Intermittent starting problem...86 325es

[GTS21]

New member here desperately looking for advice. I inherited my dads 1986 325es. Over the years ive had many parts fixed/replaced, but one nagging problem wont go away. Every once in a while, the car wont start. The engine doesnt crank. No cranking, no clicking. Electric comes on, but thats it. Ive had the battery, starter, starter relay and ignition replaced, and the problem persists.

The problem is, when i have the car serviced, they cant reproduce the problem. It starts for the technician, and they send the car home. No one has been able or willing to figure it out.

Some more information...the car is an automatic. The problem doesn't seem related to hot or cold temperatures either, very inconsistent.

It happened again last night. Car started fine in the morning. Drove to work. After sitting for maybe 8 hours, the car wouldn't start. Key in the ignition, turned it, nothing. After maybe 15 tries of turning the key, the car finally started to crank. It cranked for a while, I gave it some gas, and it started, though very roughly. I kept the revs up for a bit, and everything settled down and smoothed out and all was fine. Drove home, maybe a 20 minute drive. Turned the car off, and tried to restart it. Started right up perfectly. WTF??

The car means the world to me, and i dont want to let it go. But it just isnt reliable. Does anyone have advice or suggestions? Thanks

[squidmaster]

Fixed this problem on a family members car. Was bad ground coming from the starter.

Found that out after getting the starter and a bunch of other things replaced.

Even if it looks well connected, take it apart clean everything and put it back on, might help. If not, at least it didn't cost anything

[GTS21]

Fixed this problem on a family members car. Was bad ground coming from the starter.

Found that out after getting the starter and a bunch of other things replaced.

Even if it looks well connected, take it apart clean everything and put it back on, might help. If not, at least it didn't cost anything

Thank you!!!! I'll try this immediately and report back.

[jlevie]

Yes, check the ground strap from the engine to the chassis on the left front of the engine. If that looks okay, hook a test light to the starter solenoid lug and tie it to the cowl vent. If the starter fails to turn but the light is on, the starter, it's primary power, or ground are the problem. If the light is off, the the problem is with the ignition switch or the wiring from there to the starter.

[GTS21]

Yes, check the ground strap from the engine to the chassis on the left front of the engine. If that looks okay, hook a test light to the starter solenoid lug and tie it to the cowl vent. If the starter fails to turn but the light is on, the starter, it's primary power, or ground are the problem. If the light is off, the the problem is with the ignition switch or the wiring from there to the starter.

Thank you! I intend to print these responses and bring them to my technician and have all of this addressed. Much appreciated.

[meanEG]

Try to start it in neutral if it won't start in park. Hold the key in start and shift out out of park slowly back and forth.

[GTS21]

Happened again yesterday. Wouldnt start, and each time i turned te key, i heard a mechanical sound from the driver side of the car, under the car. Maybe the starter? Tried for 15 minutes, must have turned the key 30 times. 15 minutes later, it started right up.

I did try starting it in neutral. No luck.

[restart]

have you replaced the main relay? thats my usual susupect...or better yet replace all the relays under the black box in the engine dept? they are often intermittent and not too expensive.

[GTS21]

So i went for broke and replaced the relays, ground wire, ignition switch and starter. So far so good, the starting problem hasnt happened since. Fingers crossed.

[GTS21]

So the car has behaved for 8 or more months now, and suddenly, wouldn't start again. Wouldn't crank at all. Stranded me at work. Next morning, the car started. WTF!!?? About ready to get rid of this car.

[long tall eta]

have you removed the shifter trim and looked at the wires. mine wasen't starting and after pulling the trim i had a broken wire. spliced them back together and all is good.

[GTS21]

have you removed the shifter trim and looked at the wires. mine wasen't starting and after pulling the trim i had a broken wire. spliced them back together and all is good.

Thanks, I'll check that out

[GTS21]

And once again, the car stranded me at the gym. Wouldn't crank at all, nothing happened when turning the key. After about 15 minutes and 30-40 turns of the key, it started up. Back to the shop it goes, though at this point not sure what else I can replace?

Anyone want to buy an 86 325es with 104k miles?