e30 not starting!

[-TAL-]

First post here :)

I picked up a 86 325e from afriend to use as a winter car, up until now (1 week) the car has had no real problems beside a battery needing to be replaced and a leaky fuel tank (small leak). Started up everytime.

After i replaced the battery it struggled to start. i let it sit for 2 seconds, tried again and it started then died out on it's own. let it sit again, retried it and it started up perfect and kept itself running. Parked it for the night.

Came out for work this morning, and now it's just cranking on and on.

After a little trouble shooting i can't seem to hear the fuel pump when i have a friend turn the key for me. Anyone think the new battery actually providing proper voltage killed the pump?

If it is actually the pump, anyone have a good source for one? and how difficult is changing it?

[Mike325]

Welcome to the forum.

If the car Is not cranking fast it will be hard to start/won't start at all. Can you check to see what the batt. voltage is when running and not? My guesses are that:

A: The main relay or fuel pump relay are bad.
B: Possible that the fuseable link in the trunk is bad (not likely)
C: Your alt. could be putting out too low of an output to charge the batt.

It is hard to diag without seeing the car and not doing the tests with a volt meter. If you have one and are able to use it, do it. That will give us and you a better understanding of what is going on.

[Mike325]

It also could be the cold start valve. Does it start eventually? Like after 10-15 seconds of cranking?

[euroshark]

Check the pump by removing the fuel feed line, putting it into a mountain dew bottle and cranking. If you dont have a helper, just turn the key on and manually open the flapper door on the AFM with a screwdriver. That should make fuel squirt out on Motronic cars as it does on L-Jet cars. If it doesn't, you can always pull the fuel pump relay and jump the 30 and 87 (usually) terminals on the socket with a small piece of wire, again with the key on. If you get no fuel with any of those methods, your fuel pump is bad.

You should check for spark too... Have you pulled your plugs at all? If you determine that the plugs are wet (covered with fuel) then you may not be getting spark OR your plugs may be so fouled that the motor can not start. Test for spark by removing a plug wire from a plug, sticking a spare plug in the end, and holding it close to one of the nuts on the shock tower while somebody cranks. Its not scary, it won't hurt you... If you see a spark, you have spark... If you don't, then you have much more work to do! Keep up posted so we can help!

[-TAL-]

it's cranking plenty fast.

It seems like all the problems started when i replaced the old dying battery with this new spiral cell battery.

Which fuse / fuses control the EGI and Fuel pump for this car? Is there a diagram or chart anywhere?

*EDIT* Just tried to start it for the first time in about a week, it fired right up no problem, but then died again immediately, now it's back to cranking.

[-TAL-]

I pulled the fuel line off the rail. (the line coming from the top of the fuel filter)

No fuel is coming out.

I'm assuming it is a bad relay / fuse. Where are the fuel pump relays and fuses located?

[Jean]

Did you ever figure this out, the fule pump relay is one of the 3 on the driver side near the fender. mounted on it's own bracket. have you tried shorting pins 30 and 87 ?

[88e30is]

Its the middle one.

[Jean]

I am pretty sure it's the left tall one if you are looking at the 3 from the driver side, not the middle one.

[Mike325]

Mine is on the right of the three.