Fun one.. Jlevie, Luke, and other "no start" gurus

[houstonh]

89 325i
Cruising along at 70 ... boom engine dies.. I try to pop the clutch no luck. Pull over to the shoulder. Crank crank crank... no start.
1st thought was timing belt.. this one has less than 3000 miles on it, but I got that kind of luck.

remove the oil cap. I can see cam moving while cranking.

get the car towed home.

Problem 1. No spark and no fuel (in chamber).
- swapped ECU to known good no luck
- swapped Main Relay with known good. no luck
- swapped Fuel Pump Relay with good one no luck

I can check my check engine lights.. that means the ECU is getting power right?
Also the IACV is humming

I was thinking fuel pump went out, but how do I account for lack of spark?

What are the usual suspects when there is no fuel and no spark?

If it was the CPS wouldnt my plugs be wet?
If my fuel pump or Injector harness was out I would still get spark, right?

I thought this was gonna be easy :(

[StereoInstaller1]

13 button OBC?

[E30_fiend]

Ignition coil?


Injection computer?


Just a thought

[StereoInstaller1]

Taking a quick look at the diagram, the most likely place is main relay if it is no spark/no fuel.

Did you test voltage in and out of the main relay?

[houstonh]

13 button OBC?

I got one in, but I put it in and there is no coding box and I have reset the battery a few times.

Also.. didnt test any voltages in / out of the main relay..
but if it were the main relay would I be able to check the check engine light? (I don't know..I'll give the voltages a check)

Also.. Coil is a good thought, but doesnt explain the lack of fuel squirting into the cylinder.

I am curious if the injectors will squirt if the CPS is out of whack.

[StereoInstaller1]

Somthing else that would make NFNS (no fuel no spark, woo hoo a new acronym!) would be crank trigger....life might be easy...go check dat bish!

[Philo]

reference sensor. Definitely check that first. I think you should get 540 +/- a little from the yellow and the black wire at the connector.

[NC325iC]

Somthing else that would make NFNS (no fuel no spark, woo hoo a new acronym!) would be crank trigger....life might be easy...go check dat bish!

thats what did it for me a while back

[jlevie]

If it was the CPS wouldnt my plugs be wet?

No. As others have mentioned, the CPS would be the prime suspect at this point. If the DME doesn't see timing data from the engine you'll not have spark, fuel pressure, or injector firing. Thus the plugs won't be wet with fuel.

[houstonh]

sweet... gonna try to get ahold of a CPS.

[Philo]

Just test your cps instead of throwing money at the car. Use a ohm meter to the end of the sensor wires.

[houstonh]

tested, failed, currently rigged it to get it in the driveway... new one on order.

Thanks again to everyone!!! Everyone except the PO who was king kong ghetto rig extraordinaire!

[DragonOrta]

I'm not sure about a CPS. Mine went bad and I still get fuel. Just couldn't get spark at all.