Urgent! SETA into 87 325e(Resolved)

[F34R]

1987 325e(car) Motronic 1.0(car side)c101 connector

1988 SETA Motronic 1.1(engine side)

Just pulled an all nighter and got everything into my build. So I filled gas and ran a three time over on all the sensors and wiring etc. When I turn the key it just clicks. Does not turn over at all.

Volt meter is saying I am getting power to the starter.

Is there a pin on the c101(car side) not hooking up correctly to the c101(engine side)?

Did I mess up hooking something on the power brick?

Edit(resolved):
So my buddy Frank comes over(FrankM from here) with his friend Chris to help resolve the issue. Turns out the starter got some water in it and got ruined.

Granted it was working RIGHT before I pulled the engine. I believe that was caused from throwing a tarp over it with the little storm we just had. Whatever, changed it out and found after a few hours of trouble shooting. It was was not allowing power to the K5 relay to give it the needed voltage to turn the engine over.

This was caused because it was once an Automatic, the automatic has a range switch(when you select P-R-D-3-2-1). That was causing it to not allow power to the relay under the dash and thus no power to the K5 relay.

Frank hooked a jumper and she fired up!

I am so happy right now, THANK YOU Frank and Chris! means alot you have no idea :)

[TurboJake]

is it a relay click, or starter solenoid click?

[F34R]

I can hear the click inside the car, so I am guessing solenoid.

[TurboJake]

If it's the starter solenoid clicking, check the main power to starter.

[F34R]

Getting 12.24 off the thick red wire on the starter. Check the black one too?

I cannot find a picture of the power brick hook up on the pass side where the harness goes through the firewall. Is the 1.1 hook up on the brick the same as the 85-87? Where all the power wires hook up on the fire wall.

[TurboJake]

Black wire is the solenoid/starter engage signal wire. If your solenoid is clicking, that wire is working.

But, if you want to check it. It will show 12v when the key is turned to start.


IF they both test out okay. Dead starter. rap it lightly it with a hammer a couple times to try and get it dislodged. This can kill it too. But if it's a dead starter, it's a dead starter.

[F34R]

I had the car running before the swap, it started on the first key every time.

Messing around before I pulled it last week.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3942104025161&set=vb.1056756925&type=2&theater

[TurboJake]

Ah yes. Doing what an E30 should be doing. Whatever it wants wherever it wants.

BUT! If those two wires test out just fine. It's either a dead starter, or not enough current to spin up.

[F34R]

Going to tap on it, if nothing I will just get the wheels back on and roll it out. FrankM and his friend Chris are coming over to hangout/do werk. So it will be resolved from Frank's amazing wiring understanding haha. Pretty sure it is an issue on the c101 pin out. Power to everything but maybe something is not allowing it to turn over from the ignition. I got the engine running in the 88 donor to make sure I KNEW everything was in running order. Idle was 800 with no vac leaks and responded under throttle with zero faults. I drove it into the shop and pulled it. Then rolled in mine and swapped, should be zero issues other than c101 pins.

Hope I can resolve it before tomorrow, but I have till the 23rd for any bugs in the system to get fixed.

Thanks Jake

[F34R]

Back to the shop I go, I do not have internet there. I will check this when I get back.

[TurboJake]

No problem. But unless you KNOW it's the starter clicking, and those two wires test out fine, don't go rapping on it.

It very well can destroy it. The permanent magnets in them can crack. Unless it's a series parallel starter, then it's not so much. I haven't taken apart an E30 starter. So err on the safe side.

[F34R]

Ah, I will leave it alone. I had is running/started about 12 times before I pulled it. Every time it started first crank.

Anyone have a picture of the power connection on the firewall pass side where the ecu connector goes through?

I don't have a spare e30 to look at and none of the pictures I find give a close enough shot. I am pretty sure the 87 and 88-93 would share the same hook up correct? I am standing by till someone can snap me a pic =)

There is two wires on the car side: One massively thick from the battery, and one small one that hooks up to the brick but not on the power...not sure what that one does. Maybe some power wire from a relay for the car inside?

Then there is two that come from the fuse box both single. Then there is one that comes out of the harness, that has two wires connected into one fish eye connector. Not sure how they hook up.

[TurboJake]

I'll go snap a high res one right quick for ya.

[TurboJake]

[F34R]

I have it hooked up right, well I will just get the front aligned and wait on Frank to help with the c101. Thanks for chiming in man <3 Love this place