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OK WTH is wrong with my car? FUEL AIR AND SPARK = NO START!

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    OK WTH is wrong with my car? FUEL AIR AND SPARK = NO START!

    1991 318is, well maintained. Started one night and drive into the garage. Went to start next morning and it just cranks... I determined the fuel pump was not getting power.

    Replaced fuel pump relay. Still no power at fuel pump.

    Disconnected fuel line after fuel filter and ran 12 volts to the fuel pump. Pump shot a ton of fuel out the line. Reconnected fuel line and tried to start car with 12 volts directly to the fuel pump. Would not start, just cranks.

    I have tested the fuel pump ground and it is perfect. Pulled the fuel pump relay. The terminals the relay plugs into get 12 volts power. I can put a jumper wire between terminals 30 and 85 (if I remember right), and the fuel pump will have constant power. This tells me the wiring is good. Tried to start again and no go.

    Pulled a spark plug out and did a spark test. Spark was very strong and a lot of it. This tells me the CPS is good.

    So I have fuel... spark... and obviously air.

    Using the gas pedal pumping method, my car is throwing only one code. 1215 which is the air flow meter.

    Plug into the AFM has 5.4 volts (within spec) and the ohm resistance when you move the wing flap increases with the flap movement so it tells me this is working fine. Regardless, the AFM should not prevent my fuel pump from getting power, correct?

    Looking at the fuel pump wiring diagram in my Chiltons manual it goes like this:

    Battery ---> engine computer in the glove box ---> main relay ---> and from there one wire splits to the fuel pump relay and the O2 sensor. So I thought the O2 sensor may be grounding out and robbing power from the fuel pump relay. I tested the grounds in my fuse panel and they are good. So there goes that idea... and is it possible for the O2 sensor to even cause these problems?

    All the fuses in my fuse box are good. I even replaced #18 (fuel pump fuse) just in case. Checked w/ multimeter and have power.

    So the car sits dead in my garage and I am totally stumped.

    IDEAS???? And can someone tell me the exact location of the O2 sensor relay??

    #2
    could be the ECU, since it triggers the relay. If the wiring, pump and relay are good, that would be my next choice.
    Build thread

    Bimmerlabs

    Comment


      #3
      O2 sensor shouldn't prevent it from starting up.

      Were your plugs all wet?

      I had a similar issue and it ended up being a faulty fuel pressure regulator. Upon trying to start the engine, a ton of fuel was dumped into the cyliners and washed the oil off of the walls. Long story short, there wasn't enough compression for combustion.
      Originally posted by Gruelius
      and i do not know what bugg brakes are.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by kencopperwheat View Post
        O2 sensor shouldn't prevent it from starting up.

        Were your plugs all wet?

        I had a similar issue and it ended up being a faulty fuel pressure regulator. Upon trying to start the engine, a ton of fuel was dumped into the cyliners and washed the oil off of the walls. Long story short, there wasn't enough compression for combustion.

        The plug I pulled did not appear to be wet...

        And the fuel pressure regulator would not prevent the pump from having power...

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by nando View Post
          could be the ECU, since it triggers the relay. If the wiring, pump and relay are good, that would be my next choice.
          Since the ECU is sending power to the relay terminals, wouldn't this rule out the ECU?

          Comment


            #6
            Is fuel getting to the cylinders? After trying to start it, you should smell fuel from the cylinders.
            Originally posted by Gruelius
            and i do not know what bugg brakes are.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by JeepXJ View Post
              Since the ECU is sending power to the relay terminals, wouldn't this rule out the ECU?
              no, the ECU doesn't send any power, it grounds the relay. there will always be 12v at the relay terminal with the ignition turned on.
              Build thread

              Bimmerlabs

              Comment


                #8
                Did you check the reference sensor? Because this has all the making of an easy fix. The only other thing to test would be to switch out the DME with a known good one.
                -tim
                Originally posted by Jordan
                I like the stance
                -Coining hip terms since 10/9/03

                Comment


                  #9
                  What / where is the reference sensor? Also what does DME stand for???

                  So I just tried starting and pulling a plug. Strong smell of fuel on the spark plug and a big first of fuel and air shot out in my face while the wife was cranking the motor........

                  Comment


                    #10
                    And the fuel pump now runs when the engine is cranking but it does not turn on to prime the system before you crank the motor....

                    Comment


                      #11
                      There may be some E30 out there that pulses the pump when the ignition is turned on, but I have yet to encounter one that does that. So I would not be concerned on that basis.

                      A more important question is what the fuel pressure is at the rail when cranking.
                      The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                      Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by jlevie View Post
                        There may be some E30 out there that pulses the pump when the ignition is turned on, but I have yet to encounter one that does that. So I would not be concerned on that basis.

                        A more important question is what the fuel pressure is at the rail when cranking.
                        I havent tested the exact fuel pressure at the rail but past the filter it DUMPS fuel with the line off so I would assume it's good.


                        I just sprayed starting fluid up the air intake and it still would not run!!

                        Occasionally the engine will stumble or even run for a second...

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by jlevie View Post
                          There may be some E30 out there that pulses the pump when the ignition is turned on, but I have yet to encounter one that does that. So I would not be concerned on that basis.

                          A more important question is what the fuel pressure is at the rail when cranking.

                          fuel pressure at the rail where the soft line meets the hard line is 46-47lbs.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            What's your compression at?
                            Originally posted by Gruelius
                            and i do not know what bugg brakes are.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by JeepXJ View Post
                              And the fuel pump now runs when the engine is cranking but it does not turn on to prime the system before you crank the motor....
                              E30s don't do that

                              DME/ECU are the same thing - Digital Motor Electronics is a Bosch trademark I believe.

                              fuel pressure sounds good
                              Build thread

                              Bimmerlabs

                              Comment

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