signal on mine and I cleaned it and it fired right up.

[M3 Cereal]

where exactly do i locate the crankshaft position sensor as well as the magnetic sensor

[devon.818]

nigga why you no call me?

[M3 Cereal]

haha i dont know i didnt think you would know whats wrong =P
so i cleaned the magnetic sensor and nothing. my CPS is easy to get for me cause i have small arms but to be hones the sensor looks pretty new. (not to say its not broken)
I just know everything is leading towards this pump.

[jlevie]

The first checks should be to see if power is present at the fuel pump connector when cranking the engine and to see if there is spark when cranking the engine. If you have spark and power to the pump and the pump isn't running the pump has failed. If no power to the pump and no spark the CPS, main relay, DME, or ignition switch could be the problem.

If the pump is running, it could be bad or the FPR could have failed. You check for that by seeing what the pressure is in the fuel rail by tee'ing in a pressure gauge on the line that runs to the rail.

[M3 Cereal]

Thanks very much, i ordered the CPS first because i am faily sure thats the problem, but this weeknd when i am back home i will check all of these things out and report back, is there any other way to check the pressure without a gauge or see if it is getting any pressure at all.

[EtaSax]

I had a very similar problem a few months ago. Try giving the pump a good knock. It worked for me, and it's worth a shot.

[vert_this]

I had a very similar problem a few months ago. Try giving the pump a good knock. It worked for me, and it's worth a shot.

the i doesnt have a external pump so I don't think he can do that unless he wants to beat on the tank. I would start by looking for spark while cranking it before I'd order one cause it could be in vain. If you have spark but no fuel it could be a fuse or relay? I would ck the fuse first then you can pull the back seat bottom put a test light on the connector while cranking the car if it lights up but still no fuel you need a pump.

I have even seen cases where you can tap on the fuel pump relay and car will start but if yours does that replace the pump relay.

Dude after reading your first post again it sounds like the CPS will do nothing for you other than take a few more bucks out of your pocket. It sounds like its the pump, fuse or fuel pump relay. If you want to test the fuel pump relay simply swap it with the other one right beside it. If it runs guess what you need a relay.

[M3 Cereal]

so we installed the CPS and nothing, the one i took off was new anyways, the relays all look fine and have no sign of wear, the engine has a spark, we changed out the computer and it did nothing, so the fuel pump is in the mail and the back is ready for insertion so we will see how it goes.
thanks for the advice guess keep posted.

[GrimmSpeed]

Interested to see what happens, i'm having similar issues.

I'm having a hell of a time getting mine started. If it sits for a long enough period of time it will start but if i try to give it any gas it will die. I've cleaned the IAC and TPS. The car has good spark and fuel. Nothing appears to be unplugged or missing.

Mike

[BamaE30]

A Bentley manual is great for trouble shooting I'm having a similar problem.

[GrimmSpeed]

Get anything figured out? I replaced my regulator, plugs, relays and still nothing.

Mike

[b*saint]

Have you checked the pump with a digital multimeter like levie said?

If you have spark and fuel then it should at least fire then die. That's what mine did when I tried to start without a hose connected to my IACV. If it doesn't keep running you probably have a wicked vac leak or bad iacv. I don't know if there is an seperate set of idle contact in your tps.

[BamaE30]

Mike,

I have power at the fuel pump but then it blows the fuse #11 as I recall. It must have a short some where and I"m traveling on business so can't get back to it till the weekend. Do you have power at the fuel pump when cranking? It won't show battery power on the meter untill the sarter is engaged. Jeff